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Name: Kamehachi
Address: 1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL, 60610
Telephone: (312) 664-3663
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.55

Kamehachi

1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL, 60610

(312) 664-3663
Store is closed

Kamehachi Menu

Ko Guchi / Small Bites

Kyuri Su

Hiyashi Wakame

Asian Niçoise

Kamehachi Salad

Seafood Sunomono

Oyster Shooter

Uni Shooter

King Crab Moto-yaki

Agedashi Tofu

Hiya-yakko

Goma Ae

Softshell Crab
Ko Guchi / Small Bites - Tokyo Flight

Shiozake

Zuke Maguro

Hachi Ceviche
Oo Guchi / Big Bites

Asian Lamb Chops

Asian Chimichurri Skirt Steak

Filet Mignon

Ton Katsu

Chicken Teriyaki

Sukiyaki

Salmon Teriyaki

Chilean Sea Bass

Ten Zaru Soba

Nabeyaki Udon

Tempura Udon

Yaki Soba
Tori Wake Mono / Sharing Items

Gyoza

Rock Shrimp Tempura

Sugaki

Mushroom Tobanyaki

Edamame

Spicy Edamame

Duck Tataki

Crab Cakes

Tofu Dengaku

Ebi Shumai

Asparagus Beef Rolls

Dynamite

Vegetable Tempura

Shrimp Tempura

Vegetable Spring Roll

Seared Scallops

Tori Kara
Tori Wake Mono / Sharing Items - Kamehachi Skewers

Chicken Meatball

Chicken Yakitori

Beef Yakiniku

Tuna Skewers

Breaded Oysters
Sushi Bar

Sushi Boat
Sushi Bar - Donburi-mono / Rice Bowls

Chirashi

Sashimi Don

Kow Haku Don
Sushi Bar - Moriawase / Combinations

Sashimi Zen

Hassu Sashimi Mori

Nigiri Moriawase

Sushi & Sashimi Moriawase

Sushi A

Sushi B

Kamehachi Combo
Nigiri & Sashimi / A La Carte

Maguro (tuna)

Namasake (fresh Salmon)

Hirame (flounder)

Hamachi (yellowtail)

Suzuki (sea Bass)

Saba (mackerel)

Botan Ebi (sweet Raw Shrimp)

Ebi (shrimp)

Hotate (scallop)

Ika (squid)

Ikura (salmon Roe)

Inari (soybean Pocket)

Kani (king Crab)

Tako (octopus)

Tamago (egg Omelet)

Tobiko (flying Fish Roe)

Toro (fatty Tuna)

Unagi (freshwater Eel)

Uni (sea Urchin Roe)

Walu (escolar)

White Tuna (albacore)
Maki-mono / Sushi Rolls

California

Alaskan

Ebikyu Deluxe

Negi Hamachi

Negi Maguro

Sakekyu

Spicy Salmon Deluxe

Spicy Scallop

Spicy Tuna

Spicy Tuna Deluxe

Spider

Tempura Shrimp

Unakyu

Green Turtle

Dragon

Chicago Crazy

Kamehachi

Rainbow

Summer

Sunset

Special Salmon
Maki-mono / Sushi Rolls - Kamehachi Signature Maki

Negi Albacore

White Heat

Crouching Tuna - Hidden Crab

Spicy Tuna Dlux Dlux
Yasai Bu / Vegetarian Offerings - Yasai Maki Mono / Vegetable Rolls

A.a.c

Shiitake

Kampyo Oshinko

Veggie Crunch

Futo

Kappa
Yasai Bu / Vegetarian Offerings - Yasai Nigiri / Vegetable Nigiri

Avocado

Kampyo

Tofu

Shiitake

Hourensou

Asparagus-bell Pepper
Tsuke Awase / Side Dishes

Miso Soup

Spicy Renkon

Grilled Asparagus

White Rice

Sushi Rice Or Brown Rice

Roasted Fingerlings

Tempura Green Bean

Yaki Nasu Dengaku

Seasonal Soup

Healthy Meal suggestions for Kamehachi

Ko Guchi / Small Bites

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

King Crab Moto-yaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Hiya-yakko [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Softshell Crab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ko Guchi / Small Bites - Tokyo Flight

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

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

Hachi Ceviche [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Oo Guchi / Big Bites

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

Asian Chimichurri Skirt Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

Chilean Sea Bass [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ten Zaru Soba [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Yaki Soba [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tori Wake Mono / Sharing Items

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

Rock Shrimp Tempura [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vegetable Spring Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Tori Kara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tori Wake Mono / Sharing Items - Kamehachi Skewers

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

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

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

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

Breaded Oysters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sushi Bar

Sushi Boat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sushi Bar - Donburi-mono / Rice Bowls

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

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

Kow Haku Don [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sushi Bar - Moriawase / Combinations

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

Hassu Sashimi Mori [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Sushi & Sashimi Moriawase [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Kamehachi Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Nigiri & Sashimi / A La Carte

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

Namasake (fresh Salmon) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Suzuki (sea Bass) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Botan Ebi (sweet Raw Shrimp) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Ikura (salmon Roe) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Inari (soybean Pocket) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kani (king Crab) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Tamago (egg Omelet) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tobiko (flying Fish Roe) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Unagi (freshwater Eel) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Uni (sea Urchin Roe) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

White Tuna (albacore) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Maki-mono / Sushi Rolls

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spicy Salmon Deluxe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Maki-mono / Sushi Rolls - Kamehachi Signature Maki

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

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

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

Spicy Tuna Dlux Dlux [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Yasai Bu / Vegetarian Offerings - Yasai Maki Mono / Vegetable Rolls

A.a.c [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

Kappa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Yasai Bu / Vegetarian Offerings - Yasai Nigiri / Vegetable Nigiri

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

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

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

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

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

Asparagus-bell Pepper [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tsuke Awase / Side Dishes

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

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

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

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

Sushi Rice Or Brown Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Yaki Nasu Dengaku [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Chad D.

Overall, great sushi restaurant. Casual ambience, good selection of sake, and expertly crafted maki rolls. My one complaint was the lack of attention to our water levels. I think we may have gone 10 minutes with empty glasses at one point, so minus a star for that. Otherwise, I was very satisfied.
(4)
Aileen O.

Kamahachi's unassuming facade makes it seem as if it is one of Old Town's hidden jewels. But when you ask for recommendations from locals about good sushi places, this place always comes up. I decided to try this restaurant when I invited my visiting mom and aunt to meet my boyfriend over dinner. When you first walk in, the restaurant looks like any other sushi place - white walls, small tables and minimal decorations. However, when you walk upstairs, you get a completely different vibe. The lights are dimmed and black lights replace the bright white lights glaring downstairs. The ambiance is almost club-like. There's music in the background and everything just feels chic. The bad lighting, however, made it very difficult to read our menus. I felt like a 65 year old lady desperately trying to read the menu over the tiny candle on our table. The sushi was excellent - very fresh. Also, they have a large menu. For someone who can't eat avocados, I still had a lot of options to choose from. We ordered sukiyaki to share, which ended up tasting pretty good. Kamehachi tops my list of sushi places. What's even better is that it's less than half a mile from my place. I will be going back to enjoy some yummy sushi and feel cool in the upstairs eating area... Check it out!
(5)
John S.

Well, this was a first! I went over to Kamehachi for sushi while waiting to pick up the bike across the street a the "vil". Sat at the sushi bar and ordered the crab soup, green tea, a beer and all sashimi. As I was being served by the sushi chef, he dropped two of the pieces ....they fell onto the bar.....the chef apologized. I picked them up for him and placed them on the side of the dish awaiting a replacement....guess what...it never came. I figured this would make a good yelping....so, if you eat here, they may serve you dropped food!!!!. Makes you wonder what goes on in the kitchen. The fish seemed good though, thus why the three stars...but c'mon now...lets stop making customers eat off the floor! That was a first.
(3)
Allen I.

Good food. Mediocre service. Had to ask for tea 3 times and did not get a water refill despite a mostly empty restaurant.
(3)
Natalie P.

I dont know what the hype is. Service was slow. Food was not as fresh as expected. Not the best sushi I have had.
(2)
Brenda Lee J.

Ok, apparently will have to come back for the green turtle roll, since I'm a fan of all the ingredients listed. Definitely go upstairs for the lounge-like atmosphere. We had a dragon roll, a spicy tuna roll, a New York maki roll (salmon, cream cheese, scallion) and a spider roll. The spicy tuna was probably the least flavorful, but still good. The cream cheese was a bit overwhelming in the New York maki roll, although I'm a big cream cheese fan, so it was tolerable. It just took away from the taste of the fish itself. All in all, the sushi is fresh and delicious; and don't forget a little mochi for dessert!
(4)
Evann G.

agggh I loved this place so much. Sometimes I find myself waxing nostalgic about their chicken teriyaki. It's probably my favorite chicken teriyaki ever. And their maki! So good! I loved the dragon roll. I loved every roll we tried. I especially loved the seasonal roll we had over the summer, which was wrapped in cucumber and just. So. Refreshing. mmmm, Kamehachi. And it's in such a cute area, too.
(5)
Jill G.

Oh Kamehachi how I love you! Service is excellent and friendly, the food is fantastic and fresh. It is a bit pricey but for a special treat I'm all for it. One thing though, make reservations or you will end up at the sushi bar. Not that it's a bad thing, it's kind of cool. But when I get to go out with my husband for a bite to eat, I actually would like to see him. I hear they usually have reservations available on pretty short notice so don't be deterred from going here because of that. Just call ahead and see what they can do for you. And if you don't have a reservation they can put you upstairs in the sushi lounge or at the mentioned sushi bar downstairs. Also I must comment on their delivered orders. Wow! I ordered food to be delivered to my work one time (I'm out of their delivery areas) and was floored by the attention to proper packaging. It was downright upscale if there is such a thing! Not a drop of miso soup spilled, no teriyaki oopsies, and good study packaging all around.
(5)
Melissa Q.

The bf and I finally used our groupon on a Friday night. Overall, we weren't impressed. We are huge fans of Coast & Butterfly, whose sushi is amazing and is BYOB. Kamehachi was much more expensive and there was not one roll that had that "wow" factor. The best part of the meal was the steamed dumplings. While it wasn't a horrible experience, my love for cheaper & better sushi places in the city will most likely keep me from returning.
(2)
Adrienne C.

This place is the bomb-dot-com! The fact that its open so late is amazing, and the prices are reasonable too! I went here for a bachelorette weekend dinner and they were able to accomodate all of us quickly on the patio, which was our first choice. I look forward to returning! I only had maki - I can't speak to the quality of the nigiri or sashimi.
(4)
Sunkyung P.

I really have nothing to complain about this place. My date and I got here a bit late (without reservations) after a show at Second City and we got ushered upstairs and I'm glad we did. I have a soft spot for corner booths. Especially if the lighting is low and if you're with someone you have chemistry with. I live in Los Angeles and go to school in Boston but grew up in Chicago... but I have yet to find another restaurant with a sumptuous corner booth like Kamehachi does. We ordered a bunch of Maki and some Nigiri and it was all very good! The large, suspended mirrors are a fun way for people watching if you can't seem to conjure up some good conversation! I will definitely be returning to Kamehachi in search of the same corner booth!
(5)
Allen A.

Something has to be said about the most aesthetically pleasing food I've ever seen yet refuse to eat. I've had sushi only once, and once was enough. My strong aversion to the texture and, more simply, the idea of eating something raw has deterred from being a true sushi expert, but I must say that when dining here with friends -- I eat the steak teriyaki; more about it later -- they praise presentation and delectability without fail. The way spider maki are created, for instance, is infinitely more innovative than I've seen at other similarly priced restaurants. Meanwhile, the steak teriyaki definitely compelsweekly visits. The sauce is much thicker than dishes offered by other places, and the hefty slab of meat is far and away the best offering I've found in the entire city. And let's not forget the 2nd floor lounge with its late-night hours. Nothing compares. Aurora, by the way, is also the best server in the world.
(5)
Abi L.

I got a Groupon and went to the Northbrook location, the food was just ok, then I realized that my other groupon had expired a day ago, and called to see if they would still honor it, they said no if it was even a day old they would not let me use it. It is unfortunate that they are not allowing me to use and because of that they have not only lost me as a customer but my family and friends. there are plenty of other sushi restaurants in the city and suburbs. One less to go to.
(1)
Brittany B.

I can't complain, but I can't really rave either. Good location, good service, reasonable prices.
(3)
Ian S.

Ate here a few times, first out of curiosity and a few other times because I had no choice. It's okay for a sushi joint, there are many around the city that are much better. Wish the service was better.
(3)
Lisa D.

My husband and I met up with another couple here last night--I hadn't been here in about five years, but it was just as I remembered it! I only made reservations on Friday morning, but we had no problem getting a table at 8:30. In fact, we got a rockstar booth on the second floor--probably the best table I've had there! I had the Kabocha soup, a seasonal Japanese pumpkin soup, which was CRAZY good! My kappa maki rolls were standard, but my friends who ordered the tuna roll, spicy tuna, etc weren't wowed. I'm giving it 4 stars for the table and the soup, but I'm guessing that since we were at a sushi place and they felt theirs was sub-par, they'd give it 2.5.
(4)
Sarah L.

I can't say I have any major complaints about kamehachi... it's just "meh" in terms of sushi. The atmosphere is very nice. it's a great choice for a good night out for a date or a birthday dinner. However, it is overpriced. I mean, it's not like it's outrageous but it is a little more than other sushi places in the area and it's just not that great. I find myself only going here for those special occasion type events when someone else picks it, but when it's my choice for sushi in old town... I go elsewhere.
(3)
carrie g.

Ordered delivery from here only so can't comment on the restaurant ambience itself but... As other reviewers have remarked - this place has "solid" sushi. Mostly your basics, good selection of salads and apps, as well as your "go-to" rolls. I was hoping for some more exciting options, but hey, then I just need to get my butt of the couch and find exciting for that! Delivery was fast - with a $3 charge. Generally speaking I would say moderately priced - for gyoza, salad and 3 rolls it was $45. I would order again when the desperate sushi bug hits and I'm not ready to brave the outside world.
(4)
D L.

This place is reallllly par, it's not really worth a trip... unless you're in Old town and crave sushi at that very minute (or you have one of those groupon like I did) I had the Kaki fry, it has 2 big pieces and 4 small pieces. Taste was ok, but out of the Kaki fry I had elsewhere, they use the big oysters, I felt the 4 small pieces here are cheated... I had an assorted orders of sushi and roll... It's really par. The tempura shrimp in the tempura shrimp roll is thickly breaded and like it's been made 2 days ago. Do not eat anything scallop. I had the scallop nigiri and the spicy scallop roll. It's totally not fresh and does not have the sweet taste that scallop should have. Even the spicy scallop roll do not have any taste, I don't know how they should be called spicy? If you really have to go, here's a hint. If you want a darker and more romantic atmosphere, ask for 2nd floor. 1st floor is brighter. I think they have a patio, but I didn't venture in..
(3)
Cherry J.

Title: Bug In Sake!!! I'm writing this review based on the experience and professionalism received after encountering the infamous 'bug-in-food' experience rarely heard about in nice restaurants. After ordering items that added up to almost $100 (before tip), we poured the last of our hot sake to find a pest inside of the container. Although I've never worked in a sushi restaurant, it's hard to say whether this type of occurrence is avoidable, or if it's primarily up to the sake provided to ensure a bug free product... In any case, this review isn't so much about the bug-in-the-sake as it is the response received from the management during this night. After informing the acting manager of the bug, and providing a picture (posted with the review), she claimed that she would look into the matter and would check the water and thoroughly clean the plates (why the water, or cleaning the plates would matter for what's in the sake is beyond me). So we left unsatisfied with the action promised by upper management. We didn't request any items removed from our bill though common sense dictates that this should have been one of the first things promised after such an event occurs. Less than an hour later we called to check the status of our do-gooder manager with inspecting cleaned plates and looking into the water (not the sake). She informed us that they are still looking into it. She also said she would reimburse the drinks only if we returned to the restaurant. Seeing as this didn't come up until after we left, we were a little taken back, now we have to go back to the scene of the crime if we want to be offered what should have been offered in the first place? The only other option provided was to receive a gift card for the restaurant. Even looking over the fact that our experience would give anyone an adequate reason not to ever step foot in this establishment again, we are out-of-towners that will have as little of need for this gift card as giving Anthony Weiner advice on sexting. Bottom-line: I won't guarantee the same experience that we received with the bug-in-sake, but I can most certainly guarantee an unprofessional manager on staff that throws ridiculous quality prevention suggestions (thoroughly checking the water..) or even more ridiculous damage control options (gift card for out-of-towners...). If you ever have a problem with this restaurant, you're better off writing your thoughts through social media than addressing them at the restaurant.
(1)
Michael G.

We were going to second city and decided for sushi. Great location. The decor is elegant and romantic. The service is outstanding. Overall, it is a great value and I strongly recommend.
(4)
Rix T.

Nice ambiance. Waitress is attentive. The food just didn't wow me. The presentation of Kow Haku Don was really nice and appetizing but the food wasn't overall great. It was really hard to eat since the bowl was too crowded with stuff. They included roasted sesame seed on the rice which added an nutty taste to the dish. Spicy tuna deluxe was okay. I had it better elsewhere. It' s usually have a clean spicy aftertaste but this just taste fishy. Has avocado cucumber and spicy mayo which still surprise me why it tastes like that. Miso soup was good not too salty and it also have bits of seaweed and tofu. Oh another added bonus bathroom is clean.
(3)
Antaash U.

I haven't been to Kamehachi in a while, and the last time I went, it was the Gold Coast location. What made me want to come back to Kamehachi was the Shrimp Yaki Soba and the maki rolls I had previously. They had left a strong impression on me and I have been waiting to go back. Well, the opportunity finally presented itself a few days ago. Of course, my friends trust my opinion and were more than amenable to my suggestion. Since particular things had brought me back to Kamehachi, that's what I thought we should order. Well, I was disappointed. The food was good, but it was not as great as I remember. First of all, the shrimp in the Yaki Soba were those teeny tiny, generic shrimp that the hole in the wall Chinese restaurants use. The last time I was at Kamehachi, the shrimp were large. almost prawn size, succulent and tasted of perfection. Also, the flavor of the Yaki Soba was different. There was something in this Yaki Soba that was just...eh. Also, I judge sushi places by their spicy tuna. It's a basic roll, but so easy to mess up. If a restaurant can handle the spicy tuna, then it tells me whether or not they can execute the more complicated rolls. When our maki platter came out, the spicy tuna were these itty, bitty rolls, the spicy tuna filling on the sparse side, and what was the offical deal breaker: it was NOT spicy. Sigh. Why call it spicy tuna, if you're not going to make it spicy? We also ordered the shrimp tempura maki. It was good, but without the soy sauce, there was no real flavor. Boo! Finally, we ordered what was the sunset maki. This was the highlight of the meal. The flavors were fresh, and balanced. You could taste each individual ingredient but the flavors were harmonious. This roll alone is why I am giving Kamehachi 3 stars instead of two. I'm not sure if the menus vary by location of if the items have just "evolved" since my last visit. Either way, I don't think I am ever going to return to Kamehachi because this past experience burst the bubble of my first time here. Cest la vie!
(3)
May Y.

A traditional Japanese outfit, which has a phoenix pattern sewed by hand, at Kamehachi's entrance caught my attention. I immediately entered the restaurant with my friend, and Kamehachi did not defy my expectations. Juicy, crunchy and flavorful. Tofu dengaku (tofu skewers with miso sauce) is the best in Chicago. It has three flavors - yuzu miso, aka miso and matcha miso, which is quite rare in the States. In particular, I like the yuzu miso skewer that is quite refreshing. I also enjoyed eating the spicy renkon (lotus root). Very few Japanese restaurants prepare renkon because it takes time to marinate it well. I applaud Kamehachi for putting it on the menu. The yaki nasu dengaku (eggplant with miso) is quite good too, but it is slightly too salty. After this meal, Kamehachi is in the top 3 list of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Chicago. Kamehachi, I am sure that you will fly as high and far as a phoenix does. P.S. The waitress kept ignoring us when we attempted to order food. One star off for that. Food: 4 Decor: 5 Service: 3
(4)
Kevin A.

My favorite sushi spot in Old Town. Unfortunately, they've discontinued the Maki 51 sushi boat which means we may stop going. Come on Kamehachi! Bring it back! This was a staple in our household.
(3)
Shan A.

We ate here for my husband's birthday dinner last week before heading to a show at Second City. We were not disappointed! The sushi was fresh and tasted great, and the custom cocktails were delicious as well. If we lived in Chicago, we would definitely make this a favorite of ours!
(5)
Avery A.

Just went here with my gf last weekend. Happily surprised to have really great fish, which I have felt isn't as common in Chicago as New York. This place is a 5/5 when it comes to Chicago Sushi, probably a 4/5 for you out of towners. Also they have really great Yaki Udon for those who are a fan of noodles.
(4)
Rita P.

This place is fine. It's okay. Nothing to write home about. Being that it's 2014 and good food in the city of Chicago has EXPLODED in taste and atmosphere to nationally recognized levels, Kamehachi has lagged behind. Unless this restaurant wants to only attract patrons (from the suburbs) on their way to Second City, don't change. If they'd like to appeal to the Chicago masses who have hundreds of different options within a 5 miles radius, step it up. There are much better sushi restaurants to spend your hard earned money on in neighborhoods to the west side and north side. Since I can't give half stars, I've rounded up to three stars. The restaurant is large and each floor has a different feel. If you want to feel like you are part of the restaurant, then the downstairs is great. There seems to be hustle and bustle of patrons, the bar and feel of a a lively fun dining experience. If you feel like you should be banished to the attic like the forgotten relative who moved away and only in town for the holidays or did not have a reservation at 6:45pm (at a mostly empty restaurant), then enjoy your table upstairs as much as possible. It's vast, cavernous, and spacious with early 2000s decor complete with plastic flowers and plants along with a poor selection of smooth jazz saxophone muzak to complete your Saturday evening. The food is "safe". Their big plate entrees have been Americanized on your plate to consist of the three traditional categories you find on any midwestern dinner plate: meat (fish), vegetables (asparagus/broccoli/carrots) and starch (rice). Specialty seasonal fish (priced at $6-9 a piece) with elaborate descriptions could've been bigger portioned or presented in a different manner than put in corner of the more elaborate looking regular maki sushi roll that is of equivalent pricing. I wasn't impressed and won't be going back. It was fine. It was ok. It was not worth visiting again.
(3)
Jon I.

The sushi wasnt bad, they just used waaaay to much spicy mayo in the spicy tuna and salmon rolls. So if your the kind of person who cant get enough spicy mayo then this place is for you. Also you have to pay extra for eel sauce on a shrimp tempura roll!! Whats that about?
(3)
Amelia B.

Some of the best sashimi I've had in the city, some of the worst/slowest service. The new(ish) location is flashy and sexy, but didn't back it up. But because the fish was so fresh, the cuts were so large, and the waitress was so apologetic, I'll save them the one-star. But on a Sunday night, with about a half-full restaurant, there's no excuse for an hour long wait for a sashimi plate and a few rolls. No excuse that my food came out 15 minutes before my boyfriend's. No excuse for just forgetting to bring out one of my rolls. No excuse for a server that made herself so absent I could barely get a water refill. Perhaps they were short-staffed - she looked a bit haggard. I understand the concept of a leisurely dinner, but on a Sunday evening, no reason for a meal to take 2+ hours, especially when we didn't even order drinks. She did give us a $10 gift card for the next time we come. Despite great sashimi, I don't think there will be a next time. There are plenty of other sushi joints in the 'hood.
(2)
Kristy D.

Been here twice now and had relatively the same experience both times. The spicy edamame is awesome and the sushi rolls are pretty good and seemed fresh. However, the tables for 2 are incredibly small and very close together. Its hard to hear yourself over all of the other noise in the restaurant.
(4)
Jesus D.

Great place, atmosphere, and the service was amazing. You have to love a place that sells Sapporo beer. Definitely coming back. Our server was very friendly and food came out in a timely manner.
(5)
Tim Y.

Delicious sushi. And a good drink. It has a nice atmosphere as well. My one criticism is that we came during karaoke night and it didn't really fit the ambience of the place. I could have done without that. Otherwise wonderful experience. Good food and good service
(5)
Beth K.

Great food, great service. Love this place!
(4)
Audra N.

First and foremost, I have to say I usually love this place. The food is always great. Some of the best sushi in the city. My beef with this place is that they advertise that they are open late post specific hours and than close early! I went in tonight craving my fav roll in the city a half and hour before they close ( on the yelp app it says midnight). Being in this industry I understand closing early if you haven't had business well before close but they had guests at the bar! I on average eat there one to three times a month. It's just frustrating to be told were closed when they advertise specific hours....
(3)
Elizabeth M.

My immediate reaction was being very pleased with the ambience. Very relaxing and chill. The sushi was also good. Not amazing but not terrible
(4)
Robert M.

Incredible food and great service! Highly recommend
(5)
Zach L.

Rare to find a great sushi place like this one. Fish was fresh, staff was friendly, Awsome atmosphere.
(5)
Andrew Q.

Went there with a couple friends on a Saturday night. They called ahead and made a reservation. We were put into the private room which could fit 4-6 comfortably. That was a nice feature. Food was good and prices weren't too bad.
(4)
C M.

I was very pleased with my experience here. First off, I do not eat seafood of any sort and was pleased to find that they have a nice selection of veggie rolls. I am a picky eater and they made substitutions to my rolls for me. My dining partner had lots of questions and our server was very knowledgeable and gave great advice. They had excellent drinks. I can't wait to go here again.
(5)
Joey F.

Was surprised how big Kamehachi was because it looks really small from the outside. They have a comfortable atmosphere and is not as busy as a lot of other sushi places. Sushi is fine. It is pretty standard. There is much better sushi places in the city.
(3)
Sunshine C.

Kamehachi is alright. It's probably the best sushi place in Old Town but falls behind outside of that area (I think there are 3 sushi places in Old Town :\). I'm a bit of a sashimi nut so I usually go for those. Quality is average but servings are small for the price. I can get the same quality and more generous servings for cheaper if I just take a step beyond the border of Old Town to Lincoln Park. I've also tried the Bento Box for lunch. Again, it's okay. At first taste, I liked the Pork Katsu but on the second, I realized that it was lacking in crunch and flavor. The rest of the bento box consisted of sushi, edamame, and some salad. Again, it was average... not something I would crave and come back for. On the bright side, I would say that Kamehachi is great for groups. Dinner service has always been good for me but lunch service is pretty slow (considering that there are usually only 4 tables when I come in for lunch). I guess the server does triple as the hostess and bartender. Long story short, I go here when I'm desperate for Japanese food in Old Town and get too lazy to walk a couple of more blocks away to get a bigger bang for my buck.
(2)
James K.

Great, Great, Great! The only hard choice, upstairs or downstairs. I like upstairs, a little quieter than below.
(4)
Monique B.

The ambiance and atmosphere are better than the food and service. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and is great for large parties and small tables alike. I came with a group of friends and we ordered a lot of different dishes off the menu. The sushi was ok, but no better than you run of the mill corner sushi restaurant. I had the chillean sea bass, which is one of my favorite fish and I thought it was decent, but it's such a great fish, there are so many ways to make it taste amazing. The soups looked, ok, but not delicious. The veggie tempura was pretty good, but you I can't make a meal out of just tempura. Service was slow, and the restaurant was crowded, but our waitress was a little flighty and kept forgetting to bring things we asked for (pepper, additional soy sauce, etc.) The prices were expensive, given the quality of the food and the service. You're paying for the ambiance and the location. Overall, below average food, above average prices. I say a 2 stars, no more, no less.
(2)
David Moore F.

Solid neighborhood spot. Much better in their new location. Best to order delivered while you wait for Pizano's to be delivered....
(4)
Steven H.

Very good flavor and great ambiance. The sushi menu for rolls is a little limited, but the ones we tried were good. The summer roll is quite spicy, and good. Unfortunately the special spicy tuna wasn't very spicy. The decor is very nice and service was good.
(4)
Laurie B.

The food is good and typically fresh. THE PROBLEM IS THE SERVICE. We were there for dinner last night and originally seated at a 2-top at the very front of the restaurant to enjoy the fresh air. We moved to a 4-top to have more room, and our server informed us that table was not in her section, so we moved further back (away from the fresh air we were trying to enjoy). We proceeded to watch a group pull the 2-top and 4-top at the very front together, and suddenly, it was now in our server's section. Amazing! Go figure. We received our maki rolls and were told our Nigiri would be out shortly... except that we ordered sashimi, NOT Nigiri. Our server seemed confused and convinced that we ordered Nigiri. Clearly she was not paying attention when taking our order. We ran out of soy sauce before our sashimi arrived and requested more. Our server pretended to hear us and acknowledged our request, but no soy sauce was delivered, even after our sashimi arrived. We waited until we could wait no more, and we were finally able to flag down another server/runner to get more soy sauce. We finished our wine well before the end of the meal, but our server never checked on our table or asked if we'd like another drink. ***You're losing money due to Hyona, Kamehachi.*** We did have another drink, we just left to get it elsewhere. This restaurant is in the 'hood and convenient, but I'd rather take my hard-earned money and spend it where somewhere that cares about service.
(2)
Rebekah B.

Gosh, my experience at Kamehachi was mediocre at best. I know I used to like it. Used to think it was the tops of sushi in Chicago, and I'm not a sucker for a fancy sushi joint either. Things were pricier than they should be for sure. Small plate of veggie tempura, $13.95? Weird. And eh. The sushi itself was just average. I could go to a million cheaper places for average. I don't think I"ll go back.
(2)
Jonathan A.

The Bento Box is a ridiculously great deal for lunch. And they deliver. And it's always tasty. Each time it comes with a different surprise vegetable or side, and I love trying to guess what it is. I could order other things, but why? The bento box has teriyaki chix, beef or salmon, veg tempura, a california roll, miso soup, a surprise side and that's about all I need.
(4)
Crystal P.

I fell in love with spicy scallop rolls here! I like the up stairs in this place. It was a little too dark though. I came with a few friends and just had a few rolls before we went out. The service was fast and the fish was fresh and the prices are great! a+ for them.
(4)
Phil Y.

My first impression of this place was... "I've found a winner!" Delivery was fast, food looked great, and all the reviews looked positive. I ordered a Combination Dinner Bento, and a Spicy Tuna Roll. The spicy tuna roll was great. Nothing wrong here.. In fact, i'd probably order this again in the future. The problem was in the Combination dinner. I ordered it with the Salmon option. The bento contained miso soup, side of rice, tempura combination w/ dipping sauce, california roll, some pickled sides, and the salmon. Everything was fine, except! the salmon. The salmon was completely raw in the middle, only the outside was lightly cooked. It had a nice grill taste on the outside, but the inside was just all raw. I don't have a problem with raw fish, just salmon in a bento should be fully cooked. Since it was undercooked, it felt like I was eating mush. I mean I appreciate the fast timing and professional approach to the delivery, but please, PLEASE just finish cooking the food. I don't really care if you come a little late. Just the food is what I want to enjoy after a long day...
(2)
Sarah R.

I love it here. I've sat on the back patio once and the downstairs sushi bar once. But the upstairs is where it's at. This place is sexy. And they serve full menu till 2 am. I love the lychee martinis, i love the spinach with peanut sauce, i love the oyster shooters, i love the green turtle roll. I love how the music they plays is different every time I go in. Sometimes its heavy metal, sometimes its r&b, sometimes it's rock, sometimes it's classical. Kamehachi is my happy place. This is my ultimate feast: miso soup, gomae, soft shell crab, kaki fry, maybe some oyster shooters, green turtle roll, spicy tuna hand roll, summer roll (no cilantro, i hate it), whatever special roll they have, and then the mochi balls. And lychee martinis and sake. All shared, of course, foods no fun if you can't share it. I've been coming here for years, and it has never disappointed me.
(5)
Chayla B.

Yeah, I don't have a whole lot to say. Sushi is good for cheap, but mediocre. Salads are wicked expensive. I got a kani su salad, minus the seaweed last night. So cucumbers and crab (likely imitation, though I'm not sure). $11! Serious! It's my own fault for not reading the menu, but come on. I've never had a kani salad cost that much. it's a side salad, for cryin' out loud. The sushit wasn't bad. The first I went it was better, I thought. Last night wasn't that great. If last night had been my first experience, I wouldn't have gone back a second time. However, my first experience wasn't bad, but my second was pretty blah, so I won't be back. Service is was really got me. They weren't that busy, but while we were greeted promptly, it took about 20 minutes to get and pay our bill. I had been finished for some time before our server came back. After we asked for our bill it took about 10 minutes to receive it, then 10 minutes after she took it. I was tired and just wanted to leave. Nothing worse than being ready to go and unable to leave. It's not the worst experience sushi experience I've had but not even close to the best. I will likely not be back.
(2)
Shannon B.

I have never been to the restaurant myself, but when we are jonezing for Japanese food this is where we dial. I have to say I am impressed. The Tonkatsu isn't the tough fatty cut of meat you normally get and the sauce is great. I was surprised by the Teriyaki Beef, it is thick cuts of steak rather than the thin slices I'm used to (and fairly rare, so if you are not a fan of blood make sure to ask for it cooked as you like). The Tempura is nice and not too oily and the Miso soup is yummy. All in all its a good meal. On the delivery front, we use OrderNetwork and it always gets here on time and just as we ordered it.
(4)
Brian M.

Went here with a large party 8+ before attending a second city show, we made reservations so we were able to get a seat, but the layout and size of the restaurant are definitely a little awkward. The sushi wasn't great, but definitely didn't blow me away, not like Coast or Japanais, but still pretty good. The turtle roll is the one I remember that stands out and it was delicious.
(3)
Daniil V.

You Should: Go if Nearby Sizzle: Solid sushi, slow service Juice: Good for groups - round up friends and get a private room
(3)
K. T.

This place doesn't look much on the outside, but once you're inside it's like a sigh of relief. Beautiful decor, friendly people and very fast service! The food was just perfect. I can't wait to go back before we leave Chicago!
(5)
Devon B.

I LOVE this restaurant! Super fresh sushi. Some of the best in the city. Super kind staff. I always come here for sushi. I've tried several other places but the consistency here is unmatched. Love the specials & sake options as well. Going tomorrow & can't wait!
(4)
Moise K.

This was my 2nd time ever having sushi and this time I took an expert with me. She ordered the Seaweed salad( Love it) ,Edamome (the green soy beans), dragon roll, spicy tuna roll, and Hamachi roll and I have No complaints. Wow... We had No reservation for a Saturday dinner and were seated within only 5 min. The staff was very friendly and professional! Above all, the food is great. ***Highly recommended***
(4)
Andy S.

I am a big fan of Japanese food. I love Rice balls (or Musubi), Katsu Don, and Sushi. This place managed to sort screw up on the Katsu Don. The meat was sort of Stale. Which, reminded of of Thai Spoon's leathery Chicken. The parking is atrocious, the service is ok. Nothing really fantastic about it. And Katsu Don took about 20-30 minutes to get ready.. which, shouldn't really be so... for Katsu Don. The prices are just too Expensive. It doesn't justify eating here. Try your luck at Sunshine Cafe in Andersonville. Much better service, cozier place, and great selection.. at a decent price. Oh, and there's decent parking spaces.
(2)
Elena A.

This is one of my favorite places to get sushi in the Chicago-area. Consistently delicious, the upstairs is a pretty comfortable place for small parties (5 or so) and the tatami room is really nice. I've always had excellent service while here (Cat is AWESOME), the drinks are good, and i love the food. The upstairs is decorated really nicely, but a bit dim - very nice date atmosphere though. My favorite roll is the green turtle roll - they're also very accommodating if you want to change things in the roll.
(4)
paul r.

Good food awesome decor.
(4)
Robin W.

I love this place...latest hours, great place for a date, perfect sushi, spring rolls and miso! Always opt to go upstairs, its more loungey.
(5)
Wing Yan C.

Um.. no! Just no.. it is not a good Japanese restaurant at all. I waited at least 20 mins for my food, I guessed there was a party somewhere. I ordered some sushi and sashimi but they don't have the fish taste at all!! Not fresh! I didn't tried their rolls maybe they r good.. but I would not go back.period.
(2)
Jason H.

Certainly not the best sushi I've ever had, but decent. I don't think it's quite worth the price though. I'm a huge sushi fan, have had it everywhere from San Fran to New York to Taiwan, so I've had the full range of good and bad. I'll go somewhere else in Chicago for sushi next time.
(3)
T M.

It all seems clean and everything, and every one is polite enough, so there are no real problems with Kamehachi. And they get some extra points for having the latest hours of any sushi place I can think of. It'll be better than the sushi you can get at Jewel. But overall, the sushi and other food are just kind of mediocre. I tried a bit of a noodle dish, and not only were they a weird temperature (I forget what temperature they were supposed to be served at, but whatever it was, these weren't at that temperature) and didn't taste like anything. It really was just a bunch of practically flavorless texture. The sushi I had was completely average in quality. There was nothing I didn't like about it, but then, there was nothing I liked about it either. For the price, there are other places I'd rather go where I can get a better deal or better sushi, just not at the times when I might end up here.
(3)
Lucas P.

There is something to be said about table layout in some restaurants and this is a good place to start. I came to this restaurant with my fiancÃ© for a romantic night out, and we were seated literally 2 feet away from a table of obnoxiously loud idiots, which would not bother me as much, but the other table was literally 2 feet away. The sushi was, eh, and the prices were fair. Restaurants, if you are reading, do not stack your tables on top of each other, and make sure that you figure out what your diners are at your restaurant for, their experience will be based off of that.
(3)
Isabella W.

I finally tried the Kamehachi here in Old Town. The sushi here is decent and moderately priced. They do have a large menu selection and some inventive rolls (featured in their specials menu). We got edamame (which was over-salted), but still good (can't really go wrong with boiling soybeans), and ordered the summer roll, kamehachi roll and a special roll, the old town roll. Out of the 3, the summer roll was my favorite - with yellowtail, tuna, masago, lime, CILANTRO - it was full of flavors and refreshing at the same time, with the lime and cilantro. The Old Town roll, one of the special rolls of the night, had salmon, asparagus, avocado with tuna on top and crab salad/spicy mayo. It was a mouthful, but the flavors worked nicely together, and the crab salad was a nice touch to the roll. My least fav was the Kamehachi roll - it was good, but nothing outstanding. I've been to the one in Streeterville and to the one in River North @ The Westin, and prefer the sushi at those locations over this one.
(3)
Greg L.

Yeah. Okay. I love sushi. So what! This place in my favorite in the city if I am looking for traditional sushi in a traditional atmosphere. I think it is my favorite place for a great sushi lunch if I want a quiet, relaxing, and attentive service atmosphere. If you like sashimi as much as I do, you will feel like you have gone to sushi heaven----just thinking of it makes me want to cancel our reservations for dinner tonight (Italian) and do this instead. Like butter! The sashimi will literally melt in your mouth. Oh yeah baby!
(5)
Jean Z.

This yelp suggestion really blew me away. We ordered on a Friday Night and i kid you not, the food was here within 20 minutes. Maybe just lucky, but I'm very happy I found this place! I got their special of the day roll that had asparagus, tempura shrimp and a spicy masago on top man ... so good. I had some pieces and a couple other rolls, equally as good. The only thing that disappointed me was the tofu appetizer, it was a very soft tofu and not fried as hard as I expected...I'm not one for mushy anything(ask the ladies at the original pancake house) so I ended up tossing this appetizer, but everything else was delish! I am still in shock that my food was here so fast. Still in shock, a day later, and yea probably still be in shock tomorrow
(5)
Jason C.

What struck me first about this place was how restaurant was very unassuming to the quick paced people moving by. The girlfriend and I had no idea about it until we googled the word "Japanese" for near by places to our hotel (downtown Courtyard Marriott). Our quick walk through the wind and iced rain was ended with us going down a small flight of stairs. I need to point out that I love going down stairs for a restaurant. It makes me feel like I'm going into an exclusive, or elite institution. A place that only I and a few fellow ivory tower-ist know about. I was more than pleasantly surprised to fine an elaborately decorated den that was constructed in the traditional Japanese "dojo"-esk manner. It was really quite impressive. The food too was more than commendable. The service was prompt and knowledgeable, and though the prices were on the higher end, it still proved to be worth it. Cheap sushi is often just that, cheap sushi. This is certainly a 1st tier sushi place, but I wouldn't include it in the top half of that tier, so it gets 3.99 stars.
(3)
Tara P.

Upfront I should disclose that I'm only reviewing the downstairs area, but I hear the upstairs is a different experience. The downstairs is just a standard, small, crowded sushi place. The service and food were good, not amazing but perfectly fine. The best items we had were a pear martini and a special item of baby calamari with a spicy/sweet sauce - one of the best appetizers I've ever had, anywhere, and certainly the best treatment of calamari I've had. My husband and I split five rolls and a couple of pieces - all were good, but none were all that memorable. Downstairs loses a star because the ambience is nothing special, but I'd like to give the upstairs a chance.
(3)
Luke S.

Adequate in every way. Adequate fish, adequate service, adequate decor. No better, no worse.
(3)
Mark H.

To start, the atmosphere is really nice - outside seating, bar seating and sit down seating and they're all decorated nicely. I got the Nabeyaki udon soup which was incredible. The noodles were great, tempura shrimp was excellent, basically everything was awesome and my friends who got the soup also agreed. My friends who got the sushi ate it all but didn't think it was anything special - they said they wished they ordered the soup instead. I can't speak to the sushi, so I guess you'll have to go and try yourself. Definitely recommended.
(5)
Natalie D.

I'm super shocked I havnt written this review yet. This is a review from about 2012! I love this place! I used to work just down the street and would come after work or even before (It was a wine bar.) the vibe was amazing, fast and informative service, and of course very fresh sushi! My sister tried her first sushi here! Now she loves it and eats it like a pro!! Thanks to the versatility of Kamahachis menu, she was able to try something she really liked and is a sushi convert!
(5)
Shambavi K.

Great place to grab cocktails and sake with Japanese appetizers. Staff was busy but friendly and attentive. Food is just ok. - rock shrimp tempura was good but I feel there was a tad too much batter. - spider roll - worst roll of the night. Too much rice and not enough crab at all. Too bland. Not worth it - spicy salmon deluxe was tasty - the 1st one on the specialty rolls were was pretty good. Not sure if it was worth the price - summer roll - best roll of the night. I didn't like the migi-tini - had a soapy taste. The whiskey cocktail and the dragon martini was good. Hot sake was great to share throughout dinner.
(3)
Daliah F.

I have been to Kamehachi a couple of times over the years and to their location in Northbrook. Our experience in Old Town was definitely "meh." Positives were the atmostphere - really lovely new location and a front section that opens to the sidewalk - and presentation. All the plates were beautiful. For the prices, I'd rather go elsewhere for good Japanese. The service was just okay. We wandered around the front of the restaurant for almost 5 minutes before someone approached us and told us it was fine to sit at one of the front tables. It was almost another 10 before the waitress came to even take drink orders. Service was intermittent throughout; however, the server did quickly change out my cold sake when I said I didn't care for her original recommendation. For appetizers we had beef asparagus rolls and chicken yakitori. The beef rolls were bland with too much sauce. The chicken yakitori was probably the best dish of the evening - great flavor and the cuts of chicken were good. The veggies on the skewers seemed fresh. My boyfrind had the gyoza. He said they were as good as he could get at a Japanese grocery store. For dinner, I ordered the spicy salmon deluxe, the tasmanian salmon and a sushi toro trio special - over $40 in sushi. Literally every piece of fish I put in my mouth was sinewy and I had to pick the parts that I couldn't chew out of my mouth and leave them on my plate. This almost never happens with fresh salmon. I didn't find the quality of the fish great and the spicy salmon deluxe was bland. My boyfriend had the ton katsu - he said the panko crumbs were just like heavy breading...not light and crispy the way they are supposed to be, and the cutlet itself was not pounded thin enough. Even though the presentation looked nice, we decided that overall, the ingredients did not seem particularly fresh - from my fish to the cabbage on the side of the his plate. All in all, there so many other restaurants in the neighborhood, this one won't be a destination for us.
(2)
Maria-Elena T.

Three of us stopped here for dinner on a Friday night around 7pm. We were seated immediately. The place is a far cry from the usual sterile Japanese restaurant; it is beautiful with its high ceilings, exposed brick walls, low flattering lightening and unobtrusive music. We sat at a high top table parallel to the front door and were able to people watch. The whole wall opens so it is like eating outside but we weren't. Which is good because it was raining. Service was good and the bathroom is co- love the copper tile detail. We started with the edamame which has an unusual preparation- rock salt, a little spicy and some butter. Very very good and addictive. We went through 3 bowls! We had rock shrimp, salmon sashimi, rainbow roll, California roll, mushroom roll, and eel nagiri. All was delicious! I would return and order the same things!
(4)
Anne A.

Visited this place last Saturday. My friend took me here for my birthday and we arrived at 7:30 with no reservations. We were seated right away and place was about half full. Sushi was just mediocre, but service was so dreadfully slow. They seemed understaffed. They did not make my friends wine spritzer right. I wanted to order another beer before we left but our server was no where to be found. We tried to get another server to help us but were denied. Naturally, it took forever to get the bill too. This place should of had much better service, especially for it not being busy on a Saturday night. Too bad because it's very close to where I live and I love sushi.
(2)
Valeria G.

Impressive! I tried Kamehachi last night with a friend. We ordered a bottle of wine, tuna carpaccio appetizer, and 3 makis (rainbow, sunset, and dragon). The sunset was my favorite! I must say I was really impressed to have a delicious sushi place nearby. It is a bit on the pricier side, but is overlooked by the quality of the fish - all very fresh! Our waitress was a doll - very sweet, amicable, and attentive (we sat on their patio). Overall, it was a good experience.
(5)
Diane V.

This beautifully decorated restaurant has amazingly delicious food, and a favorite place of ours to bring others to lunch. We have had one experience of eating here for dinner and it was not good due to very noisy customers taking up a huge table on second floor. Restaurant staff did nothing to quiet them down. We won't return on the evenings but love it during the daytime. Great service, so very close to our workplace/church, and ALWAYS good food!
(5)
Grace A.

Currently I am visiting Chicago and I was so excited to find a sushi place in my favorite part of town, Old Town. I came in by myself because my sister is at work. First, it took the waitress about 15 minutes to bring me my water, when she brought it she set it down and walked away. Second, after I got my food, she never once came back to ask me anything, I even had to flag her down and ask for more water. Third, I ordered the spicy tuna roll and the sunset roll. The spicy tuna roll had no flavor other than the soy sauce and was very chewy. The sunset roll had no flavor besides the cilantro. After all of this when I was finished I put my chopsticks across my soy sauce dish and set my napkin on the table, the waitress never brought me my check. It took me asking twice to get it. The only reason I gave it two stars is for the environment, but I won't be returning.
(2)
Chris C.

I lived in south Florida for 10 years, and you could go to any hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant on any corner and get solid, fresh sushi. Here in Chicago? Not so much. After searching around and trying almost every place mentioned in every magazine and food rating site/book, I finally found Kamehachi. Long story short: The sushi is very good here. It isn't cheap, but it's not absurdly expensive like some of the other allegedly "top-notch" sushi offerings in Chicago (eh hem, Japonais). The fish is always fresh and they have some very nice "special" rolls. They also have a rotating list of daily specials - usually exotic, original, interesting rolls. The summer roll is excellent and has a great kick to it, and the standard rolls are great. Of note: I keep going to sushi places in Chicago that are performing botched surgery on the standard "spicy tuna roll". Thankfully, Kamehachi does NOT do this. They serve it correctly. I do not know why these places think you are supposed to chiffonade the sushi, mutilate it, and integrate it with the spicy mayonnaise sauce. Places do this and it is like a bizarro tuna tartare, but done wrong. But like I said, Kamehachi does not do this. They give you a nice big chunk of fresh tuna and put a little spicy sauce in the roll. Thank you, Kamehachi! Lastly, Kamehachi is kind of like two restaurants in one. The downstairs is the more "traditional" looking sushi restaurant (equipped with the sushi bar and sushi chefs visible). The upstairs is a more "Japonais"-y type lounge. It is darker, sexier, and "cooler". So, depending on what kind of mood you are trying to set, plan accordingly and request which room you want. In the summer months, they also have a really nice little patio in the back that is covered and has a cool little waterfall-type thing. Kamehachi is solid and unpretentious. Check it out.
(5)
stephanie i.

All I have to say is when it's late (and I mean late 12:30 am) and you're looking for someone to deliver sushi...Kamehachi came through for me. Back in July I was in Chicago. It was a late night (working) and before I knew it, all the restaurants had closed. I called around to a number of restaurants and then I finally came across Kamehachi. They delivered to my hotel. The food was pretty good. Not great, but at that hour, I am not one to complain. Those of you who tend to get late night munchies should bookmark this joint for sure.
(4)
Max P.

I like their Spicy Edamame a lot. I would probably go here just for that but their sushi is pretty good if you know what to order. The Dragon Roll is the best I have had their. They are really expensive though. There are better places in Chicago that are cheaper for Sushi. But this place is definitely not a bad date night choice.
(3)
Tom L.

Great dinner again at Kamehachi's. The manager greeted us at the door as my daughter was in a wheelchair. The food was great, the service wonderful. Thanks for another wonderful dinner...
(4)
Alex O.

After hearing about the rave reviews and Check, Please recommendation, my gal and I finally got around to making reservations for this place. I was a bit thrown off once we entered the restaurant since we were the only ones there, save for a couple that was just leaving. There was a small main room with many doors leading to a private room and another to the restrooms. Anyway, on to the food. I ordered the sashimi appetizer and beef teriyaki dinner and my lady ordered the chicken teriyaki combination dinner and we both shared a dragon roll plate. The sashimi was good and fresh, but I wasn't impressed with the dragon roll. I ordered the steak to be cooked medium rare. It was cooked to my specification, but there was just something so-so about it. Overall, I just wasn't impressed with the food and overpriced beer. It might be fun for a large group to go to for a quick sushi fix, but I would not go back.
(3)
Lola L.

Craving for some serious sushi and this was the closest we could find. I've always been apprehensive about eating sushi in Chicago being worried about freshness of the fish. For appetizers we had the asparagus beef rolls (beef rolled with asparagus and scallions), kaki fry (deep fried oysters) this was little too greasy even for something fried, veggie and shrimp tempura. People know when I crave sushi, I CRAVE it but I like to try new combinations. So we seriously ordered one of every maki-mono roll. Again thoughts of the freshness of the fish came to mind but when the rolls were brought out and I snagged a piece of each, the fish was buttery soft! Some of the must try is the Chicago Crazy Roll (tuna, salmon, crab, yellowtail, cucumber, and masago) and the green turtle roll (eel, Cucumber, tempura pieces and Avocado with eel sauce). For the dessert, they had ice cream mochi and tiramisu?! I know there's a prominent Italian heritage in Chicago, ok sure. The mochi ice cream was good but of course it was the frozen kind. The tiramisu actually tasted pretty good. The service was friendly and efficient. The rolls range from $5 to $12 and appetizers are $6-10. This place is like tow halves, the downstairs has the more traditional Japanese feel while upstairs is more like a modern lounge. This is a sushi bar if you decide not to sit at a table.
(4)
Rachelle B.

I thought the martini glasses they used was way to small for a price of $11. However, if you feel like a martini try the ZEN MARTINI. It has a clean and sweet taste. I order the Sunset California Roll, and Spider Roll. I've had better Spider rolls for the price i paid for. The place decor was pretty nice, try getting the garden seats. The garden area is enclosed or opened depending on the weather. Small water fall, and great fans as a back drop. I'd only go back if I had to go for a special occasion. : ).
(2)
Julie P.

I get take out here all the time because it's on my way home from work, and I am always impressed with how quickly my order is prepared. Sure it's a little pricey, but I'd rather pay for quality than sub-par sushi. Can't wait to try more of the specialty rolls. My fav is the rainbow roll so far!
(5)
Alexzandra A.

Kamehachi is a solid four stars. The staff is nice, the upstairs room is somewhat romantic and the food is fresh. We ultimately per-fer Oysy to Kamehachi, but it is nice to have a reasonably priced alternative. We both enjoy sushi and this place delivered on all of the rolls we tried.
(4)
Matt S.

Just a so-so place. The Kamehachi on Ontario is A LOT better. It is such a small place I felt a little claustrophobic just eating. The selection of rolls is good as is the price. My main issue: drinks. It should be a BYOB place as the bartender there somehow managed to mess up a vodka & tonic...it tasted fruity and was terribly off. Overall the experience was ok but, I would have much rather gone to their other location on Ontario.
(3)
maggie c.

Kamehachi is the best! I have never ever had a bad experience. I love the patio in the back (very zen like) and both sections of the restaurant. Longevity is the secret to this establishment, I found out the have been open since 1967, and the restaurant expanded from a modest sushi counter to an elegant dining institution that's been around for more than three generations in one family. The food is always in perfect harmony, and as a plus I have never ever felt any stomach uncomfort after eating here. i love that I can eat raw fish with confidence!!!
(5)
Kristen D.

One of my favorite sushi restaurants. They have a great atmosphere and the staff is really top notch. The miso soup is delicious, as is the seaweed salad. Try the green turtle roll (not made with green turtles)...it's like a dragon roll, but so much better! A very nice date place, complete with candles on the table. This place can get busy at times.
(4)
Chase L.

We just moved from San Diego, so let's just say our taste for good fish is apparently a little more refined than a lot of people who have been here for a while. However, after trying several local places in LP and the Loop, this place has the best sushi we've tried. Good, fresh yellowtail, salmon, scallop, tuna, not too much mayo in the spicy rolls, good hand rolls, and I'd even trust the more exotic stuff (Uni, etc.). Worth the extra $ you may have at lunch for yellowtail that isn't rubbery and fishy. Try Kamehachi.
(4)
kiley w.

My family took me here for my birthday. I've been here once before and I remember liking it. The place isnt too big, but it is nice and clean. It would be a good place to bring a date too. Service is really good here, if you read my other reviews then you know im a big fan of places with good service. We had the asparagus beef roll and sauteed scallops as appetizers and I really liked the scallops. The sushi was just alright. But the dinner was really good, and portions were huge. I had the steak terriyaki. Nice and tender and the sauce made it delicious. For dessert I had a key lime pie. It was just alright, since it was probably from somewhere else. I'd come here again.
(4)
shelly s.

Kamehachi has outstanding sushi. Their special maki rolls are always the best. You can count on Kamehachi for super sushi every time. It's a busy place but worth it. Service is good as well. Their wine list is average if not lame, but with plenty of variety of sake.
(5)
v. t.

god bless the turtle rolls, the spicy tuna deluxe deluxe, sake bombs and jeremy the bartender, serving up a healthy dose of stimulating conversation on the side. gotta love the upstairs bar/smoking room - there's some good lookin' cats who are regulars there! p.s. based on just the upstairs section of the restaurant
(5)
Bridgette B.

I hate sushi - but this place made me love it (or at least the non-raw fish/seafood kind). The soy sauce is amazing, the restaurant is cute and date-like (if you are looking for that). It may not be the best place to beat the table with saki bombs - but the food is very good and there is a nice atmosphere. I recommend the AAC sushi & the spinach with peanut sauce. yum. And they have a little lunchtime sushi only location across the street from the sears tower.
(5)
K M.

Ok so I'm stuck at home working on a Saturday night (don't worry, I plan on being absolutely useless during the few days of work next week to make up for it!) - but I figure I should treat myself to some take out sushi so I'd feel better I love the Kamehachi on Ontario, and since Sushi X seemed to be going downhill each time I tried it, I thought I'd give Kamehachi a try for delivery. First time I ordered from this location and was told it would be an 1-1 1/4 hour till it got here - it was here in less than 40 minutes, probably closer to 30. Nice surprise! I couldn't believe it got here from such a busy area so quickly on a Saturday evening Also its just so damned good, and so reasonably priced! They have the best spicy tuna (well Katachi is just as good but too far away sadly) - I also tried the green turtle which was definitely interesting in a good way :) Summer roll is also excellent. Really I haven't had anything here yet I haven't really liked! This is now where I just go for sushi for takeout, its so dependable and I hate taking chance on takeout sushi!!! I would highly recommend Kamehachi! Especially if you are a lazy ass like me and like your sushi brought to you! Kamehachi, I love you for satisfying my sushi fix without requiring me to even step out my door!
(5)
S L.

I've only actually eaten here once, but the experience was good. It's a little crowded and since we live in the neighborhood, we almost always get takeout. Once we ordered out on a Sunday which was my boyfriend's idea and got sick. I try not to order sushi on Sundays but he really wanted it. Honestly, I have no idea if the sushi is what made us sick but we both felt it the morning after we ate it. I gave it a 4 star rating because it's definitely above average. It's consistent, which is what I want from a place I frequent.
(4)
Libby R.

I forgot how much I like this spot! I had the Fire Roll for lunch today, and it was superb. It was on the Specials menu, but I hope they keep it around.
(4)
Audra S.

Sushi is not my forte, by any means, but I'll go along with my friends if the majority rules. From what I have had, Kamehachi is just as good as any, but I'm not a big fan of their set up. If you have to wait for a table, the bar is upstairs and off to the side, which is a bit of a turn off. Additionally, the space seems to be put together strangely. In the summer, they have a great patio out back. I will say that I adore their dragon rolls, but everything else tastes pretty much the same to me.
(3)
rachel c.

Kamehachi has consistently good sushi. You know you can always count on a pretty crowded restaurant, decent service, and great food. The upstairs atmosphere is much better than the downstairs, and it's strange that they differ so much... it's like 2 different restaurants. I definitely recommend Kamehachi for a great sushi experience!
(4)
Lisa H.

Oh what can I say about this place, except the fact that I been coming here for years. They have great special pieces of fish that you don't see at other places and a great selection on japanese dinner and late night hour, but I don't know if it's the late hour I went in or they are busy but the services are always slow and I have to always get up to get a server. That is kinda annoying to me but hey what can I say this is a nice sushi restaurant at this whee hour.
(3)
Ren H.

A great place for sushi and they have an awesome outdoor patio in the back! Not ideal if you wanted to sit outside and people watch but if you're content to just sit outside its cool!
(5)
Jason E.

best sushi in the Chicgoland area so far. tasty, fresh. and a great list of specialty drinks.
(5)
Jo W.

Just ok -- go to Shiso for cheaper and 4 star sushi.
(3)
Rebekah Z.

My favorite sushi place in the city! It's so reasonable, especially when compared to other posh places like sushi samba. I recommend sitting upstairs or, weather permitting, in the garden. The downstairs is a bit obnoxious.
(4)
Yujin A.

I really liked their sashimi although I think everything here is a bit over-priced. They have a pretty good wine list, which is a plus. Good service. I guess old town is a cool spot, which is probably why it's more expensive than other sushi places. If you are short on cash, I'd recommend Toro Sushi for maki rolls and Tokyo Marina for sashimi. This place is definitely better than any other Kamehachi locations in Chicago.
(4)
Jessica C.

This resturant isn't bad....even though it might be a lil pricey, the sushi is pretty good. I've only dined downstairs, so I'm not sure what it looks like upstairs, but to me, it's more of a laid-back/chill type of place. :)
(4)
Vaishali P.

I was pleasantly suprised by this sushi place. The sushi here is great. I was excited that had my favorite even on the menu since most places I have to ask if the chef will make it for me. The waitress was honest about her reocmmendations. Try the patio. It is excellent atmosphere, especially while the weather lasts.
(5)
Niall C.

Kamehachi is the best place for authentic Japanese food in the city of Chicago. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the food is delicious. I go there every other week. Prices are reasonable. Great place for a date as well (which is usually the case for me) The Sushi & Sashimi Combination is an excellent choice!!
(5)
Stephanie H.

Went last night, sat on the back patio...which was nice, quaint. Service was really poor, we ordered a bottle of wine...and our appetizers came before the wine! The waitress never came back to check on us, after the sushi was brought and we wanted to order more!! Ended up paying the check and leaving. Our bill was $80, which seemed kind of steep...overpriced for the experience. The sushi was fair. I won't go back here.
(2)
Natalie B.

This is one of the first places I went to for sushi when I moved here. It has been here a really long time and for good reason! The sushi is very tasty and fresh. They have a good selection of speciality maki as well. I usually eat at the sushi bar which is fun. The service is great as well!
(5)
olivia p.

a solid four stars started off with the soft shell crab. really tasty. for sushi we got one of their special rolls - tornado i think it was? white tuna on top with spicy mayo and tobiko. good, not great. then we shared the sashimi moriawase. lemme just say, the cuts of salmon and tuna were ridiculous. they were like little steaks. you could stand them up on their side they were so thick! salmon is usually my favorite, but the tuna was hands down the best. so smooth, not fishy at all and so much tuna to enjoy! the whitefish et al were standard. and then i had otoro for the first time. omg. it was like eating butter. so rich and creamy i almost forgot i was eating fish! wow. made me wanna go to tokyo even more and try the 7 different levels! prolly can't afford that, but i'd put another $10 down again for otoro on a special occasion. solid sushi overall and amazing tuna.
(4)
Ms K.

Really good sushi, but not *amazing*. The tables outside in the back garden area are really close together; so don't have a private conversation because people sitting next to you can't help hearing everything you say.
(4)
daniel w.

I think the sushi here is pretty good and it's more affordable than some of the other sushi restaurants I've been to in Chicago. Cool atmosphere and great location as well.
(4)
Bobby C.

One Word "GO"
(3)
Zack M.

I don't get it...This place has average sushi and a long wait. We were seated at a table in the middle of two busy aisles and had slow unenthusiastic service. At Streeterville location, there was a staple in the food and they did nothing for us. I am talking about a piece of freaking metal in the food!!!!! They are 0/2 at two locations thusfar...
(1)
Lauren H.

I first fell in love with Kamehachi at their Northbrook location, but after just 1 visit to the Old Town location I was hooked! I love sitting upstairs in the "lounge" or outside in their "garden" area. Both seating areas are cozy but not stuffy and are tastefully decorated. As for the food- since that is what I really go there for- I've only ever had their sushi. What else could I want!? The fish is always fresh, rolls are always well prepared, and the sake always knocks my socks off. I always order the dragon roll (BEST I've ever had), rainbow roll (also VERY good), and some super white tuna. Aside from that, I've tried other things here and there, but those are the staples I have to have everytime. The prices are comparable to other sushi joints. The only con here is that the service can be slow at times (as this place is ALWAYS packed), but the quality of food makes it tolerable. If you go at night (anytime after 7pm), expect to wait, sometimes even if you make a reservation. If you do make a reservation, make sure to specify where you'd like to sit: upstairs, downstairs, or outside. As a bonus, they're open quite late (2am), to satisfy your late-night sushi cravings!
(4)
Eric L.

Pretty underwhelming food and surprisingly expensive for a place with no uniqueness to it.
(2)
Dave A.

This place looks like fairly casual dinning as far as sushi goes, but the prices say otherwise. I ordered the sashimi and the cuts of fish were super small. The chefs took a really long time to get to my order even though they had 3 sushi chefs and a restaurant that was 1/2 full. I was not impressed. I've had quicker service in fuller restaurants with less chefs working. I don't know what the problem was. The rice seemed different than I'm used to, but maybe it's just a different style (bigger grain and more like uncle ben's). But I'm not a sushi expert.
(2)
elizabeth n.

I prefer to eat in the upstairs clubby atmosphere of Kamehachi, but no matter where you sit- upstairs or downstairs you are guaranteed great sushi. The service can be slow but the food is worth the wait. I love the maki rolls as well as the salmon teriyaki. It's all delicious! I go here every chance I get!
(4)
AnnaLucia U.

Really great sushi, sometimes a little overpriced. The turtle rolls are amazing, as are the spider rolls. The downstairs area doesn't have much of an atmosphere, but the bar upstairs is pretty cool. The best place to sit, though, is the teeny little party room upstairs- I didn't know about it until about 3 months ago, and since then have reserved it 4 times. Its super comfy and you can bring your own cds because it has its own sound system, and could fit about 8 people max- the only downside is that its $30 to reserve it, but I think the room is worth it; still, if you go and order a ton of food (not that its much of a struggle to do so at Kamehachi- everything on the menu is good), they usually waive the room charge from the bill.
(4)
Tony M.

The first sushi house Chicago ever had...and it's my favorite. They use only top quality steaks, and have great presentation. 5 stars.
(5)
jamie k.

this is a nice place, and a good ambiance. the food is definitely quality, a little pricey but not like sushi samba. i would go back again.
(4)
Gilda A.

Kamehachi is one of the best sushi restaurants in Chicago!! The ambiance is great and the food is even better. Since it's located in Old town I would suggest you make reservations on the weekend. If not you can always wait a while, it's worth it. Try the Philadelphia roll and definitely the Dragon roll ( you can't go wrong with those two). Prices are very reasonable .
(5)
Richard R.

I guess it depends on my mood or who I'm with that evening, sometimes I really enjoy it other times, forget it. Many of my out of town business associates love coming here though so if they're happy I guess that's ok.
(3)
Anna V.

Kamehachi is not special, the sushi is okay and it's a bit overpriced for what you're ordering. I personally don't think it is any better than Cafe Sushi right up the street and much less expensive.
(3)
Gilbert G.

sushi. o yea . o yea
(4)
kiki m.

people love is place. i think it's just ok. since the hubby and i are addicted to sushi, this is the place we go when we are craving sushi at midnight or want it delivered after 10pm. we order just standard stuff like the rainbow maki, dragon maki, some sashimi pcs. quality is good. it's just there are sooooo many places soooo much better than this one at similar prices. this place doesn't really offer any special rolls or anything unique that impresses me. it's also slightly overpriced, but overpriced is totally ok when they are there for you at 1am to fulfill that crave!!
(3)
Kate K.

Good God, the turtle rolls...
(4)
S. O.

Decent sushi, decent cocktails but the atmosphere leaves some to be desired. However, if you sit out back in the summer it is kind of like eating sushi on your back porch.
(3)
Dana P.

Not the best sushi in Chicago, but I come here pretty often since it's close to my apartment. Their rolls are good and inexpensive (at least in comparison to some of the other places). I like sitting upstairs or in the back room rather than the main area.
(3)
Dan B.

Best sushi place I've been to in Chicago. Then again I haven't been to that many sushi places.
(4)
Paul B.

Supposedly the oldest sushi bar in Chicago. Laid back and not pretentious. Most importantly the sushi was great. The turtle moon or something like that sushi was kick ass!
(4)
Zach M.

Authentic Japanese, not so much, but when was the last time I had "authentic" anything. Awesome selection of traditional rolls and nigiri, with a few non traditional choices. Fairly large, reasonably priced menu. The downstairs dining room is always cramped and too warm, so ask to sit upstairs, where it's dimmer and a little quieter. Staff was decent, although the sushi chef took a while to get us our orders in a fairly empty restaurant.
(4)
Ashley W.

Sushi is ok and the prices are reasonable. Kamehachi is a great place to grab some sushi for lunch or during the week. It's nothing special so I wouldn't go out of your way to eat here unless you live in the area. I'd also suggest sitting on the covered patio...the atmosphere is much cooler out there.
(3)
John S.

There are better Japanese restaurants in Chicago. Skip Kamehachi. Half way through my green tea I found my cup to be embarrassingly dirty...and then as I got to the bottom of my Miso soup I found a large chunk of plastic in the bottom of the bowl. The manager on duty was kind, and gave us a free dessert, but was far from apologetic.
(1)
Dee W.

In an effort to impress me, I was taken here on a date and fell in love with the turtle rolls (not the date but the food) was delicious and the atmosphere felt trendy and chic. Service was great and the server recommended the turtle and dragon rolls which was worth the bill (which btw - the date "forgot" his wallet)
(4)
Mission S.

Eww! Stinky hand towels to start the meal. Clumsy and absent service. A mood-killing crowd on the patio. The edamame is overpriced and limp. The maki is acceptable -- if uncreative. If you are nearby and have that "must have sushi" urge, I would stop here and put the blinders on. If not, I'd advise to choose from one of the many, many better sushi places in Chicago.
(2)
Zach A.

Not the best sushi in town, but pretty fresh and inexpensive. I recommend Kamehachi if you live in the Old Town area. Otherwise it's not really worth the trip.
(3)
Carly M.

Kamehachi in Old Town is a great place to go for some good sushi. It's not the best but it's up there on my favorite list. Their sushi is fresh and good, but it's not the best. I really enjoy going there and eating upstairs though- it's much better upstairs than the downstairs dining area- very cute and trendy.
(3)
Doug p.

the little patio in the back is nice, it was by no means the best sushi i ever had, and i thought for the overall feel of the place it would be a lot cheaper, the sea weed salad was decent , but it certainly did not compare to the one at sushi samba, but then again nothing does
(2)
Nicola C.

This place is awesome if you are willing to spend a lot of money on sushi. It is definitely a nicer place to eat out at, so good for a celebration with friends or on a really nice date. The sushi is excellent, the ambiance is what you make of it. It can be romantic with a date, yet fun w/friends.
(5)
Kate H.

Still my favorite. Lunching on Wells street is so enjoyable, relaxing. You are welcomed at the door, the wait staff is warm and friendly greeting you ... and the sushi is excellent. I even order from the Ontario site to the south loop ... which is out of their delivery zone, but for $6 it's worth it!
(5)
H M.

This has always been one of my favorite sushi places. I enjoy the seating upstairs better than downstairs. The staff is very friendly and they might have the best dragon rolls ever.
(5)
Noah L.

Cool new venue. Food was lackluster.
(2)
molly w.

Went there recently with a Groupon. I have been here a few other times in the past, and the only reason I went back was because of the great discount. Overall, it's overpriced for what you get. The rolls were some of the tiniest that I have ever seen, flavor was fine. Nothing special. Fortunately the appetizers filled us up first, we got edamame and the spinach thingy with sesame/peanut sauce, both of those were great, but not great enough to go back for. The service was so-so, and the upstairs bathroom was so gross, it belonged in a dive bar not an "upscale" restaurant. I'd return if I had another coupon, but not for full price.
(2)
Beth M.

The upstairs seating area at Kamehachi is much better than the cafeteria-like ground level. The lighting is dim, making it more suited for late-night maki and lychee martinis. I love the decor. There is a Japanese wooden roof structure - I can't think of the proper name - when you get to the top of the stairs with big sake kegs on top and paper lanterns hanging from it. Kimonos, paintings and decoratively-cut wood panels line the walls. The background music is a little schizo though, wandering from dance/house classics to current pop and R&B to soft loungey tunes. Several solid veggie roll options. I had most recently natto (fermented soybean), AAC (asparagus/avocado/cucumber), ume shiso (plum paste) and shiitake/avocado rolls. Not everywhere has the natto, and this natto maki melted in my mouth. Mmm... The ume shiso maki tasted quite balanced as well. Service was attentive; the server would slyly peek around the corner to check on the state of our drinks and plates rather than interrupt us all the time. The bar area in the back of the top floor is fun for being a little rambunctious with friends, at least when it's not too busy with other people. You can also rent out a small screened-off private room. I thought the prices were very reasonable, at least for the vegan rolls. Someday I'll have to try some of their entrees.
(4)
Lindsey M.

Sushi makes me happy. I love eating it and I am even a little addicted. I love trying all the different restaurants when I am ordering delivery. I have ordered from this restaurant before and I was happy with the food becuase the quality was good. Not wanting to take a gamble last night I ordered even though the prices were higher then I wanted to pay. For the price the sushi is just ok. I enjoyed the flavor and the food was fresh and delivered very fast, but the price made it not as satisfactory. I wouldn't order from them again.
(2)
Brian H.

FOOD POISONING! BE CAREFUL/DO NOT GO! My girlfriend and I received food poisoning from Kamehachi in Old Town. She ate the Chicken Teriyaki (with a house salad) that I had a bit of, and I had a Tuna D'Lux D'Lux roll with miso soup and spicy edamame. We didn't do anything else the entire night. The next day we woke up and both felt like we had been hit by a truck. She was violently vomiting, severely dehydrated (her brother, a physician, gave her an IV), feverish, and dizzy. If it wasn't for her being a nurse and her brother being a physician, we would have taken her to the ER. I had similar, but not as severe, side effects from the food. My guess is it was the chicken teriyaki. When I spoke with the manager, Lateef, he told me to have her brother, the doctor, call him that night and explain the symptoms. When he called 10-15 minutes later, Lateef had left. The doctor explained that this must have been food poisoning and all the symptoms that were related all led him to believe that it came from Kamehachi. I called in today and Lateef explained that he needs to obtain a stool sample before they can do anything about it (they also wouldn't contact the doctor and said he would have to contact them if anything was to be done). The service, while there, was good, decor was great, but the management and food are far below average. Will be reporting them elsewhere as well. AGAIN, BE WARNED! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SEVERE IF SHE WASN'T IN THE CARE OF A DOCTOR AT HOME!!
(1)
Anjali S.

I'm a regular here and embarrassed at not having done my duty to this place. It deserves at least 5 stars. You can always expect consistency. The food is always consistently between good and excellent - no matter what you order. I've ordered the regular items and the special menu items and most of the time lick the last bits off my plate (metaphorically speaking). And the 'namesake' is the best I've tasted. I don't know who their fish dealer is, but the namesake melts like butter every time you put it in your mouth - soft, smooth, totally creamy. EVERY TIME. I've eaten sushi in several big cities in america at posh restaurants, and small holes and in Chicago, but this place is my home. I'll always keep coming back. And happily - not because there's no competition. Shame on you for still reading this, you should be calling them right now :) The service staff are always friendly, helpful and courteous. I'm a down-to-earth kind of person and have no patience for snootiness. Example of good servicemanship: One time we ordered for delivery, there were 2 pieces namesake missing from our order. I called them soon as I'd realized (the delivery man had left by then) and asked them what they could do. I realized it was a saturday night, that they were must be busy on deliveries and that they probably wouldn't have time to redeliver, so I suggested they could give me a discount for the 2 namesakes the next time I visited. Instead the manager immediately apologized, said the namesakes would be on their way to me right away, thanked me for being so considerate to pardon their error. 15 minutes later, the delivery man rang my doorbell, apologized, refused a (second) tip and gave me the namesake and left. If that isn't excellent service, I don't know what is. That's why I'll keep going back. You get (more than) what you pay for in this place. For my husband and me, its a refuge. Whenever, we're out of options, there's always old town kamehachi to the rescue.
(5)
Darjeeling T.

Honestly, some of the best sushi I've ever had. I'm sorry they had to close down their location on Ontario, but their Old Town location is excellent. Great, fresh sushi, totally delicious appetizers, and friendly (but not ingratiating) service. One of my favorites.
(5)
ryan m.

Great, authentic, tasty Japanese food in Streeterville. The sushi was hearty and the sukiyaki was legit. Our server happily obliged my request for a raw egg to dip my sukiyaki. Highly recommended for Japanese food downtown. Right up there with Itto Sushi.
(4)
Mike M.

I dont know why all the kamehatchi hate. The sushi has always been fresh and good, the service is at times a little slow, but the atmosphere is very nice to grab a bottle of wine and relax with the lady. But the one thing that sets it apart from the rest of the crowd is that its OPEN TILL 2AM EVERYDAY (except sunday) I dont think i have ever been here before 10. My girlfriend and I, both being in the service industry do not usually get out of work until 10 or 11pm and this is our go to spot for some late night sushi. IMO there is nothing better than sushi and a bottle of wine at 12:30am on a Tuesday.
(4)
Mike L.

A solid Japanese restaurant. I have only eaten the sushi and it is solid and of good quality. The place itself is in a nice location and the setting can be intimate for a fun date. I agree that the price is a little high for the portion that you get but it is well done so just go for lunch on a Saturday and it will make for a good day.
(4)
Helen B.

This one star is for the store decoration ONLY. The service is horrible. My friend and I just ordered two noodles, and we waited for AN HOUR! In the first 40min, they totally forget about us, we were trying to get the waitress' attention, but she never notice us, we had to drag the bus boy to get a waitress. Then it took them only 20 min to prepare the Udon. And the FOOD IS NOT GOOD!!! Normally when people starves everything would tasted better, but the tempura they made makes me want to puke. And the noodles are just ok, nothing special about it, fast food level
(1)
Tonya P.

Great fresh ingredients, deliciously crafted food, nice service! Prices are very reasonable. My friend and I just randomly stoped by for a lunch and quite enjoyed it!
(5)
Amelia S.

My husband and I love Kamehachi! It is a great restaurant with beautiful presentations. This is a great place to come whether you like sushi or not. There is something wonderful for everyone!
(5)
Lise S.

We had dinner last month on a Saturday night at 7:30 pm and the food and service were excellent. My only regret is the restaurant was so loud in the dining area that I could barely here my friends at our table for 4 people. I've been in busy restaurants before were it was loud, but this was exceptionally loud in my opinion. The food was truly worth trying again, so I would definitely go back. I've been in the upstairs dining area before and we did not have this issue. If you have a large group, the space upstairs is perfect!
(4)
Silvio R.

Had a great experience here after a show at Zanies. They had great vegetarian options and a nice beer selection at the bar. The atmosphere was really nice, service was great, and the decor in the bar/restaurant was on point. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Lindsey G.

Had a great meal here a few weeks ago. The staff was helpful and the assorted sushi's my group ordered were all delicious. I'm partial to this restaurant because they have no peanuts in the entire restaurant so it's safe Asian food for people with allergies. Will definitely return.
(5)
Kyle D.

Overall: Great atmosphere, food, and service put Kamehachi on that map for a nice Japanese option in Oldtown. The good: Good atmosphere. A nice casual bar and small table section in the front and larger dining area in the back. Very clean and appropriate decorations. Great service, everyone was very attentive. The food was great, a lot of entree items outside of the sushi (which was also great). Plenty of drink options. The bad: Nothing really "bad", but the prices seemed to jump quickly on some of the items. The food was great but not 5-star worthy. Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 8/10
(4)
Paige W.

I am definitely a fan of Kamehachi. It's right by my place of work and I frequent it at least probably once a month. The only downside is the relatively slow service. I think they are just understaffed during peak hours, so it makes it slow to get orders taken, and slow for refills and the like. However, one server was kind enough to split a bill of over ten people, into individual checks, with everyone's individual orders. I know what a pain that is, and it was very appreciated by everyone. My favorite offering of Kamehachi are their lunch bento box specials. They are super reasonably priced, and the food is delicious and plentiful. They have really great veggie rolls as well.
(4)
Norbert W.

lesson to the atrocious girl and the goat about customer service. Kamehachi had an error with our order and immediately rushed to fix it. polite, professional, no-nonsense. so appreciated! thank you
(4)
Margaret H.

I was looking forward to trying this place, but was very unimpressed. Service: We were told there was a 2 hour wait, then were seated 10 minutes later. The waitress was not attentive and we had to waive them down to order and pay. Food: I'm very adventurous when it comes to sushi, but I didn't enjoy any of the sushi rolls we ordered. It was bland and unoriginal. I enjoyed the Tempura Udon only, but was disappointed that I ordered vegetable tempura as an appetizer and the waitress didn't tell me that the Udon came with a side of a vegetable tempura. Atmosphere: The decor is okay. The tables are too close together so you hear everyone's conversation around you.
(2)
Sam N.

Life is about simplicity and luxury sometimes. I was here a few nights ago during the old town art fair. This is my new favorite spot. Had the Sukiyaki I thought it was pretty good. I had 3 Tokyo Tea's. It packed quite a punch so to speak. If you remember the 2nd "naked gun" movie ( which was titled "Naked Gun 2 1/2)Where the guy at the bar says "give me the strongest thing you got" and a guy punches him. Well Luckily for me no one punched me but this contains vodka,triple sec,gin,tequila and just for the fun of it coca cola so this kind of put me out of commission for a while. This place is not making any sacrifices on the quality. I will be coming here again with some friends to sample some of the other potent drinks and sushi.
(5)
Audrey S.

Fun dining experience! We came here for a friend's birthday and sat upstairs. We had a few extra people show up and our waitress was very accommodating. I really enjoyed the Spicy Tuna ($7) and Kamehaci roll ($9), which is tuna, avocado, cucumber, and masago. The Dragon Lady drink is lovely. It's a delicious mix of vodka, pomegranate, orange, and pineapple juices, and lemon-lime pop. I also got the Migi-tiny, but didn't care for it. This was gin, lemon, cucumber and had peppercorn flakes sprinkled on the top. Old Town is a fun neighborhood, so be sure to check out some of the cool after dinner drink spots while you're there.
(5)
Amanda M.

Was very pleased with the dÃ©cor and whole ambiance of the place. Pretty roomy and comfortable. The bar is located upon entrance and plentiful tables extend all the way to the back with plenty of intimate room for each table. Had the uni and oyster shooter to start along with the mushroom tobanyaki. The mushrooms were delicious and featured a variety of mushrooms (about 3). They were very tasty without being too salty. The uni shooter was overly acidic while the oyster shooter tasted much better. While I'm glad I tried these, I will not be having them again as the uni and oyster got stuck at the bottom of the glass and was somewhat hard to digest. Also, did not think that the flavors of the shooters complemented the uni and oyster that well. Had the crouching tuna hidden crab signature maki, which definitely was the best out of the other rolls I had...as it is signature for a reason. Also had the rainbow, summer, and sunset rolls, which were all pretty good, but not mind-blowing. I enjoyed the summer roll because of its spiciness and the sunset roll did have a nice sweetness to it that I do not often find in sushi. Overall, the rolls weren't filled with too much rice and were made very well, as they did not fall apart. Also tried my sister's yasaiya veggie roll, and it was really intriguing. It was nice to see other veggie options, instead of the usual avocado or shiitake roll. However, she did feel that her veggie rolls were made with a tad too much rice, relative to my non-veggie rolls. Service was pretty good. Our waitress was very nice. The busboys were really on their game, as my water was constantly refilled. Definitely wouldn't mind returning. Prices are about right, solid food and good selection.
(4)
Isabel C.

This place is So-So. We went for lunch and there were quite a few people in there. It took a while for anyone to come and greet us and take our order. It seemed like the staff was having a pow-wow in the back before they prepared for dinner which I found strange. The bartender and 1 bus boy were the only ones clearing tables and the bartender took our order. The sushi and miso soup were okay.Nothing to rave about. The decor is very nice and the patio seating looked nice as well. Not my favorite place in Old Town but it's convenient so I will probably be back to give it another try.
(3)
Amy D.

Love this place! I get delivery once a week here and it's always fast and friendly! I love the spicy edamame, miso soup, Kamehachi roll, salmon deluxe and summer roll! The outdoor patio is nice too when it's warm out!
(5)
Myles A.

Really great food. Not just your average rainbow rolls and spicy tuna. They have some truly creative dishes and wonderfully inventive appetizers. They have a great atmosphere inside and a nice little place to eat outside. The server was a little nonexistent. But it seemed like it was just the one that we had at our table.
(4)
Dana H.

Okay...all I have to say is CRAB CAKES! Maybe the best I have had.....anywhere. Rest of the meal was....well....only delicious.
(5)
Beth Q.

My first impression upon walking in was that it smelled fishy in the restaurant. Not a good sign. Then we ordered a glass of wine, which was delicious. However, upon ordering our first two sushi picks, we were disappointed. The spicy tuna was pretty good, but the other (I think the spider roll?) was by varying bites super bland/dry, and then sometimes badly fishy.
(1)
Tony M.

One of the few Japanese restaurants open late near downtown! Great service and tasty fresh food! The assortment of appetizers and entrees are great! The warm sake is smooth and tasty! The atmosphere is romantic for the two of you to converse for a long time with a great meal! It is a little pricey for the small portions you get! Everything is fresh and full of flavor tasting great! It is hard to find parking unless you don't mind circling around a little or park in the parking garage. They have two floors, so the dining area can handle a lot! They have a big long bar fully stocked! No complaints here! Always a great place for late night sushi!
(5)
Julie Y.

Heavens knows why we come here. I think it's because we tend to crave Japanese before we head over to see a Second City show. Both times we've been here we have been underwhelmed. The appetizers were "meh", but the fact that they charge $16 for 2 dry chicken breasts with some teriyaki sauce poured over it on top of a bed of undercooked broccoli is a joke. I find it ironic that one of the cover pictures for the restaurant is chicken teriyaki on a bed of bok choy. At least splurge a little on the bok choy, guys. Or maybe broccoli is easier to freeze? We will never be coming back
(1)
Natalie L.

This is a good weeknight spot. Our server was great and we didn't feel rushed to leave. The udon noodle bowl that I had was really good. The broth had good flavor. The gyoza was just ok.
(3)
Kirk M.

Well. Food is good. Don't get the a bottle of anything you will get raped. If you want sushi in old town this is one of two choices.
(2)
Lindsey M.

Young and energetic crowd. Great for Date night or a casual night with friends. Food was really good; they even have sushi making classes. We sat at the front bar & had female wait on us... Very attentive & down to earth.
(5)
Horace B.

i have read a few reviews on this restaurant (and other japanese restaurants in chicago). it's so aggravating that most people in chicago think japanese food is dragon rolls and such. my goodness, people, japanese food is so widely diverse, and sushi is no different. i finally decided on this one for a special 20th anniversary dinner. i talked that afternoon with the head sushi chef about what he did and what he could offer. when he heard my list of interests with sushi, he mentioned that he could do those things. i was still a little wary because of the kind sushi crowd that populates chicago. to be completely honest, if i were alone, when we got to the address, i would have just walked by and looked for a steak house. the front is a sports bar, for goodness sakes. ugh. *not* the impression i had from people that had recommended it. but with my wife in hand, i braved it out. it was my good fortune. we walked past the sports part of the pub and sat back at the sushi bar. the chef came over and we talked a bit about what he would be doing for omakase (google it). i started having hope. we started with a sashimi platter. it was decent and the fish was tasty, but i was not overly excited about the sashimi 'shooters'. tried two anyways, just for kicks. it was ok. i thought the platter was trying to be too 'cute' or trendy. but then he started the sushi portion of the meal, and i have to say it ranks as probably one of the top 5 sushi dinners i have ever had. simply outstanding fish, preparation and variety. they even had a few types of fish i had never had as sushi before. most notably, mahi mahi. awesome fish. turns out, after my call, he got his whole staff working on various different types of sushi that i had mentioned. one of them is 'dzuke' which has many varieties, some of which actually requires a few days to prepare, but the shorter varieties are also quite nice. the konbu was stellar. every one of the prep people were taking a special interest in our meal, indicating what they had worked on. i think the experience was enhanced by the fact that these people were normally used to preparing rolls for the normal customer, that they were excited to have the opportunity to do what they had been trained to do. and serving people with a wider taste in sushi. we thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would go back again any time. the bill was $300, but considering what we had just experienced, was in keeping with the quality and variety. this is a definite go-to place for us. next time we're in town, we'll be back at the sushi bar.
(5)
D T.

I hadn't been here in years, because I'll say til I die, not many 20/30 something's hang in Old Town when they're single. Think about it. I'm still single, and hanging out in this hood more often, clearly trying to extend this single life as long as possible. We ate a ton...shocker. Spicy edamame- was soooo excited bc I've never heard of this before, but blah city. Next . Shrimp tempura app- really tasty, but not much here. Special Maryland soft shell crab- super good, but not even close to worth $18 . Maguro- yummy, nothing to write home about. Salmon special- at $6 I had serious high hopes for this. And it was super awesome. Red dragon- super fresh and good. But not worth $17. We also had a couple more rolls, but writing this I realize how little impact this place had on me for the price. If you read my reviews you know price is never an issue. But in this case, this little neighborhood joint needs to remember they're not on the gold coast.
(3)
Jessica H.

My friends & I done here once a month after serving dinner at a local soup kitchen. We always hope for Jessica to be serving us! She is the best in the house! Two words: Rock Shrimp!!! You won't regret it! Love this sushi spot! Especially in the summer & in it's side walk seating!
(4)
Happy Face E.

food is OK but the service is so slow and bad. The waiter and waitress are so racist. They are treating the white customers are much nicer and faster than color ones. not recommended for Asian to go.
(1)
Kristen D.

The ambience is great. I love the decorations, dim light, and theme of the restaurant. The inside has a sexy air about it, and having walked in for dinner before catching a Second City show, I was impressed with the first impression of the restaurant. The rolls of sushi had pretty decent sized pieces of fish in them, which is a plus for people that look for that. I really enjoyed the Spicy Scallop roll, though the kick of spice doesn't really hit you until after you've chewed through most of the piece. We also ordered the Spider roll and the Chicago Crazy roll - certainly nothing to write home about. All in all, Clark and I were a little disappointed in what we thought was going to be some pretty great sushi. Now that we've marked it off the long list of sushi places to try in the city, we won't be hurrying back there.
(2)
Shayna R.

I actually love the food here. The reason I'm reviewing it poorly is because of the slow service and the gnats that we're flying in and around our food. I was in last night, seated promptly at 9pm. Unfortunately the sushi came out on time but the chicken teriyaki came out 20 minutes after. I can't eat much sushi due to an allergy so I was a little miffed I couldn't eat while everyone else was eating. Also the drinks were slow. I didn't have a beer to compliment my meal because it came out so disjointed I had already finished it by the time the food came. It was another 20 to get my Sapporo delivered. And then there were the gnats. There were 3 flying around our drinks and food. I didn't get a chance to talk to the manager mainly because the waitress would disappear. She was very nice and great when she was present, but that was far and few between since we were 3 people and spent $200 on dinner. Come on girl. Get with the program.
(2)
Maurice C.

Kamehachi on Wells is simply fantastic. My wife and I eat at the bar most Friday nights when we are at home in Chicago and have yet to experience anything other than a great meal in the past two years. The sushi is always fresh, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the environment is both welcoming and designer friendly. I highly recommend the salmon nigiri, summer roll, and spicy tuna deluxe deluxe (not a misprint)--our go-to selections.
(5)
Linda G.

Another great FAMILY owned restaurant. The owners are there. Atmosphere is very classy, waitstaff sophisticated and attractive. Sushi is excellent and presented with artistic flair combining flowers, sculpture and creative plating. for desert: try Green tea Mochi ice cream this is is a Japanese confection made from mochi (pounded sticky rice) with an ice cream filling. Very GOOD! This is a restaurant good for well-behaved children who sit in their seats.
(5)
Ermelinda C.

We gave Kamehachi a try today after having contemplating going here many times over the last year. Long story short, the sushi was pretty good - fresh and very tasty. We ordered the classics (e.g. Spider, Spicy Tuna Special, Scallop and California Maki) in order to really compare between Kamehachi and other sushi places we like and we were not disappointed. Ours was take out order for only $3 extra, and the delivery service was nice and on time. All-in-all a very pleasant experience and we would order out here again.
(4)
Stephanie W.

New location is a definite improvement over the old one, even though Kamehachi has only moved 2 blocks up Wells. The ceilings are a little low in the back, but it feels like a really intimate dining experience, and I love the new bar up front. As far as Japanese food goes, Kamehachi has some of the best in the city. It's a regular favorite for my family, which eats a lot of Asian food, and we can always get in quickly without a reservation on a weeknight.
(4)
David A.

New Location - 5 Stars, great new space, wide open, not cramped, tables with privacy Waiter that does not write anything down, repeats order multiple time only to eventually screw up - 1 Star Overall this place is a great Sushi place, made reservations, got there early, sat at the bar, received great advice from the bartender(s), but for the price that we paid for Dinner and drinks, I would rather go to Marai or Sushi Wabi. For startes, we had the Lychee Lemonade and some saki along with the spicy Edamame. For dinner we had some rolls, the rainbow roll and another which were good and the some sashimi and nigiri. The pieces of Sashimi were the smallest I have seen at a restaurant, 2 pieces, but less than equal to a piece on the Nigiri. Overall, it was good, but not great! I am going to have to go and make the rounds at the other places I had mentioend before I come back
(3)
Jennie T.

I was a little early to Ebs B's birthday dinner (actually, more than a little. I was 45 minutes early b/c she told us all an earlier time -- doesn't she know that I'm almost always punctual??) so I sat at the bar upstairs and talked to the bartender while enjoying a nice cold bottle of Sapporo. He was pretty nice. Tiff H. and I ordered and shared two oyster shooters (one each), fried oysters (kaki fried), a sashimi deluxe, a sunset roll, and miso soup. The miso soup was good, better than most Japanese restaurants I've tried here in Chicago. It wasn't grainy, and you can tell they didn't just serve us a bowl of instant miso soup. I enjoyed the oyster shooter. It was a little too vinegar-y but the quail egg and the oyster went down smoothly. I actually enjoyed this more than the kaki fried -- I guess I'm not that fond of fried food. The sashimi was good, but it wasn't the best. I think I also have issues with the low lighting... It makes me suspicious of my sushi. It's a good thing to be a little cautious/paranoid when it comes to eating raw food! I liked the sunset roll for the masago. Loved popping the little fish roe in my mouth and tasting the natural fish oil... It's better than popping Vitamin D supplement pills. Something about the hardness of the fish oil pills and the softness of the roe makes a big difference for me. I'd say that this is really a 3.5-star review. I'm not quite a fan but it's a little better than just "ok."
(4)
Tom T.

Decided to go here, since my boyfriend wanted me to meet up with a friend, and this place was their old hangout. Opted for the Kamehachi bento box, with the special item of the day was the seaweed salad (or shau mai, but the waiter was unsure about it.) The California roll was kind of on the dry side, if that's possible. I'm not really a big fan of California rolls to begin with (even though it's from California, and I'm from there. =P), but I guess the rice was dry and the ingredients didn't seems too fresh. I asked for my teriyaki beef to be cooked well-done, but after arriving in the middle of the beef, it was still pink, maybe about the size of a nickle. I wasn't too sure about this, but I might have gotten sick from it,. Next time, I'll order something else, but from that experience, I probably wouldn't go back, since I know that there are other Japanese restaurants around Chicago.
(2)
Lisa T.

The delivery service at Kamehachi has seemed to decline since they made the big move up the street. I don't quite get it, but based on events as of late, Kamehachi has been shuffled down much lower in my stack of take-out menus. Let me make it very clear that the quality of the sushi is still very good, fresh, and tasty. However, in the last few weeks I've dealt with really rude delivery drivers twice, delivery times taking the FULL estimated time (~1hr+) when they used to estimate an hour and provide delivery within 35 min, and an incorrect order. All I wanted was my beloved Sunset roll, and I was given a Rainbow roll. I just sucked it up and ate it; I like Rainbow rolls just fine, but it was a huge disappointment. I ordered from Kamehachi that night specifically for a Sunset roll. Maybe I'm being overly critical, but I'm going elsewhere for sushi delivery for a while. I hope to go dine in soon to finally get my hands on some Sunset roll goodness. The actual sushi at Kamehachi is easily 4 stars, so if you're looking for some rice + fish goodness in Old Town, I'd absolutely recommend dining in. For the moment, I'm wary of their delivery service.
(3)
J A.

Kamehachi is one of my favorite sushi spots in Chicago. I usually start with the mushroom tobanyaki and ebi shumai. The shumai is some of the best I've ever had; the dumpling is really well done, as is the dipping sauce. For such a simple dish, the mushrooms are also really unforgettable, I've never tasted anything quite like it. I usually order one spicy roll, and a couple others to share with a dining partner. I've never been let down by any of the rolls. I really prefer to sit downstairs, especially if the weather is nice or the sun is out, because upstairs is really dark and sort of bleak. Service has always been sort of spotty; each time I've been here there is something that just doesn't come out. It won't be on the receipt either, so it just was never entered in. Then mentioning it to the waiter/waitress is a lost cause because they are nowhere to be found. This was disappointing last time because I was really up for trying some new things and my order ended up incomplete. If you are rushed at all, do not dine here. If you have all the time in the world, sit back and relax because the sushi bar can get backed up and their waiter to table ratio seems a little off. I definitely recommend a reservation on the weekend.
(4)
Robyn L.

I am giving 1 star not for the food, but for my overall experience at Kamehachi. Went in on a slow Sunday evening with my husband and mom for a nice meal. At the end of the meal we stood up to put coats on and grab our things, and I noticed within a moment of leaving that I didn't have my phone (which I had out on the table waiting for a call). Being that it had been all of 30 seconds after walking away from our table, I called the manager who said he was looking for it. Low and behold, it "couldn't be found" even though there was no one in there except for the small wait staff and two other small tables. Even after I came back and tracked the phone to the restaurant, the manager insisted that they had done everything possible noting that they'd look further when they closed at midnight and call me the following day. Alas, no one called - or called me back - after multiple messages. The saddest part of all is that was my husband's go-to for pricey business dinners but after our latest experience, he won't be back. It's not good for business when an upscale place lacks the ability to combat plain-sight theft on a slow night, and acts apathetic when it occurs.
(1)
Christie B.

Loving the new atmosphere! I've been a fan of Kamehachi for about a year and a half now. The menu consists of Japanese style entrees and very good sushi! There is a full bar and the service is attentive. The old Kamehachi was nice but tables were too close together. The new spot has tall ceilings and plenty of room with two stories of tables. Its new stylish atmosphere and chill music have added to its success! Kudos Kamehachi . . .
(4)
Dawn H.

When Groupon offered a deal with Kamehachi, my fiance and I quickly jumped on the opportunity to to try this place out. Since my fellow Yelpers have rated this place high and sushi is my favorite food in the world, what could go wrong? Plenty. But first, let's stay positive. Pros: honored our 7:00 reservation on a Friday night, great variety of maki rolls, romantic upstairs dining area (recommended by you -- thanks, Yelpers!), offered a variety of entree options for the accompanying non-sushi diners, great tempura shrimp and vegetable tempura, nice chunky scallops (or any other protein for that matter) in the sushi rolls Cons: expensive valet parking ($12), took 12 minutes after seated to take our appetizer and drink order, server treated us as if our presence was inconveniencing her, server got my sushi order wrong (ordered a Green Turtle roll, she gave me a Kamehachi roll), I had to ask for a side of unagi sauce twice, we sat for 20 minutes with empty water glasses (I have to admit it killed me as I watch the bus boy with the water pitcher look over our table THREE TIMES and walk on, LOL) I'm really not understanding all the great reviews of this place. The Green Turtle roll, New York maki, and Spicy Scallop maki were just mediocre. My fiance gives their steak teriyaki a 3 out of 5 stars. But the service is just AWFUL. Slower than molasses in the winter. There are other mediocre sushi restaurants out there with better service (hello, Sushi Pink?) Overall, we were quite disappointed, and I seriously doubt we'll return. I guess you live and learn, right? Lucky for us, Groupon let us learn about it in a less expensive way.
(2)
Craig A.

Birthday Sushi rules
(5)
Amanda C.

I've been to Kamehachi twice, once before it moved and once after. The first time I went was one of the first times I tried sushi and I remembered it being soooo good. We sat at the bar in the new location for dinner and drinks on a Friday night about 8. It was pretty crowded but not so much that we had to wait. Ordered a few rolls which were all good and spicy edamame which OMG they are not kidding is really spicy. I asked for Pinot Grigio which, unfortunately, they do not carry, but the substitute was fine. I heard that some of their cocktails were not up to par but can't comment on anything except the martini, which I thought was good. The atmosphere is fun, I like the sake barrels hanging from the ceiling and the lighting. I would probably go back if in the area.
(3)
Quentin R.

The zen selection is perfect for those who do not want to make a decision.
(4)
Laila C.

my friend bought a groupon so it was the perfect opportunity to go on a girl date. i've eaten a good share of sushi...this was mediocre/pretty forgettable. I ordered a kirin, the Sunset roll and the special salmon roll. Both rolls tasted fine, I have no real complaints...but after eating so much sushi and with the overabundance of sushi restaurants, I kind of feel like mediocre sushi just doesn't cut it anymore. I'm tired of mediocre restaurants trying to charge a lot of money just because they serve sushi. Although with the groupon, the meal ended up being really cheap, there's pretty much no chance I'd go back and pay full price. there are just too many other sushi places in Chicago to try!
(3)
Roy H.

One of the things I found most interesting about this place was that the building looks like is used to be a house.... makes for a pretty cool setup. There are a few private-ish party rooms, and the bar is upstairs in the back in its own room. Pretty cool. I actually wasnt in the mood for sushi the day I went (actually had it for lunch) so I hit up some other items on the menu.... the chicken yakatori was pretty damn awesome. Nice and saucy! The wait was a bit long (even with a res) so that was a bit disappointing, but the bar did save us from being too bored and annoyed!
(3)
Christy Q.

Last night my girls and I had a girls night out. I live in Old Town but hadn't been to Kamehachi yet, so it seemed like a good night to try it. And I'm so glad we did! It's a small cozy restaurant. Ambience was really warm and welcoming and cozy- nothing over the top. Which was nice. I didn't feel like I was in one of those uber-trendy stuck up sushi restaurants. The waiter we had was very nice- I wish I knew his name. I'm so bad with names, doh! But really, everyone there was very friendly and attentive. I had 2 glasses of the red zin (Paso Creek). It just happened to be one of the best zins I've ever had. And I plan to seek it out at Binny's. Gosh I hope they have it! Now onto the important part- FOOD. We had edamame- yummy gyoza- I could really eat 5 pounds of this for dinner. Why is it so tasty?! spicy tuna deluxe roll sunset roll (2 orders- it was the star of the show) summer roll rainbow roll Chicago crazy roll And I had two pieces of the fatty tuna Honestly I thought everything we had was just fantastic. I will absolutely be back, no question about it. If you live in the area you must stop by. I always gotta have a "go-to" sushi place in any neighborhood I live in, and I think this is "the one" for me in Old Town.
(4)
Michael S.

Have heard of Kamehachi and saw a groupon for it so had to try this place out. Service was good and the decor was decent. I guess there is an upstairs section, but didn't get to see it. The food itself was okay. The specials weren't really creative and the quality seemed just okay. Overall, not a bad place at all. Would definitely be open to trying again with hopes of being more impressed.
(3)
Grace N.

I love this Kamehachi. You rarely have to wait for a table, and it's an unpretentious, reasonably-priced, friendly Japanese restaurant with solid food. Order the seasoned Edamame, Sunset Roll, and a few saki bombs (with Kirin), and you're in BIZZNESS!!!!
(5)
Andrew J.

I've been Yelping for years and have found it to be wonderful way to find restaurants and businesses in the cities I travel to...and yet, I've never been compelled to write a review until today. My family and I have frequented Kamehachi in Old Town for years and have generally found the restaurant to be of high quality in terms of its sushi and service. I'm disappointed to say that while the new space is definitely an upgrade from the old restaurant, the quality of the food and service haven't followed suit. We were seated promptly and loved the vibe of the restaurant with a patio full of diners outside and a large inviting space on this inside. However our dining experience went downhill from there as our waiter was slow and inattentive to our dining needs. We ordered our regular staples of nigiri, udon soup, and maki rolls. The nigiri, while fresh, were smaller than what has traditionally been served at the old Kamehachi, the soup lacking noodles, the rice on the maki rolls was unacceptably dry, and the soft shell crab used in the spider roll tasted like it was sitting in the fridge for a week....absolutely awful. The new Kamehachi hits the mark for trendiness, but this is not the reason I've dined here over the years. The food and friendly service are gone with the new restaurant as is this loyal diner. Goodbye Kamehachi :(
(1)
Joe S.

mmm.mmmm...good! Just got done lunch here. Wondering why it took me so long given that it is only a few blocks from my office. Nice decor, great service and the price wasn't that bad. The sushi was amazing...so fresh it melted in my mouth... (not literally people). Seriously though, I will definitely be coming back here, they hit a home run. Had the Alaskan and the Kamehachi...so good
(5)
Emily H.

My go-to for sushi in Old Town. The specials are always tasty and the fish is always fresh! Love the remodel ans the service is always decent. It's not cheap, but you clearly pay for quality.
(4)
Michael E.

This is a nice little place and perfect for a date. Sitting in Old Town it also affords you to hit some watering holes if you want to continue the evening. The sushi is great/good. My date's sushi was good, I felt like mine was great. The downstairs is a bit bright, so if you are looking for a little different ambience then request the upstairs....very nice and cozy. A good solid place in a great part of town.
(4)
Mike M.

the word Sushi means; Fresh slice. So you can imagine my dismay when I arrived at the sushi bar tonight only to see that all of my precious fish had been pre-cut!! Me: "so, what's with you pre-slicing all of the sushi?" Sushi guy: "Well, we get busy late at night so it helps." Me: "maybe we should just go?" My husband: "naw, let's give it a try and see what happens." I think we both stared at the sushi we saw careening toward our table in all of it's artificial colored glory and thought..."yeah, we should've gone when we had the chance." Ate our sushi rolls, and then went elsewhere for some wine and a steak. This wasn't bad...but we've been spoiled by Osaka (Las Vegas) and Shaw's. Can't seen to top these for sushi. We won't be back, unless it's after midnight and we're in a pinch. Quite disappointing.
(2)
Rebecca H.

Fresh sushi and good service! They have a very nice lunch menu.
(4)
Marjorie F.

It had been a really long time since I dined here when I returned with boyfriend in hand. I remember how much I used to love this place. This time around, I wasn't as impressed. Maybe I was new to sushi when I used to frequent this place a few years ago. Or maybe now there are better options. The restaurant is nice - ambiance is good. The sushi is OK... Like I mentioned, I think there are better places out there now. Price-wise I think it's on the expensive side for what you get. It's conveniently located in my neighborhood, so I'll probably be back. If I really have a bad craving for good sushi, I'd be willing to pay the cabfare to go to another place.
(3)
Ebs B.

OMG! I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I've been eating here consistently for months now. I really like this place! Is it the best sushi in the world? Prob not, but it's terribly consistent and the rolls are always fresh (or seem to be). Don't get me wrong, the sushi is outstanding and much better than the sushi place only a block away. I recommend trying their spring rolls if you're looking for something different than sushi. Carry-out is extremely easy and they always have the food ready. Although, if they tell you 20 minutes, be there in 15. They bring the food up front and it's always there when I get there (don't want it sitting out too long). Oh, and last thing, upstairs is a more intimate feel and they also have a garden patio open during the summer. Like it lots!
(4)
Ashley L.

Kamehachi has a great atmosphere and great servers. If you dine in, ask for Nova. Very attentive and overall a great server and knows everything you need to know down to pairing sake or wine with the right type of sushi selection. Sushi Chef chooses the best and freshest selection of seasonal fish and prepares them delicately. I really enjoy whatever the seasonal nigiri is, knowing it is well worth the money. I also enjoy the summer roll. The right amount of crunch, spice, and fresh fish. As far as kitchen food, the rock shrimp is the right amount of sweet, tangy and crunch. Moriwase is nice too because of the selection of fish. I know sushi and I know good restaurants. Kamehachi knows what they are doing and how well they prepare there food. I highly recommend.
(5)
Andrew M.

I think this is the best sushi restaurant in Chicago. n=6 here and I've been to about half a dozen other places in Chicago. Sushi is traditional. There are some nouveau rolls but the highlight of the menu is a massive sushi boat that feeds 3-6 with mostly traditional maki & sashimi. The upstairs and downstairs are different restaurants - totally different ambiance. So make sure you are getting the upstairs part. The Eagles were on and had a disappointing loss to the Vikings. At least Farve wasn't playing.
(5)
Mary T.

I am a bit of a sushi snob and love this place. I like that the make their spicy rolls with whole pieces of fish (rather than dice it up with the spicy mayo). I also like that they use just the right amount of spice, many places overdo it and drown out the taste of the fish. Some of my favorites are the spicy deluxe and the mexican maki. I always get it for delivery or take out so I can't comment on service or ambiance, but the place always seems to be crowded. For consistent, high quality sushi at reasonable prices you can't go wrong here.
(5)
Ingrid C.

I was in Chicago this past weekend for a quick girl's trip/30th birthday celebration - the girls went to see the 30-year-old bachelor, mind you. ------- At this point in my writing earlier this week, Yelp went into maintenance mode and I lost the rest of my draft. Then I got frustrated and am only now re-writing my review. Silly me and my late-night yelping habits. ------- We made an OpenTable reservation for the five of us. It was located at about the midpoint between our hotel and our final bar destination, so it seemed to be a good fit. Fun music! We sat and were treated to the Bird and the Bee's "Love Letter to Japan." Google it. You'll love it as much as me. If you don't, it's not my fault you have inferior tastes. Our seats were by the upstairs sushi bar, and Jurassic Park was playing on the TV. I opted out of several minutes of conversation to watch Newman die. Later, there was discussion on whether a velociraptor would have actually attacked a T-rex that snapped up his buddy and not run away. I had a light meal. I tried their tuna tataki appetizer - four slices of seared-but-rare tuna marinated in a spicy soy sauce, served with ripe avocado slices. This was very tasty. I also had oshitashi. I find many excuses to have oshitashi, especially since I don't have the opportunity to eat it often in St. Louis. Salmon sashimi. I was still hungry after the modest offerings above (and 150ml of sake), so I ordered two slices of salmon. Delicious and definitely not frozen! While the food here is quite good, I don't think I would recommend this as a special trip in Chicago. However, if I lived in the neighborhood, it would definitely be in regular rotation.
(3)
Melanie V.

Pleeeeassse. This place is overrated and overpriced. $18 for a Black Dragon roll? C'mon now. $4.50 for a plate of edamame? $2 for miso? Ugh. I'm not impressed. The rolls are ok, but not amazing. They really shouldn't be priced that high. We ARE in a recession after all... I guess since Kamehachi has a billion locations, it's pretty popular. I just feel like there's a ton of non-chain, neighborhood sushi joints that have better food and service. We busted up in here around 10pm on a Sunday since the Ontario St. location told us they were open until 2am. It was packed. So packed, in fact, that our party of four had to crowd around one small table probably meant for 2 people. Plus, the tables are so close together that the people next to us were clearly eavesdropping and judging us on all of the comments we were making. Eh. I don't think I'd come back here again.
(2)
Andrey L.

WOW! What a gerat place! We accidentally came across this place and decided to dine in. The atmosphere, the decorations, the silverware and people there made us feel like we are no longer in Chicago but rather somewhere in Asia. But that's not the best part. The best part is the food itself! My wife and I both agreed that is was one of the best sushi we had so far. The tea was phenomenal and the desert was outstanding. We are certainly coming back!
(5)
Natalia K.

I have three words for you: "green turtle roll." Try it. It's amazing. I came here with a crowd for my birthday once and we ordered at least a dozen of them in addition to a variety of others. They were always the first to go. Not that everything here isn't also delicious, but the green turtle roll is the best roll I've ever had. Everything else about this place is well deserving of 5 stars as well. The service, the ambiance, the location, the prices, etc. Oh, good for a date too- ask to sit upstairs!
(5)
Candice S.

I have never been so disappointed in sushi...ever!! We ordered delivery late last night and I don't know if it's because it was later and they're lazy or care less about the quality or that's how it actually is supposed to be....but whatever the reason...it was not great. Spicy Tuna Deluxe Roll - spicy tuna is always my favorite thing to order and I think it's pretty hard to mess up....but I was wrong because it tasted nothing like spicy tuna...not spicy, the tuna inside seemed microscopic in comparison to the roll Shrimp Tempura roll - it was ok...nothing special at all, just shrimp tempura and cucumber it seemed like...and a ridiculous amount of rice (a consistent theme in all the rolls) Summer roll - once again nothing special...seems like this place lacks quite a bit of creativity New York Roll - pretty good, as expected. Pros: opens late and delivers late (which is why I gave it the extra star) Cons: rolls taste like eating just rice with nothing else, lacks a variety on the menu, i paid EXTRA for a side of spicy mayo which i did NOT get. I definitely will NOT be ordering from this place again. I really wished I had just ordered something else last night.
(2)
Cait A.

Can't say a whole lot about this place cause we just grabbed take-out one night but considering it was like 1am the service was super quick. They have pretty good vegetarian options, and their veggie crunch roll is nothing short of delectable...sweet potato tempura, shitake mushrooms, avocado, asparagus & cucumber with a sweet and slightly tangy sauce.
(5)
Cristine K.

It's my go-to special sushi place. Excellent selection of sashimi and sushi. Creative drink specials. Always had friendly and consistent service. Excellent for out of town visitors as well. It's definitely a bit more expensive than your neighbourhood places but they offer a fantastic experience for your special night out.
(5)
Catherine W.

I ate at this restaurant during an off-hour (around 2pm or so on a Saturday). Sushi was good and service was friendly. I have no complaints except that parking can be difficult.
(4)
Jon H.

I'm not a sushi connoisseur by any means, but the food was very good (in the same ball park as any other top notch sushi place in Chicago) and the presentation was excellent. The restaurant ambiance is very nice, with a modern Asian feel.
(5)
Taran S.

The restaurant was very accommodating to our reservation which was placed only a few hours before. The service was excellent, the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant was great! Our appetizers (salad) and soup were also both very good and we had high expectations for the food, especially after seeing the prices. We ordered 4 rolls of sushi and they were very disappointed. They were dry, lacked any kind of flavor and were very overpriced. I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon, but I would stay away from the sushi and maybe try one of their entrees instead.
(3)
Sourma K.

I've been going to Kamehachi for years and they've never disappointed, from their tri-color seaweed salad to their Chicago crazy roll - I'm always in heaven. The service is great AND it's open late (I think that rhymed).
(5)
Kammie G.

Went there a few weeks ago with two friends for a late dinner. I was surprised that there was a sushi restaurant open on a Wednesday night till 2am. That's a plus - good to know for future planning outings in the area. Parking was easy to find on the street. We sat upstairs in the loungey area. The seats were very uncomfortable and odd. But the whole atmosphere of the place was enjoyable, low-key, and intimate. Our waitress was friendly and nice. She was responding in a professional manner to my obnoxious friend that kept asking her strange questions and tried flirting with her. I was pleasantly surprised how well she handled him, while I was sitting there embarrased for him. Anyway, I ordered Vegetable Spring roll as a side dish, which came with a delicious sauce. The spring rolls were delicious, although different than I expected. It must have been the tofu that was inside that was different from spring rolls I am used to. Nevertheless, it was tasty. We also ordered California Roll, Alaskan Rolls, Futomaki roll, and Spider Roll. All were tasty and filling. I tried the rolls with the rest of the Spring roll sauce that was left over, and I must admit it tasted pretty damn good too! So yeah, try that ;) Much better than eating it with soy sauce actually. Overall the place is rated 3 stars simply because there wasn't much of a WOW factor. Although, I am willing to go back there when I'm actually hungry next time and trying one of their noodle dishes (I heard they were prettty good). Till next time!
(3)
Sara L.

I would give some of the specials a try. The wonderful roll is absolutely amazing. HANDS DOWN one of the best rolls. The menu is limited for rolls, but the selection of fish is great. The quality/freshness of fish won't disappoint..I believe they get their shipment in daily. Also, I would also recommend trying the entrees..I haven't tried a thing that I didn't like.
(4)
Kymberly J.

I just went there last night and I am now craving it. I wanted to go back for more about a minute after we left but I stuffed my self silly so I dont know where I'd put it. We sat at the bar and watched the chef's create. Our orders were taken quickly and the food was also served fast. I dont mind lingering at a restaurant but we had somewhere to be. I got the Kamehachi combo and my friend got the Begginers sushi combo because he cant have fish. It came with California rolls which contained crab - even though it's shellfish, he cant eat it either. He asked the chef what was in the roll and one of the other staff was in tune to the situation and immediately asked the chef to make him something else at no extra charge. Nice! MY biggest beef with sushi places is when they make the rolls so damn large you feel like an idiot chewing this big fat roll. This place made them the appropriate size -at leas the rolls I got.
(4)
Stina N.

I ate here this weekend with a couple friends, and really enjoyed it. I would probably give it closer to 4.5 stars though. The location is really nice and very cozy, but it's kind of too small. When we first walked in I was feeling a bit claustrophobic. As for the food. It was excellent. Even my one friend from California was pleasantly surprised by how great the sushi was. (She got the dragon rolls.)
(5)
Marie M.

Tried the "new" location about a month ago. The place is very nice. We sat at the bar and received great service. It was a slow Sunday night which made it even more enjoyable. I believe the menu has changed, everything we ordered (shared a few appetizers and 2 entrees) was very good. Even though there was no room, we ordered one of the dessert and it was delicious. Another great place in Old Town!
(5)
P S.

This Peas & Carrots date brought to you by the awesome folks at Groupon. Thanks, Groupon! Now back to your regularly scheduled review. Spring rolls. Not much to speak of generally. Maybe some decent tofu, some crispy sprouts, an herb or two... but usually, spring rolls rely on a good hoisin or eel sauce to make them come alive. The spring rolls at Kamehachi were easily some of the Best I Have Ever Had. Light, papery wrapping, abundant, delicious noodles and the best use of cilantro maybe ever in the history of sushi. The salty sauce was perfect. Perfect! We gorged a bit, fair to say. The dragon roll and crazy Chicago rolls were great, but the sunset and summer rolls were the best. The spicy tuna roll was indeed nicely spicy but still tasty, and the salmon and tuna sushi pieces were fantastic (not too much rice). My Tokyo-tini (ginger, cucumber, acai booze and sake) was absolutely delightful and has inspired my new summer drink. Carrot's green tea martini was flavorful and interesting. Unfortunately, the one drawback, is that their drink prices border on extortion. For instance, a bottle of wine is usually a savings of a glass or so but not here - Four glasses of wine in a bottle means you're paying four times the glass price for one bottle, with some bottles adding a buck or two. The martinis are four ounce glasses (most specialty martinis are closer to five) and they're $11 a pop. Not a cheap date. Unless you have a Groupon. Since the demise of Kaze, I think it's fair to say that Kamehachi will be one of my very top sushi go-to's. I've needed one of those, too.
(4)
Emily O.

I've been here twice, and both times been kind of disappointing. The atmosphere is beautiful and romantic. However, the food is bland. Also, my friend and I both ordered sushi, and the rice was warm. I mean, seriously?!
(2)
Gigi D.

recently hosted my husband's 40th birthday party in the new upstairs lounge area. What a great space, the set up was perfect! The guests were wow'd at how cool and sophisticated the new location was. I thought the staff was outstanding. Chris, the event coodinator was so helpful and accomodating. We could bring our own music and cupcakes. The wait staff was top notch from coat check, food refill and taking gifts to the holding area. Kristen, the bartender, served up drinks quickly and patiently. Gary, the GM, even checkied n on us to ensure everything went well. Thank you! We ordered sushi trays and everone really enjoyed it. Highly recommend hosting a private event.
(5)
Bryan B.

Had a very fun night out here. Enjoyed a few things off the special menu, which included house made Sangria + special Nigiri. Signature sushi was very good. Always a good experience here. It may not be the best place in Chicago, but I've always had a very good meal & a great time here.
(3)
Elisabeth C.

Oh, Kamehachi. I really wanted to like you, I really did. I thought you would be the answer to my late-night sushi prayers, but alas, you were not. While I definitely like Kamehachi's hot dishes (boyfriend ordered a pretty fabulous yaki soba) and their tsukemono (Japanese pickles) are relatively good, I was really unimpressed with their sushi- both the maki (I'm not a huge fan of maki, but am easing the boyfriend into sushi) and the nigiri were terrible. First, the sushi was tiny, hardly worth the price unless the quality of fish was decent- which it wasn't. The ikura tasted really old and disgusting, and the nori on the maki was very tough and stale. There was little rice on any of the maki, and the spicy mayonaise was almost non-present on any of those rolls. Second, the texture of the (minimal amounts of) fish was gummy and not fresh. The only sushi I ordered that was any good was the natto maki (which I was very excited about because few American sushi joints serve the stuff). Third, the delivery took over an hour and a half on a Wednesday night, which is utterly ridiculous given the fact that the sushi looked and tasted like it'd been made by a five-year-old. If you're a serious sushi eater (lived in Japan, order uni and wouldn't dream of ordering a 'California roll', et cetera, et cetera) DO NOT BOTHER. You'll be severely disappointed. I spent almost sixty dollars and ended up throwing out sushi, because it was that bad. I seriously could have gone to Jewel and purchased fresher sushi, which is really sad. Perhaps order the soba or udon from here (thus the two stars instead of one), but save yourself the heartache and just wait for a table at Toro on Clark, Kamehachi doesn't even hold a candle to them.
(2)
Scott C.

We ate on the Kamehachi out on their outdoor patio area. This is a great place to eat in the restaurant - plenty of room and the noise level is very reasonable - no need to shout over other people to hold a conversation. The service was a little bit slow throughout the night but she got our order correct - so it was not a total loss. We started off with the spicy edemame as well as the fried oysters. The edemame was nice and salty and with the added spice, it made for a good appetizer as we waited for our sushi to be prepared and sipping on our drinks. The drinks were very good - like many others I highly recommend the lychee martini. The sushi was good. Again not spectacular but well done with fresh fish. The size of the sushi slices were appropriate and it did not feel like you were eating half a fish at a time on the ball of rice. The spicy scallop roll was very good and they used large scallops when making the roll - which really improved the taste of the roll itself. Kamehachi is a good location for good sushi - not really imaginative or exotic - and good drinks. If you can sit outside I highly recommend this area for to eat here.
(3)
John T.

Went biking with my girlfriend one day and had a huge craving for sushi. I had recalled seeing this place on Yelp, so I decided to stop by and get some food. We were the only one's in the place, but after having heard that this is the original Chicago sushi insitution, we decided to try it out. The prices were a bit high, but the sushi tasted very fresh and the service was extremely fast (we were eating alone)! I like this place a lot, but the sushi was not very interesting, just kind of there. I am glad I ate here because it was a solid experience, but I think that there are other options that will fulfill your full sushi experience.
(4)
Alysha P.

Had lunch with a friend here last Thursday......I live right down the block yet haven't eaten here in years.....now I remember why.....it was just ehhh.....not great....not completely terrible....just okay and for a sushi place....that just doesn't cut it for me..... Food Miso Soup: Pretty standard.....tofu....seaweed....miso....it was fine We got an app that was on the specials list....I think it was whitefish but I honestly can't remember....but I do remember that it was slightly seared on the outside....in some kind of sauce with scallions and whatnot......it was $9 and it was only 3 pieces....3 slightly chewy not so fresh tasting pieces.....not good! We decided to get some rolls.....and again....nothing to write home about...Spicy Tuna....Eel & Cucumber.....Yellowtail & Scallions & Shrimp w/ Avocado & Cucumber.....out of all of these.....the spicy tuna was the best and even that was just okay.....I've def had better (ahem....Mirai) My friend ordered the Mochi for dessert....they had pretty limited flavors....no green tea?? say what?? So he got one mango and one strawberry.....they were both melty.....booooooo :( Service Again...it was fine....not great....not terrible....and not memorable... Ambiance This place def needs an update.....old school and not in a good way.....it really just does not inspire freshness......really small room.....I honestly think the best seats are at the sushi bar.....which is where we should have sat....instead we had a corner table that was slanted (b/c the floor is) right by the server station.....no matter what table you sit at here someone will be stuck in the aisle and in the way of the waiters.....awful! Overall Not impressed.....and with so many great sushi restos in the city.....I don't need to waste my time or $$ here.....
(2)
Alex T.

I've been eating at kamehaci for over a year and a half. It was a very special place for me because it was the first place i tried sushi. Unfortunately since their move from their previous location closer to the loop, their atmosphere has degraded and their sushi is no where near the level it was before. Id say this restaurant is first and foremost a bar than it is a respectable sushi restaurant anymore. For the quality of the fish they get 3 stars, however the preparation is lack and inconsistent.
(3)
Sarah L.

I purchased the Groupon for Kamehaci back in the day and it was damn near expiration before I used it! I'm glad I held on to this baby because my husband and I had a wonderful dinner for next to nothing. We stopped in on a Sunday night so we didn't need reservations. Although, it was pretty busy for a Sunday evening. We started out with spicy edamame. It was different from the usual flavor but it was a nice touch! We ordered 4 rolls to share: sunset, dragon, spicy tuna and rainbow. It was hard to pick a favorite but I really enjoyed the sunset roll. There were huge orange fish eggs on top. If you can get past the fish eggs, you will love this roll! The presentation is beautiful and we were very full on the four rolls we ordered. Keep in mind we ordered 3 specialty and one maki roll, specialty rolls tend to be on the bigger side. Friendly staff, delicious sushi, valet parking and close to Sedgwick brown line stop. Check out this little sushi gem and look out for a Groupon!
(4)
Jamie H.

Came here on Friday night with a friend. We were seated right away, just in the front so I didn't get to see what the upstairs was like. I got a reisling and my friend got a red, that I can't remember the name of. They were both very good. We got some edamame that was also very good and then ordered the miso soup. It was good. Then we got the three rolls- Something turtle roll, Alaskan Crab and a Spicy Mayo. They were all just fine. Nothing was all that exceptional. It took a while to get our drinks and the server nearly forgot to bring our soup out. I went because I had a Groupon. Probably wouldn't make a special trip to come back.
(3)
Helen H.

I would say 2 star food but plus 1 star b/c they are open late, and deliver to the financial district when everything else in the area closes at like 7 pm. oh and everything is packaged extremely extremely well and thoughtfully - this is huge for to go food for me b/c i all too often drop bags of food before i get to eat it... oops. anyways everything i had was pretty mediocre - what you would expect from an open late delivery sushi (everything was pretty bland... even the edamame wasn't seasoned with salt).. but one thing that i devoured and that super stood out to me was the agedashi tofu - would definitely recommend.. it was just the right amount of fried, and the ginger and bonito flakes on it make it flavorful and added a crunchy texture... i should have just ordered two plates of this alone.. all in all, if i'm working in chicago again... late... when i have no more options other than room service, i would definitely order kamehachi again
(3)
Jenny B.

Is there a 0 star?I think this place probably made enough money.They have no clue what is customer service.Really rude service and bad quality of food.I got tricked by them twice I will never go back there again.
(1)
Jessica K.

If I died and went to Japanese heaven, I'd end up at Kamehachi's. I was raised in a sushi restaurant for the duration of childhood so I know me some good sushi and sashimi and maki rolls...mmmmmm... I'm a huge fan of the one in Old Town even if the parking is atrocious. (You have to pay the meter 24/7) The host who is the only person who's not Asian has always always been fantastic and in a nutshell, exactly what a host should be. Kind, courteous and accommodating to my every inquiry when I walked in. The dining room downstairs is kind of small and more for open crowds and loud guests while the upstairs dining room is more intimate, with softer lighting and again, soft spoken servers. I've never had a bad experience with the service or the food here and I would definitely come here over Rise or Shine-definitely. Do try their dragon roll or their spider roll. Both are very fresh and have large chunks of eel and crispy soft crab. But ask your server for recommendations also! And don't forget dessert! Save room for their mochi dessert which just melts in your mouth and while it looks so delicate and cute even, it melts quickly so eat up! I come here at least once a month and have them deliver from their Ontario location whenever I'm too lazy to get out.
(5)
Johnny R.

I've never tried Kamehachi until yesterday, just never happened. I took a client out there yesterday for lunch and it was very good. I had the sushi/sashimi combo and it definitely met my expectations. For some reason I was thinking it would be little fancier inside, but it was decorated much like 90% of all the Japanese restaurants out there. Having been to Japan a number of times, that blonde wood table and faux paper screen look is quite ubiquitous there. I'd recommend Kamehachi no problem. The fish was fresh, the portions were generous, and the staff is very responsive.
(4)
Kayu T.

I went to Kamehachi with three others while we've been straving all day and still, we find the sushi and food here 'edible'. The sushi rice was lacking flavors so it didn't matter which rolls we ordered, it wasn't good. We also tried the soba noodle, which had the over cooked texture and an udon that was nothing special. I also had a ton katsu which the pork was not even prepared like what katsu is supposed to be!! Watery tasting, boiled carrots and broccoli did not help either. One thing we did enjoyed was the dynamite on the apetitizer menu. It was probably the best dynamite I've ever had. They used big pieces of fish and it was a decent size with perfect amount of kick to it.
(1)
Megan G.

I went here with three of my cousins for a ladies dinner and while some of the sushi was delicious, the place just didn't do it for me. It was good, on par with other (less expensive, byob) sushi places in the city. The upstairs is cozy and really comfy but we opted for outside on an extremely enjoyable first night of the autumn. We started with the stuffed jalapeno special, which was spicy tuna, cream cheese and green onion stuffed inside an entire jalapeno then tempura fried. I had really high expectations for this dish, but it fell really short. Like... Tom Cruise short. I have a really high tolerance for heat but this just wasn't the good heat. I didn't taste anything except for the jalapeno, as a matter of fact and that just warped the flavor of everything else that I after that. The variety of rolls that we had were pretty tasty. The summer roll was my favorite as I love me some cilantro but nothing else stood out as really fantastic. Or even "that" good. I would try it again but I won't be rushing back anytime soon.
(3)
Jim W.

Was less than impressed after having heard good things about this og Kamehachi. Rolling in for a late Saturday lunch, there were maybe 7 people in the restaurant, but it took a good 25 minutes for our main food dishes to come out! The spider roll we ordered was pretty small and pathetic and pretty bleh compared to what I've had in recent months, registering at $2/piece for a paltry 5 piece roll. My katzudon was pretty pedestrian too...I came here to order this b/c it's so hard to find Japanese rice dishes downtown for a reasonable price...if I wasn't so lazy, I'm sure I could make it better. The only saving grace was the special stuffed salmon we ordered. Stuffed with crab, and placed over some garlic/starchy sauce, it was pretty good. But we definitely waited a long time for it...no apologies, nothing from the wait staff. Considering how slow it was, I'd hate to see how service is when it's actually busy.
(2)
Adam E.

outstanding bargain, quality sushi. My date wasn't keen to salmon, so we avoided that, and hit several of the recommendations from Andre's review and we were not dissapointed. Best sushi ever? Probably not. But in a simple non-pretentious non-showy setting (compare to Ra and Japonais among others) they served sushi that I found to be quite palatable. In the end thats what counts.. Add in that its two blocks from my apartment, and its a BYOB and we've got a winner.
(4)
Mikey J.

Authentic Japanese! I love coming here to get the bento baxes. They are a delicious mix of everything you'd want in a Japaneses lunch. I've been to many Japanese restaurants in Chicago, and you can never go wrong with Kamehachi. The prices are fair, the fish is FRESH, and the service is courteous and quick. A restaurant with a focus on the food, I've never had a bad experience here.
(5)
Hillary L.

I came here one Thursday evening with a group of six and we were promptly seated upstairs near the "bar" without any reservations. I liked that they had a wide variety of options on the menu (including drinks!) so everyone could choose to go raw or not. I chose not to and got two different rolls, both of which were great. The real deal for me was when I asked for an alternative, non-soy based dipping sauce... and they provided! This is a BIG DEAL if you have soy allergies. They were super accommodating, whereas most restaurants scratch their head and say "teriyaki" which is basically souped-up soy. I want to say it was a sesame ginger sauce, but that may just be in my head. Overall good environment for large and small groups, but it wouldn't be the place I must go to again- convenient location in Old Town to meet up with some friends. I think if I could, they would get a 3.5 - especially for their reasonable prices and no wait.
(3)
Haley B.

Meh... That's how I would sum up my experience at Kamehachi. But I suppose I should make it clear that my apathy towards this place is mostly situational, meaning that with all the incredible BYOB sushi places in this city, why would you choose one that's just alright? The atmosphere at this place is nice, especially upstairs, which is decorated with cute little structures that make you feel like you're sitting in cabanas. Nothing about their sushi menu really struck me as unique and their wine menu is lacking. So why would I go to a mediocre sushi place and have a so-so glass of wine, when I could go to a phenomenal place and bring my own bottle of my favorite Cabernet? I wouldn't intentionally, and that's why I won't be back.
(2)
Jessica C.

I was brought here for my 26th birthday (by my request of course). It was really easy to make a reservation online. If you're dining as a couple, I suggest you request a table on the second floor - it's most intimate and dimly lit. We ordered a bottle of red wine and indulged in about four sushi rolls. The selection of rolls was somewhat lacking, but either way, what we picked was delicious. I definitely recommend visiting this restaurant.
(4)
Mindy S.

Despite the international Kamehachi name, I feel other sushi spots in the city have done a better job of maintaining a contemporary look in their restaurants and on their plates. Kamehachi is great for a standard, average-yet-good experience. The most memorable dish I order every time is their steamed dumplings, the shumai appetizer. They have inspired me to start making them because I cannot get enough! I have been at this location a few times, because I live in the area and twice because of Groupons. It sometimes takes a while to get a table, but most nights are very low key and you'll have a lot of space to yourself. It just depends. Call ahead. As for their sushi, it has always been fair-to-good quailty, but nothing that I remember. My husband raves about the green turtle roll, while I typically go for one special roll and a few nigiri. No outright complaints, other than the decor feels outdated and cheap. They have beautiful custom wood panels in the stairwell and second floor walls, but they lined them with visible rope lighting. For the money, I have had stellar experiences at Mizu Sushi (right around the corner from Kamehachi on North Ave.) and Oysy. The decor and interesting special roll presentations delight me at those places. Now for a much less stellar review for the downtown Kamehachi.....heads up for this location, there is a HUGE difference between raw salmon and raw tuna. Please don't serve me a Philadelphia roll with tuna and try to convince me otherwise......
(2)
Joe J.

The atmosphere is calm and comfortable. Our server knew very little about the sushi. He erroneously stated that the sashimi specials were "wild caught" and the menu''s sashimi (including the tuna, etc.) was farm-raised. I asked if the fish were line-caught, responsibly, etc. and he had no idea. In this day and age, a responsible and eco-friendly sushi restaurant should educate its servers about the fish it serves. The sushi was decent, not great. The rolls were very average. Overall, I would expect more from a restaurant selling expensive sushi like Kamehachi.
(3)
KAREN S.

I went here on a date and we went to the upstairs level. Very cute and intimate feel up there. Perfect for a date or close gathering. The downstairs is just a typical sushi restaurant, but upstairs is completely different. The service was great. They were super friendly and always checking up on us if we needed anything else. The rolls were delicious and were a decent size. They have tons of options but also have a lot of traditional rolls too. I will definitely go back!
(4)
Jill S.

Solid sushi place. Sitting upstairs is way cooler than downstairs, so go that route. Meter parking actually can be found, just a few blocks south of the restaurant, on Wells still. Ambiance, very cool. Service, great (let us sit and chat forever, not rushed at all.) Good food. Spring rolls are great! Tried Rainbow, Spicy Scallop and Eel... liked all three. WILL go again!
(4)
Steve B.

We went to Kamehachi for New Years this year with a group of around 10 people. The wait staff was not very friendly, which may have been due to the fact that our group was being loud or something, but that's no excuse for poor service. The food was OK, but nothing to get excited about and it was not particularly cheap. The variety on the menu was pretty good, but the drinks were particularly expensive. I'm not much of a fan of $8 beers. We were also seated with one side of our table on a booth that followed the shape of the room around a corner. This made it uncomfortable for one of our friends as she was stuck sitting on the corner of the booth. Poor planning by the host. When it came to paying, the waitress had made no attempt at splitting the bill (which I guess should have been expected), but as we scrambled to put our bills together, the waitress made no effort to help. It felt like we were neglected. I'm certain that we won't return - there are too many other great options in this city.
(1)
Ted C.

My sister managed to get some free tickets to Zanies and since the restauarant was in the area decided to come here for dinner prior to the show. The late night sushi menu impressed me but I didn't have a yen for late night sushi-pun intended! We started with yakitori-which was really like a shish kabob, not that impressed. My sister decided to get the Dynamite starter seafood in masago in spicy mayo, it was a little odd, a mishmash of different pieces in spicy sauce, it was a little disconcerting to see a big oily mess at the bottom of the plate but I guess that's the price for baking mayo. The Martinis were a little on the small side but not too bad. One of our friends ordered a Sapporo and the can was covered in some weird crust. I ordered the sushi deluxe plate and it was okay, sampler wise but for the price I was expecting more. I also ordered two pieces of the white tuna and it was pretty good. The sushi here is good, it's just price wise I think it's a little lopsided. The service was...I don't want to say bad but we did have to flag her down more than once, she wasn't pleasant and I ordered the strawberry mochi ice cream and she brought me the mango. When I mentioned it to her she just said she would get me the strawberry without aplogizing and then came back a few minutes later saying they were out of the strawberry. Did she think that I wouldn't notice? I'm not color blind or anything, give me the option of choosing instead of making the choice for me. I don't think I'll come back, I will go for my sushi needs elsewhere.
(2)
Gfiddy F.

I love this new space and it's a great restaurant, especially since it is open so late.
(5)
Jonathan R.

It was so late. I was so drunk. Luckily my taste buds were unaltered in my altered state. This place filled me until I (nearly) burst. I have no idea how I got here, but I'm glad I came. Try the mackerel. I understand its heavenly.
(5)
L T.

Came in with my boyfriend and roommate. It was my boyfriend and I's first time at their new location and we were really impressed with the interior. Sleek and chic. Our server was very great. She was attentive and personable, always smiling. For food, we ordered the turtle roll, spicy scallop, and one of their special rolls (that I can't seem to remember the name of). All the rolls were AMAZING. super fresh and perfect to the taste. I didn't even need soy sauce or wasabi. We also ordered teriyaki salmon, tonkatsu and tempura udon. There just is not a single thing that I can complain about to be honest... I usually never order teriyaki anything because other restaurants drench the teriyaki sauce on and it always over-powering. However, Kamehachi's teriyaki was very light and perfect. The salmon was fried and the skin was so crispy and yummy! Tonkatsu was delish! Really like that the sauce was on the side. I've always loved the udon here.. Probably my favorite restaurant for it. We weren't even going to get dessert, but I just couldn't say no to mochi. The waitress informed us that the blueberry was really good. So we ordered the blueberry mochi, green tea mochi and the goma with black sesame pudding. OH MY GOODNESS! they were all SO good! blueberry definitely was fantastic like she said! I can't toot this restaurant's horn enough!!! Amazing quality food, amazing service. Definitely will come back and def will refer.
(4)
Kelly G.

Tuna was melt in your mouth fresh. I had sashimi swordfish (my first time eating raw swordfish!) and it was a huge, tasty slice of lemony bright flavor. All the rolls were great, but I was slightly disappointed in the selection - nothing felt creative or like it was pushing boundaries. But they all highlight the flavor of the FRESH fish served here. I'd come back.
(4)
Oscar the Death Cat B.

Probably my favorite of all the Kamehachi locations. Over the summer I ducked into their pleasant Japanese garden patio to escape the craziness of the Wells St. art fest (I understand that they enclose the patio over the non-summer months) and more recently tried their upstairs dining space - nice, but I'd recommend bringing a flash light or two if you want to eat up there for dinner, the lighting was ridiculously dim and everyone at our table was almost literally fighting over a single spot of light as we were trying to read our menus. I can understand why the menu prices can be such a turn-off, some of the pieces and rolls that we tried were not much better than you'd get at a hole-in-the-wall sushi place at a fraction of the cost. Some selections however, such as the toro, were outstanding (and at $10 a piece, they BETTER be outstanding!!) Good thing we had a Groupon to soften the blow on the final bill. What I really like about Kamehachi is their dessert selections. If you are in the mood for something more substantial than the standard sushi joint selection of mochi & green tea ice creams, you can indulge in something really rich like cheesecake or my favorite, the chocolate cube (three layers of chocolate mousse with a chocolate coating - yum!!)
(4)
Jasmine P.

Kamehachi has various locations throughout Chicagoland. Though the Streeterville location was closest to me, I visited this one in Old Town. We opted to drive though it wouldn't have been an expensive cab fare. We found that parking was quite easy. My dinnermate and I got lost at first and didn't realize the restaurant was upstairs. Once inside, it was pretty dark and decorated with the usual Asian-influence. Besides the late night hours, there was nothing that really made this Kamehachi location stand out in comparison to other sushi restaurants. Service was great! But then again there weren't many other people there on that late Wednesday night. I wanted sushi and they fulfilled my need quite timely, so my review of this place is right down the middle. Three stars.
(3)
Colleen C.

I LOVE this place. It was where my sushi virginity was taken, siiiiighhhhh. Who knew it would be so so good? I had no idea. This is a great place for a date. They have late-night sushi, Old Town has a lot to do around it (movies, 2nd city, et al)...great corner spot, valet, AWESOME sushi...great wine selection. Our server was great, we had a romantic corner table and throughly enjoyed our experience. A little pricier than the mom/pop joints...but the ambience is well worth it. Definitely worth a stop in.
(4)
Kim E.

As a sushi & martini connoisseur I am a bigger fan of the drinkey drinks here. The sushi isn't bad but I do say it to be a bit overpriced for the portion sizes. You are paying for location location location & the name. Now.... if you fancy trendy scene, snazzy drink concoctions, outdoor patios or sushi bars.... I would highly recommend this place. It's a definite one time MUST. After all, their other locations.. in case you wanted to hop a plane are listed on the front sign for your viewing pleasure: Tokyo & NYC. PLUSES: Diversity. The one thing they made sure of was to give you about five different seating places to choose from: see there are 2 floors! The downstairs is more formal dinner style but crowdy, the back outdoor patio (downstairs still) which is quite lovely, the upstairs which is more intimate & dim with a sushi bar to the side or the second story bar towards the back - very romantic, quaint & semi-private. Even for non-sushi lovers... you must head to the upstairs bar... to people watch - it's a lovely scene - especially on the weekends!
(4)
Stephen F.

I was led to believe Kamehachi was one of the top sushi restaurants in Chicago, and would be accepted even in cities that actually feature large bodies of salt water. My meal was hugely disappointing, and wouldn't have been good even at one of the hole-on-the-wall spots around town I usually turn up my nose at. For three of us, we asked for the chef's recommendations, mostly sashimi and stay away from the saucier stuff. Some of the fish that came out was excellent, but about half was gamey or flavorless, and a few pieces were inedible gristle. Conclusion: Kamehachi does not in fact find better fish than the sushi hoi polloi, and therefore should be drizzling everything with wasabi mustard and olive oil like the sushi joints that have DJ nights. This experience set us back about $200 -- worth it for a good sushi meal in Chicago, but not for this meal. It's possible we hit Kamehachi on a bad night, but I'm not inclined to go back and test this theory.
(2)
Jonathan H.

Giant Chunks of Tuna! Any restaurant that has that on the menu (that's not the name of it, but I wanted to make a statement.) is aces in my book. I eat sushi a lot and they have some of the freshest fish I've had. And the price isn't so high that I get turned off by it. Great for groups and families. I have also never had to wait really long to get a table. They are very efficient there.
(5)
Amy R.

Kamehachi is not closed....it just moved. East side of the street......around the subway.
(5)
Kit G.

Do not let the appearance of the downstairs fool you. The upstairs has a completely different and much nicer atmosphere. We started with the asparagus beef rolls which were amazing. The beef was tender and the asparagus was crisp. My friends loved the Chicago Crazy Roll. I had the Yaki Udon noodles with chicken. It was delicious by far more than I could eat! This is a great restaurant that people can enjoy whether they love sushi or not. The prices are far more reasonable than most Japanese restaurants, and I liked the atmosphere of the upstairs. The tables were set far apart, which was nice because it creates a more quiet intimate setting.
(4)
MELEK L.

I agree with Ben E. that Kamehachi on Wells is "not the best sushi in Chicago". In fact, it was a chore to keep the rolls from falling apart before they hit my mouth. And the rolls themselves were ok, but nothing more. A couple of pieces of advise when dining here. I definitely recommend the dimly lit upstairs to the too-bright and sterile downstairs dining area. You will feel like you are escaping the chaos of the city down below when you are cuddled with your date at a small table in the scarlet-hued environment upstairs. I have eaten here several times. My most recent visit was the least impressive, though I have enjoyed past experiences. I tend to prefer their appetizers and entrees more than their sushi rolls. The potstickers I had recently were just ok, with little flavor other than in the dipping sauce. Sarah B and I had a really great app last time we came in, though I cannot recall now what it was. I guess I might find myself here again on a gift certificate, but there are so many great sushi options in Chicago, why settle for Meh?
(3)
alexander p.

They moved to a new site and it's way more upmarket, back to the high quality from whence they came. I am super happy that they have moved to a new space and can say that we are again regulars at this old town location!!! ------------- I was a regular here, it's gone further downhill and not impressed with the quality here. --------------------------- This place is not perhaps what it once was... but we're still regulars here and find the food perfectly acceptable, the service good and the overall experience good enough for us to keep coming back week after week. There are probably better sushi restaurants out there in Chicagoland but this is local and it has a great outdoor area at the back.
(4)
Joe K.

Great sushi and great decor, I recommend Kamehachi to all !
(4)
Terrence C.

I don't get what the hype is about this place. The food is not impressive, the atmosphere is pretty boring. I think this place won best sushi spot, and I have been advised to go here quite a few times, but I doubt I'll go back willingly. Food was slow, rolls we just OK, specialty rolls are small and still have a high price tag. Atmosphere is not very inviting, and the space is pretty tight. One good thing is valet parking, since you'll never find a spot, and the fact that they are open late is nice.
(2)
Rebecca H.

I really wanted to buy a zillion of the $50-for-20 coupons that were offered on groupon.com last Friday for Kamehachi but I missed my chance and they sold out! I had never been here, but the deal was so great even for medium sushi that I figured there was no way to lose! Anyway, we were on Wells visiting a florist and thought, hey we should go to Kamehachi because after midnight when the 5,500 Groupons print, they are going to be slammed for the next 6 months. We sat on the new patio - cute cute cute! A deck with a retractable awning, a waterfall, green plants, good wall decor/lights, good music... It was charming! We ordered some regular rolls (including the super creative and tasty Summer Roll) and added in some of the tuna stuffed jalapenos and a few pieces of blue marlin. We did think the prices were kinda high, especially for the nigiri. The food was good, but only medium fresh. Not bad, not the best. A-OK. The service was good and kept bringing us drinks. The special drinks are also very good. We ordered the hot sake with chambord. Holy batman! I drank a large by myself, ha! We also had 3 of the martinis - tasty! They didn't mind that we ordered another bottle of sake after we were done eating while we chatted about the universe. In general, we always like to personally thank the chefs when we leave, but these chefs seemed very uninterested - 2 of them ignored our second, louder thank you's, and the other just stared at us.
(3)
Ed S.

This sushi should be served with a side of dental floss. The salmon was chewy and stringy. I have been eating sushi for 10 years, and have tried everything from cheap take-out sushi to high-end sushi, and this sushi was among the worst. Ordinary salmon sushi should not be tough to bite into. I don't know if it's the chef, or the cut, or the freshness, but it was bad. The difference between cheaper sushi and expensive sushi should only be in the size of the cuts of fish and the ratio of fish to rice per piece. You should never be eating raw fish that is just bad. They do give you reasonably sized pieces, but the fish quality is a much bigger issue. On top of that, they must know this already, because I mentioned it to the waitress and she did not come back with even an apology from the chef... let alone a discount on the bill. So, they must regularly serve fish like this. The only reason I can think of for all the good Yelp reviews is that maybe there are not many sushi places in the neighborhood, and people in that area just haven't had good sushi to compare to.
(1)
Elizabeth F.

My husband LOVES sushi so for his birthday I arranged lunch there. It was not busy and service was fast. I do not like raw meat or fish but I tried California and Dragon rolls. OMG! Food was fresh and delicious but Dragon roll was just awesome, fresh and melts in your mouth. I could eat this every day. If you go to Kamehachi you have to try Dragon roll. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Jennifer J.

This place is expensive, but then again, Japanese places in Chicago are just generally expensive. I've been here just a couple of times largely because of the price. But the first time, when the host looked us up and down and sent us upstairs into the bat cave, a gigantic spider fell from the ceiling onto our table. I killed it, and asked our unphased waitress to remove it from our table. "Oh!" she says. I lost my appetite and the general appetite to return here for over a year, bringing me to the last time I came. I didn't experience a falling spider (not a roll) again, but the food was all right. Expensive, but okay. It's open late, which I appreciate, so it's always there when you need a late dinner. But I certainly wouldn't go out of my way--I'm sure there are plenty more expensive Japanese places you can go to instead.
(3)
D. R.

Great miso shiru soup. More, more, more! The scallions really bring out the broth with a pop!
(4)
Whitney R.

loved the mood. Ordered a yummy reisling and absolutely love the "crouching crab hidden crab!" The miso soup was awesome and same with the ginger salad.
(3)
Meridith H.

This place serves the best sushi that I have ever eaten. I took my sister here for her birthday, arriving at around 4:30 p.m. Because we hit that magical time between lunch and dinner, we had the entire place to ourselves. We started with the Vegetable Spring Rolls, which were simply delicious. They melted like butter in our mouths, and came with an almost sweet sauce. We then shared three rolls, the Crazy Chicago Roll, the Green Turtle Roll, and another, the name of which I cannot now remember. Each was deliciously fresh and left a clean taste in one's mouth. When we left, the entire staff was full of smiles and thank yous, including the chefs who had prepared our fantastic dinner. This place is phenomenal!
(5)
Haley S.

Good, solid sushi. Liked the kamehachi roll - v. good shumai. Didn't try the cocktails - just had a sapporo light - but they looked great!
(4)
An P.

A long time ago when Kamehachi first opened up, I stopped in for lunch and found it to be mediocre at best. I stopped by to visit my folks at work and we decided to try some Kamehachi as it was Lenten Friday, so I had a hankering for fish and fish products. We were seated immediately and given hot warm towels to clean off hands. I ordered a Kamehachi combo which came with yellowtail, tuna, salmon, shrimp, spicy tuna roll and california roll with customary miso. The food was fresh, but did not taste like it came out of the sea, but I understand considering this is Chicago, not Japan. Tea was refilled often as was water and the service was not intrusive. The food tastes better than when it first opened and has earned their four stars. I ate, I was full, I was impressed by their sushi and I was glad I went.
(4)
Kate B.

Kamehachi is ok. I have been here a few times, and will probably end up coming back. There is nothing wrong with the sushi, it's presented well and is always fresh. But it does lack creativity in signature rolls... while the sushi/sashimi is good, and I do indulge on every sushi outing, I like a little fun with the rolls - I want to see something that hasn't been done before or full of cream cheese. I will say, their specials are usually excellent - but I have found them to be salmon based the past few times have been here, and I am not a fan! During the warmer season, the patio is AMAZING! It is a great space, and even has a retractable roof!
(3)
Kye B.

Always a favorite when I'm in Chi-town. It's a rather large establishment that can cater to parties large and small. A great staff and the sushi is excellent. A lot of the regular sushi choices plus some other really appetizing choices. Nice outside seating available, a cozy upstairs and a great sushi bar on the main floor. Great location too. My food us here and I'm starving. Come by when you're in town.
(4)
Jilliann S.

Average sushi - nothing memorable. I might be spoiled by the inexpensive and delicious sushi places that I enjoyed the past several years in NYC, but - still - this place is way too expensive for the quality. Of course, we will be back since it is next to our apartment. Two suggestions: 1) Sit upstairs - ambiance/lighting is somewhat better. 2) Try the Sunset Roll - it is pretty good.
(2)
Arlo H.

If I could give more stars to this awesome place I would. First time I went here it was a Saturday night with a midsize group. We were informed the wait would be some obscene long amount of time. I was ready to just go but one of the people I was with convienced to me to just stay. We sat down had amazing service and listened to metallica reinterpreted by the Japanese. Never had a better time! I've been going here for over ten years and the service and food has never not been up to par. Thanks! Thumbs up!
(5)
Lena D.

Greta sushi, fresh and wonderful staff. The only problem is that Chicago is over run with Sushi places - so sad that you forget about how great Kamehachi is with their traditional & modern sushi fare (try the turtle roll), AND wonderful service. Stop by the Old Town location it's great, priced in the middle but consistently good food!
(4)
Fabian B.

We liked the place. Really liked it. Then went one night, and the eastern European (Why have an eastern European waitress in a Japanese place anyway ?) got it all wrong. Mixed up stuff we ordered , disappeared somewhere , general service was very slow, too. Massive accent , hard to understand. Anyway, very disappointed. Still ,we went back 2 weeks later to give them another chance, got a seat upstairs. Some guy turned up with 2 glasses , filled them with water without saying a word. No sign of waitress/waiter. We waited for 10mins. Then left. No one stopped us.
(1)
Emily T.

The sushi is good, I mean for sushi in Chicago. No Ocean=sushi fail in my world, but that is not their fault and frankly i didn't have to eat here, nobody forced me. Its a cute spot, the atmosphere is eeh and the tables were too close together for private conversation ( um rude lady at table next to us, kept listening in, table was close enough that my fist could have been in her face in a half a second)......but the food was good and the service was solid. They had an abundance of sushi options and the edamame was warmed to perfection. I say, go here.....you won't be wowed, but you won't be disappointed. Its solid. Side Note: Poor lighting ladies.....better head to the MAC counter before the big date.
(3)
Kathleen G.

I am not a connoisseur of sushi, though I do enjoy it on a fairly regular (bi-weekly) basis. We arrived at 7:30 on Saturday night and were seated downstairs immediately. After starting with a delicious miso soup (his words, not mine) we had the following rolls: Spider Sunset Summer New York Chicago The presentation was pleasant and I found the rolls to be interesting and delicious (I sampled all of them). The Summer roll had a kick to it, the Spider roll was a bit bland but the Sunset roll was fabulous!! The fish was fresh and served in large pieces within the rolls, which I appreciated. Also, no roll had any ingredients that overpowered the fish which I don't always find. I will be back
(4)
Tempe T.

This is my favorite sushi place in town-- it's where I take all my out-of-town guests. The atmosphere can't be beat: sit downstairs for platonic dinners with friends or wish-we-could-just-be-friends, or sit upstairs or out back on the patio for a really cozy romantic night out. When I go I ask for Aurora: she has GREAT wine recommendations. Order the spring roll appetizer. Cilantro, marinated mushrooms, avocado, and noodles with a yummy dipping sauce. Definitely get the turtle roll, I also love the dragon roll and the summer roll! I never miss the featured rolls, either: they're always incredible. I always top the meal off with the mochi. Mmmm. Kamahachi... It's been too long...
(5)
Tam H.

I went here with friends the other day for a taste of Sushi. It was pretty good. However, it seems as though the sushi rolls are a little bit on the small side. The atmosphere was lovely and the waitress was very attentive to our needs. I indulged in the Chicken Katsu and the New York Rolls. Pretty good. I am convinced that if a person can't make Katsu then they should not be a Japanese restaurant. I will visit again to hopefully try the other parts of the menu. The price was a bit much. The atmosphere is great and they can obviously handle big groups of 5 or more.
(3)
Patricia S.

3.5 stars (rounded to 4) because everything was good to great, but nothing wow'ed me. The service is definitely on point. The waitstaff isn't overly friendly, but they're definitely attentive and are intuitive as to when you're finished your plate and when to bring the next thing. They serve great sushi. We got the lobster specialty roll - lobster, crab, cilantro, mango all in a roll, yum! My chirashi bowl would have been fantastic, but the rice had a bit too much vinegar. The appetizer was way too greasy with flavorless sauce. Also, I agree with everyone below. Go upstairs for a more intimate environment.
(4)
Chris T.

After getting out from seeing an improv show at Second City at 11pm, we were starving and didn't know where to go. Luckily this place was open late, because we were about to do McDonalds. The ambience here was very cool and the place is huge too. Two of the best rolls we had were the Chicago Crazy Roll, and the Crouching Tuna, Hidden Crab. They were delicious, and would definitely order them again. Looks like people have had trouble with the service here, but I didn't experience that. It wasn't anything to rave about, but again I was so hungry when I was here I wouldn't even of cared if they spat on the food in front of me.
(4)
Lauren H.

I enjoyed this place! Great atmosphere. No complaints. I just had some basic rolls so I will update the review next time I go once I have more to say about the food.
(4)
Grace C.

Shrimp tempora is pretty good. I came to this place twice. Both time, we enjoyed it. Their lunch menu works during the weekend as well. Their bento portion is generous. Service is good. I definately recommend this place if you are lincon park or near old town.
(3)
Liz G.

I have never reviewed a restaurant, but I would strongly discourage anyone from coming to this restaurant. Service was fine, but the sushi tasted like it had sat out for hours. I thought it was just my experience, but after talking to several friends they have had similar experiences. Way too expensive for the nasty fishy sushi you receive.
(1)
Chrys L.

Love the food...never going back I'd been going to Kamehachi when it was in its old Wells St. location and always had a great experience. Unfortunately, the excellent food and adequate service isn't enough to make me return to their new location when you have to shout at your dinner guest in order to be heard. After 90 mins, we were both so hoarse that rather than sitting any longer, we decided to continue our evening across the street. After 23+ years, Kamehachi, you've lost my business.
(1)
Mike H.

ZERO stars due to NO ONE waiting on us. My girlfriend and I were sat by the MANAGER by the front door at a high top. We were given water by the bus boy and started looking at the menu. After a few minutes we were wondering where our server was. The restaurant was somewhat busy but that doesn't excuse the fact that noone waited on us, especially since the MANAGER sat us. At around 20 minutes we decided to leave due to not being waited on. I guess they didn't want our hard earned money so we decided to spend it elsewhere. Complete failure!!!
(1)
Rodney H.

I wanted to like this place, but I got disappointed instead. Service was amazingly slow on a Sunday afternoon. Sushi was pretty good but drinks were poorly made - disappointing, because the cocktail list is fairly tantalizing. Not the worst experience ever, but if you go there, don't worry about running in to me, because I'm not going back.
(2)
Callie K.

My friends and I loved this place! Beautiful atmosphere, large drink selection, really friendly bartender/waiter, and delicious sushi that came out super fast! The bartender also gave us really good drink and sushi roll recommendations when we asked. Thanks!
(5)
Chris F.

If you're a fan of cilantro get the Summer roll. One of the best rolls I've had in Chicago. For realz. Had the Dragon (also nummy) and a few others. Everything was better than a typical BYOB suchi place. That being said, not being a BYOB made it slightly on the pricer side of things to make it my go to place. Otherwise dinner was nom.com !
(5)
Erin R.

I loved my Kamehachi experience on Friday! The white heat roll was simply to die for but honestly all of our rolls were surprisingly good. So were the gyoza which are often good but rarely remarkably so. I would absolutely recommend!
(5)
Matthew F.

Decent sushi in an otherwise fairly dismal patch of restaurants, which makes it a good choice before a show at Second City. The specialty rolls are typically very good, though some of the standard rolls can be improved - on my last visit, the rice-to-shrimp ratio in my Shrimp Tempura roll was all out of whack. Beer choices beyond the standard Japanese labels, and a decent wine list too.
(3)
Travis M.

I got three pieces of nigiri and they were all about the size of my thumb. Not sure if they were running out of sushi but it looked like the pieces had been cut in half. For the price they charge the amount I got was ridiculous.
(1)
Ime P.

Food is delicious, some of the best sushi I have ever had. Banana tempura was amazing. However, service was very slow, our waitress was nowhere to be seen several times throughout the evening, leaving our glasses empty for too long. We would have ordered more drinks if she had offered, but we had to flag her down. Great place overall, cozy atmosphere and pleasant music. Will visit again.
(3)
Jeff S.

***3.5 stars*** Sushi was fresh, but not memorable. Prices were reasonable for the area, but not the best value around (especially if you're willing to venture outside of the Old Town area a bit). Decor is nice and has an intimate, cozy vibe. I live within walking distance to Kamehachi, but it doesn't really inspire me to revisit countless times out of pure desire, but instead due to proximity. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I didn't find Kamehachi to be anything special in the sea of sushi restaurants all over Chicago. But if you're in the area and hankering for some sushi and/or familiar Japanese kitchen food, I recommend that you stop by.
(3)
DJ S.

This place is fine. Nice dining room. Nice waitress but we had to look for her a few times. The food is pretty average. Sushi is fine but nothing amazing. We had lots of appetizers to share. All fine. Over $225 for three people. A little pricey for just fine.
(3)
Carol K.

Kamehaci in Old Town has made a smart move in taking over the old Evissa space. For now the ambiance is trendy and dynamic, but holds on to some traditions, from the bar in the front with the lanterns hanging, to the intimate dining area upstairs (open Thurs- Sat) with soft couches to sink into, to the private room (washitsu) for more traditional dining, this space is lovely. I've been a few times now and it seems like the crowds and madness that was present when they first opened has tempered a bit which was a welcome change. We started our evening with some sake at the bar and then were escorted to a cozy table for two upstairs for dinner. I like the way they staggered the placement of the tables for even though there may be someone next to you, they are not right next to you. Our server, Laura, was great, explaining the menu (very well organized and easy to find favorites) to going over the specials of the day. And while their specialty cocktail list is nice- they also have a good selection of wines, and sakes. While I won't go through everything we had, there are a few things worth a special call out. First, we went with the mussels steamed in sake as our first course- delicious! And their maki rolls are always good- try the rainbow, the spicy tuna deluxe or our server's favorite, the Summer roll with Tuna, Yellowtail, Green Pepper, Avocado, Masago, Cilantro . . . . . .it tasted like Summer feels! My friend also ordered a wide array of sashimi and the presentation was lovely- almost too pretty to eat! I was a little underwhelmed by a couple of things. First- my fatty tuna (toro) tasted fishy to me which made me question if it was as fresh as it could be. Also- skip the chocolate cake for dessert- it is just so so and certainly not "calorie worthy"! Dinner for two with plenty of drinks, appetizers and dessert ran about $150. Valet parking is available out front for $12 (a life saver in the Winter months). And they are open until 2am so it's a great place to stop in for a drink anytime. Domo, Kamehachi!
(4)
Chris S.

I placed a delivery order after I departed from O'Hare airport for some rolls and an appetizer. Being a weekly traveler, I have a good idea how long it takes to get to Old Town from the airport at 10pm. Unfortunately, I got a cab driver that drove at a glacial pace (literally 55mph on the highway and 20 mph on North Ave). This meant my delivery arrived before I did. The delivery man had every right to yell at me or be disgruntled as he waited about ten minutes for me to arrive. Instead, he was professional and very polite about it. Great service.
(5)
Thanh L.

Asian chimichurri steak and rock tempura shrimp app were delicious. Lychee drink was good. Sushi was pricey $16 rolls for crouching tuna hidden crab and the Valentines day special roll which ended up being very similar. The fish was fresh and both rolls were ok. Service was great.
(3)
Natalie M.

I have been a fan of Kamehachi for years, and their move just two blocks north was a great idea. Kamehachi retains its casual sophistication, with even better decor and floor plan. They have also added more vegetarian dishes as well as drink options to their menu. Many of the old staff members are still there so you will see many familiar faces. Kamehachi is still my favorite date night spot, and now that they are RIGHT NEXT DOOR to Pinkberry they have reached a new level of perfection.
(5)
Benjamin P.

Pros: Our waitress was able to recommend sake to try and offered samples of our choices. Nice atmosphere and decor. Decently priced "standard" sushi rolls. Cons: Waited about 45 minutes for our meal. Specialty rolls are better than the standard fare but still not that memorable. Bottom line: I'd go back (or order delivery) for cheap rolls or if I'm extremely lazy and unwilling to leave the Old Town area. Otherwise, I'd happily hike it somewhere else.
(3)
Mihir P.

I was looking forward to going to eat at Kamehachi in its new digs but the experience was far less than luster primarily due to the service. Our waiter was cracked out or very nervous. He was so quick, fidgeting, and speaking really fast almost incoherently with a New York accent. When he was at our table it was as if he had "one foot out the door" if that makes sense. I asked him for some sriracha, he didn't know what that was. So I asked for Sambal Oelek - he has no idea. So I asked for hot sauce. He brought spicy mayo. The food isn't bad. The mushroom app is a must for anyone who loves 'em. Rock shrimp app is standard. Crouching tuna - hidden crab roll was very bland. The pork katsu would've been decent if we could have got some sriracha or sambal oelek. They did have an excellent jalapeno margarita so if I am walking by, I'd stop at the bar.
(2)
Khadijah L.

Downgrading. Since they moved, the new Kamehachi is much more spacious and swanky. They're still open late so this is a good place to come after shows when you have not much choice. Key: You don't have much choice late at night. Bad thing. The sukiyaki was waaay too salty. The sushi was A-OK (sashimi and a couple of rolls, nothing to write home about) Service was awful. My glass was not refilled even once. The waitress came to get our order, and never returned. Given the salty sukiyaki, I was so thirsty and I didn't get any water. BLEH This isn't my first review. I had given 5 stars in 2011, 4 stars in 2012, and now 2 stars only. Something is wrong obviously...
(2)
Kaitlin M.

I love you even more Kamehachi! Nice job on the new location! It is sexy, sleek, welcoming and much more spacious! I have always like Kamehachi because they have good sushi for a good prince, and deliver!!! Now that they are in this new location I will be dropping in a lot more to get dinner versus ordering in! There are two things that make this place stand in front of many other sushi restaurants and that is their vegetarian/ vegan sushi section. They have two of my favorite vegan rolls in the city: the Veggie Crunch and the Shiitake roll. Now to me, the veggie crunch is the best vegan roll I have ever had! It is the perfect mix of vegetables and a bit of glutenous tempura crunch! The Shiitake is better than the usual because they add creamy avocado to the roll which creates a yummy combination comparable to a meat and cheese taste and texture! You HAVE TO check out there new location and try one of the rolls I recommend even if your not vegetarian. I promise you will like it!
(5)
Tommy M.

You can see from my history that I don't give many 5-star reviews. Why now? It wasn't the udon, which was fine but not spectacular. It wasn't the salmon or miso soup or gyoza or sushi rolls - they were good but not distinguishably better than other places. Kamehachi gets 5 stars because the tempura (both shrimp and vegetables) was the best I have ever eaten anywhere. The batter was perfect - thin, not heavy and greasy like you find in many restaurants, and clean, meaning the batter had a neutral taste so the flavor of the shrimp and vegetables (especially the broccoli) came through well, and light-colored, meaning the cooking oil was fresh. And, the outdoor seating (only room for 2 tables) on a gorgeous fall day certainly contributed to the pleasant atmosphere.
(5)
K B.

There's really nothing bad that can be said about the food here. The fish is top-quality, succulent and delicious, and you sure will pay for it. Given this, why not opt for less fashionable, as-good or almost-as-good sushi, at lower prices in a more pleasant setting? For the size of the tab here they really should treat you better: although they were perhaps only two-thirds full on a Friday night, we were seated upstairs, where the claustrophobic space was dominated by a large, drunk party who were so loud and obnoxious that we could barely focus on the menu, much less have a conversation. The table next to ours actually asked to be reseated downstairs, but this seemed to fluster the staff so badly that we opted to stay put. Servers were friendly but seemed harried and overextended. I can corroborate other reviewers on the glacially slow service (we thought it was just that we'd been stuck upstairs and forgotten about, but this seems to be the norm here). I usually don't complain about things like service and atmosphere, as for me the food is the point. But at these prices, at the very least the environment should not detract from the meal. I miss the old Kamehachi with its traditional, non-trendy vibe - if it were still that place, the quality of the food would keep me coming back. But I don't think I'll be back here unless someone else is paying.
(3)
Barb B.

My husband and I first started coming here at the Ontario location and then moved to the new location on Wells after the Ontario restaurant closed. We are long-time addicts, drawn in by the comfortable yet beautiful atmosphere. Ontario was a bit more airy and open, but the Wells location is simply another style to be enjoyed. Our favorite entrees include the sea bass, one of our party always gets it, and we also like the salmon teriyaki. For appetizers we always get several shrimp shumais, they are so good, also edamame and the steamed spinach gomae and vegetable spring rolls- all very delicate and tasty! My husband and I almost always order the flights of sake just because they never disappoint and we enjoy sampling different brands. If you are a fan, you will enjoy this as as well. For sushi, we have gotten the samplers as well as ordering individual sushi and it is always excellent. Someone said it is the same as costco and that is not at all true, at least not in our experience and we eat a lot of sushi. We have also ordered specialty rolls and some we have enjoyed include the shrimp tempura roll, rainbow roll, and veggie crunch roll. All in all we enjoy Kamehachi very much! We do wish the Ontario location was still open but we will be returning to the Wells Street address again very soon!
(4)
Rachel V.

Kamehachi has a lot of menu choices for the sushi lover and sushi hater! It would be totally easy to bribe a sushi-hating friend into coming here on a night when you're craving some rolls! I loved the menu - the prices are great and the portions are generous. Also extra stars for their service. I went there with a bachelorette party of 9, and since they somehow didn't have our pre fixe menu ready to go, they offered to give us all separate checks so we could order whatever we wanted. Also, the manager sent us TWO rounds of drinks - sake at the beginning and champagne at the end! That's fabulous service compared to Second City who saw our party coming and sat us in the back corner of the theater! I'll definitely be going back soon!
(5)
Jen O.

I liked this place a lot but there is just nothing so special about it to give it 5 stars. We went on a Monday night and if you go out in Chicago you will realize that's kind of a dead night in the city so there was no one there, so that's not really their fault. We ordered the Duck Tataki appetizer with kumquats which was tasty. Then we had a Dragon Maki and a selection of Nigiri. Everything was very good and fresh. The cut of the fatty tuna for being market price was not as generous as I would normally get. It is also expensive (around $100 for two with only 1 saki) so that's another factor. Overall, it is a solid sushi place and nothing personal against Kamehachi but there are so many other sushi places to try I wont rush back.
(4)
Ray D.

Awesome sushi! This is one of the best sushi spots with the best ambiance in Chicago. If the sushi chefs would cut the pieces thicker like the in the islands it would be the best in Chicago if not the Midwest.
(4)
Princess D.

This is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in the city. I've been coming here since my late teens and the sushi has always been fresh. The service and ambience is consistently good.
(4)
Tiffany S.

delicious salmon sashimi, nice atmosphere. services was nice, they also have really good spicy edamame. highly recommend!
(5)
General T.

I used to love coming here to experience the live jazz duet they'd have upstairs, but I've stopped coming since they inexplicably got rid of it. bring back the jazz!!
(1)
Peggy C.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice and feels very authentic. I had the zaru soba and salmon sushi. The food was good but I've had better japanese food for around the same price or less. The soba broth could have used some more flavor.
(3)
Dallas F.

I enjoy Kamehachi mainly for its convenience. It's close to home, open late, and affordable. Though the sushi is good, I actually prefer the entrees on the menu like the chicken katsu. Incredibly tasty and always enough for two meals. The service is fast and friendly and I've never had to wait to be seated. If you go late night, you'll probably be seated upstairs which has a totally different vibe than the downstairs area. The ambiance is nice in the upstairs portion of the restaurant. Its a bit classier and almost has a touch of a romantic loungy vibe to it. Overall, Kamahachi offers good food for a good price, especially given the neighborhood where its located.
(4)
Eliza K.

Have ordered from this place frequently on on grub hub and a couple of times the fish they've sent isn't fresh. Today I got food poisoning. I will submit this place to the board of health
(1)
Deepika B.

I really don't know what we paid for at this place. Sushi - you get better sushi at costco that's much cheaper Tempura - could fry a few more in the oil that we had on the tempura Service - the servers kept staring at our plates so that they could clean the table and say goodbye. Save your money and spend elsewhere for some good japanese.
(1)
Chi G.

Sushi was pretty fresh but the rice was terrible. It was hard and did not taste good. Told the server, but she didnt seem to care. Wont be back!
(2)
Jason H.

One word.... Awesome. Great food and great prices... Took food tour and this was one of the places.. We had to come back for dinner....
(5)
Suzanne H.

Normally I wouldn't write about this place, as it was just eh to me (love my CA sushi). However, something happened that I find very annoying, and I hope the owner reads this and stops it...... We ate lunch here at 2 pm on a Tuesday. There were 4 groups of diners, 2 to a group, plus us. Two couples were in the half-circle banquettes, and two couples were at tables for 4. Where did the guy seat us? At a HORRIBLE table for two--very small--against a wall!!!! WTF. Why?? There were plenty of tables for 4 and banquettes to seat us at. What is your problem? I don't like it when restaurants do this. It is mean and nasty and I won't be back because of it. The sushi was OK, the prices were OK, the service was OK. We spent $50 there and a great tip--which I wouldn't have given, but it wasn't the waitress's fault.... But, next time......"nobody puts Baby in the corner"....or by the wall......train your staff!!!
(3)
Dawnsie E.

I used to dine at Kamehachi at least once a week either at the restaurant or by ordering in. It was kind of a staple in our house and they were a "5th food group" for us. The Chilean Sea Bass melted in my mouth and with the noodles and veggies made for an amazing dish. The Shrimp tempura was great and all the sushi options were yummy. I've had several poor experiences here in the last year and keep giving them a break thinking it is just an off night or they were off their game temporarily. I'm so forgiving to restaurants that have been fabulous for so many years and a bad couple of experiences can happen even to the best of places. But this last experience I just once again felt physically unwell after dining and couldn't wait to leave. The place just isn't up to its former glory.
(1)
Debbie Chiou S.

Does not taste fresh. Very overpriced for what it is. When the drinks menu is as long as the food menu, you know how much they care about their food.
(2)
John K.

There is absolutely nothing to complain about the interior decor of this place. It has the nicest decor I have ever encountered for a restaurant in the US. My only worry when I first walked in was, will the food quality still hold up or will it be at the mercy of the decor? ... It was at the mercy of the decor. I ordered the Tori Kara (spicy fried chicken with sesame glaze)...nothing like what it said. It wasn't spicy at all! I was a little taken back at how fast the chicken got cold as well. I also ordered the white heat. Why I ordered it was because of the red chilli pepper paste...I swear I did not taste any of it. The whole maki seemed a little tart as well, the combination of jalapeno, citrus soy, and cilantro being a little overpowering. I m not saying overall things were bad, but there is certainly room for improvement in becoming the best (after all, that should be the goal, right?) Then again, should I be seeking gourmet sushi in Chicago far away from the ocean? But I do love to be surprised...
(3)
Kathleen A.

I went for the first time on a Saturday night, it was reasonably busy but my companion and I were seated quickly. We tried a couple of appetizers and a few rolls. The octopus salad was a fantastic item to share, a little on the sweet side though. My favorite item of the evening was the spicy scallop maki, the texture was phenomenal and it was super fresh.
(4)
Mel A.

I am not much of a sushi/sashimi connoisseur but I thoroughly enjoyed every piece I ate with the exception of the Eel and it was just a "texture" issue for me. My date said he could eat a whole plate of Eel :) I really loved the Mackeral! We also had raw scallops, escolar, yellowtail, wasabi infused fish roe and a few others! All of this was enjoyed with a couple of Sofie beers! Our server was attentive and offered great ideas. We went on a Saturday around 1pm so it wasn't too busy.
(4)
Jennie C.

Came to the old town location for a late dinner. Friends ordered sushi, I had the yakisoba. It arrived piping hot, which was pleasant for a chilly night. Flavors were good but too salty. Good portion of veggies and beef in the dish. Service was friendly. Just didn't get blown away. Decent choice if you're in the neighborhood and wants Japanese.
(3)
Brian L.

I'm not sure I agree with all these negative reviews--I actually had a great experience at Kamehachi. Others have mentioned that service was poor and slow, but our waitress was attentive to our needs, my water glass was never empty, and the food arrived shortly after we ordered. My Chirashi was delicious, and I also tried the Green Turtle, Chicago Crazy, and the Sunset rolls with the Sunset being the best of the three.
(4)
Michael G.

It's time to play is it KameHA(WT)chi or KameNAWTchi?! Today's contestant is the Old Town location of Chicago's venerable sushi institution, Kamehachi. Let's check out this potentially sexy beast's vital measurements, shall we? Ambiance: Venerable is a nice way of saying old. Occasionally it also means out of date. Maybe when this location was first built, people liked being crammed together like sardines while waiting for raw fish. But I personally accidentally elbowed the person next to me in the head twice as I stood up. I swear. Accidentally. Nothing to do with the fact that it was St. Patrick's weekend and the couple at the next table were acting drunky-douchey. The lighting was great, not like a normal classy sushi place, but unfortunately on this visit, it was bright enough to see the drunken idiots there on a Saturday night. NAWT! Food: Nothing mind blowing. Definitely serviceable maki. The AAC (avocado, asparagus, and cucumber), their vegetarian choice, was a little bland. The Tekka (tuna), however, didn't taste overly fishy and was delectable. One thing I have to say is that the menu isn't overly experimental. But I think that's a good thing. I like my restaurants like my women, a bit predictable. HA...NA...HA...NA...HAWT! Um, cute? Price: Relatively large portions. A group of four of us went in with the $50.00 Groupon and ended up going about $20.00 over total each getting two to three maki with a couple of sides of seaweed salad. At between $4.00 and $6.00 for six pieces of maki, they've got a good thing going. We didn't get drinks, but about $20.00 a person was not bad, not bad at all. In fact, HAWT! Service: The word "ignored" comes to mind. But our server was friendly when she passed by us to go to the kitchen when she did acknowledge us. NAWT! Wasabi: HAWT! Deary me, HAWT! Boobs: Always HAWT! Wait, restaurants don't have boobs! Wrong review! I think this place is a lot like Betty White. 40 years ago when it was Chicago's first sushi place, it was hawt and you wanted to see it in all its naked glory. But now, even though the pictures are still circulating, I just don't want to see that! Either nude Betty White or Kamehachi again. Sorry, to the legion of fans of this place, but I have to go with KameNAWTchi on this one.
(2)
Dax R.

I used to order here a lot but every time I order the Kaki Fry it seems that I get sick. The quality has gone down.
(2)
Kohl F.

The Sukiyaki is delicious!
(5)
Blair R.

Somehow Kamehachi's updated, trendier space makes its food taste better. I'm sure the sushi is the same as it was before. But whereas before I only dropped in because it was close and convenient, I now drop in because I actually want to be there. On my most recent visit this past Saturday, I was happy with all of my sushi -- there was the perfect ratio of rice to fish (not too much rice as some Chicago restaurants do) and the fish was fresh. My friend's Salmon Teryiaki also looked really good. HOWEVER, I was not happy with the service. We arrived around 8 30 with a reservation and were seated right away. About ten or fifteen minutes later our sever strolled by and took our order. We were pretty hungry so we started with some miso soups, edamame and a seaweed salad, figuring they'd be out pretty quickly. WRONG! The appetizers took FOREVER to come out. When they did come out, the waitress forgot half of them, only bringing one miso soup. When we asked about the other soup and the edamame, she told us "the kitchen is delayed". I am pretty sure that both items are already sitting in the kitchen and take less than one minute to make, so this was clearly a lie. Not to mention, I counted about 6 waitresses huddling in a corner by the bar with nothing to do. The night continued to get worse and worse. It took about 40 minutes for my sushi to come out and 60 minutes for my friend's salmon to come out. Our waitress rarely came by our table to check up on us. I am hoping for her sake that she is in training. Lucky for Kamehachi, I won't judge it for this one failed experience and I will return again. I can only hope that the next time around service is better (I expect it will be because I have had one waiter in the past who is SUPER attentive)
(3)
Brian F.

OK, what the heck. I don't give out many 5 stars. I reserve them for restaurants that serve something better than anyone else. Sushi can be hit or miss sometimes no matter where you go, but In this case, I have to say the sushi was the best I've ever had. It was absolutely fresh and delicious. Along with that I had one of their $12 lunch Bento boxes which included a nice piece of absolutely delicious Teriyaki steak which was cooked to a perfect medium-rare. The staff was above-board friendly and courteous taking care of me and my 18-month son. I am going to frequent this place.
(5)
Kevin O.

This review is for their delivery menu. Love them and have for years. Love the new space too. But this is about their "new menu" Tonight we ordered the chicken teriyaki an a bunch of sushi. The $15 serving of teriyaki didn't even one chicken breast! When we called to complain, the guy we spoke to 1) didn't seem surprised and 2) said oh have you ordered from our new location because it's different now. "I'll tell the owner". Non responsive. Completely. Very disappointing. Spent nearly $60 but will not order delivery from them again. Great food. Disappointingly small servings for their delivery menu.
(2)
Andre W.

After months of wanting to check this place out, I decided it was time to check out Kamehachi on a chilly Friday night. Drove around for a few minutes searching for parking and got lucky enough to catch someone pulling out of their space a few doors down from the restaurant. Walked in and was greeted by the host who asked us if we had a reservation. We did not but there was plenty of seating available. This place is much smaller than I imagined, but it was pleasant. We started out with the Tri-Color seaweed salad which was good and for our drinking pleasure we went with the Pinot Grigio which was good as well. For our maki pleasure, we went with the Spicy Salmon roll (the best one), Spicy Tuna Deluxe, Kamehachi Roll, Chicago Crazy Roll (it was ok) and the Summer Roll which included Tuna, Yellowtail, green bell peppers, spicy mayo, masago, cilantro, avocado, spicy sesame oil & lime. It was damn good!!!! The server was cool as he was knowledgeable about their wines. Luckily we got there at the right time (8PM), because after we arrived the place started to really fill up. The host told me it gets crowded usually around 8 so again, lucky us. Good place to get good sushi
(4)
Hoppie G.

Didn't have the sushi so I can't comment on that but the ramen was only so-so. Little too salty. My friend had some steak dish that also did not look appetizing
(3)
Caroline M.

A very solid 3 stars. Super sexy date spot! Too bad I was dining with a co-worker...Oh well, there is always next time. At any rate, we shared some nigiri and maki. The presentations were simple and not overly creative like some other sushi spots. Maybe it's just me, but when I eat nigiri, I like it to be served cold. Room temp raw fish scares me a bit. I had an exciting personal sushi discovery--the salmon skin maki tasted like bacon. Who knew?! After 3 pieces of nigiri, 3 maki, and one adult beverage, the damage was only $40. Not bad.
(3)
Meredith B.

My friends and I went here for dinner before a night out. We were seated upstairs in a nice, dimly lit area that felt more "loungey" than the brightly lit sushi bar downstairs. We were very comfortable and the music was at a good volume so we could all still hear each other. My half of the table split three rolls and those were the Dragon Roll, the Summer Roll, and the Spicy Tuna Roll. The Spicy Tuna Roll was extremely classic, but very small - like how I'd expect a standard Tuna Roll to be. Often the spicy ones are built a bit bigger, but not this time. It was delicious, however. The Summer Roll was fresh and creative - the cilantro was a really unique touch. I wouldn't recommend it to a traditionalist, but I really enjoyed it. My favorite was the Dragon, it was one of the best I've ever had. So creamy, so fresh, and just the perfect amount of crunch. The service was prompt, and the sushi was nicely prepared although not as artful as it is at some other sushi places. I'd love to come back and stay longer, and try more things on the menu!
(4)
Dan C.

Been here once and will not return. We came here at around 2:30 pm on a Tuesday, certainly not prime time, but still... $10 Martini that was drinkable, nothing special, though slightly watery. Fried oyster appetizer. This was OK although served with dijon mustard and sweet/sour sauce, which makes you feel as though you're eating spring rolls (not to mention there was no meaningful flavor synergy). Then sushi: spicy tuna maki, new york maki, and sunset maki. First of all, the wasabi they gave us was seriously weak. The sushi itself was simply underachieving in every aspect. The seaweed was dry, the rice was too starchy and layered way too thickly around the rolls (this should be obvious even from the couple pictures posted here on yelp), and the added condiments such as spiced aioli and roe were simply flavorless. The fish was fresh enough, but everything else was supermarket quality. Service was also bad. Maybe since the place was empty the servers were taking things easy, but our sushi arrived on the table several minutes before the appetizer, and we had to ask for the check twice. They also almost took down the wrong order but when she was reading through everything at the end we noticed the mistake. Maki rolls at sushi samba (where I usually go) are only like a dollar/roll more expensive than they are here, and they're made 100 times better. Cocktails at sushi samba are $1 more and also 100 times better. Should have just stuck with the tried and true.
(1)
Kevin C.

First visit with my girlfriend on 2009/04/04 for dinner. We ordered the softshell crab, kamehachi sushi set B, rainbow roll, 1 piece of Uni and 1 piece of blue marlin (special). Lets start with the pros: 1) Service was good, our waitress checked on us multiple times despite the whole restaurant was full and she was really busy. 2) Decoration was cute. 3) Fresh ingredients. Cons: 1) The food is definitely below average. The roll is poorly made and the sushi has irregularly cut fish. 2) The sushi rice is warm. Way too warm. They are suppose to be at room temperature ! I have traveled and eaten sushi in japan at least 20 times and I never had warm sushi rice. 3) The miso soup is so salty, it must have been sitting there for the whole day before they served that. 4) Pricey ! Bottom line: For the price and food, I would not recommend this restaurant at all. It is overpriced, poorly made and I am very disappointed.
(2)
Amy B.

Went w/ friends (we were a group of 4) before a show at Second City. Spectacular! Service was top-notch, food was great. The Green Turtle Roll was THE BEST sushi I've ever had. The decor is no-frills, but again I went for food & the service is unbeatable.
(5)
Esther Y.

I know Kamehachi is one of those places in Chicago that is a classic, but I don't love it. I can find better sushi elsewhere and I don't feel like I have to deal with the Old Town traffic etc. If you are in the neighborhood, it's a little overpriced, but the food is good and worth a try.
(3)
Jenny N.

Ok, to start out, this is a 3 star restaurant in terms of food. Their sushi was pretty ordinary and nothing out of this world like some other places around Chicago. I have to say that they add more rice than is really necessary for delicious sushi. All of their basic rolls were nothing to write home about, which may be standard for "basic rolls", but I've been to some places that really take pride in all of their sushi. They did have a special for the weekend called a Treasure Roll which was pretty extraordinary , except for the $17 price tag that came along with it. The only reason I'm giving them 4 stars is because of the adorable outdoor patio in the back. Great atmosphere in the summer. Definitely can find better sushi in Chicago though. Nothing out of this world.
(4)
Gerardo C.

This is by far one of my favorite sushi bars in the city. They offer a great selection of rolls and other Japanese dishes. Other than the sushi, I recommend trying out the Sukiyaki, a dish consisting of thinly sliced beef simmered in a skillet with vegetables, noodles and other ingredients, guaranteed to re-energize you after a long night out. Of course, you cannot leave until you try the sake, I recommend a bottle of Tozai. Overall, highly recommended and they are open late.
(5)
Josette J.

Let's start off with the bad to explain the 2 star rating. Bad: - Dragon roll: I always get a dragon roll to evaluate how good a sushi joint is, and I'm sad to say that Kamehachi's dragon roll isn't up to snuff. The roll was so tiny I probably could have fit the whole thing in my mouth had I tried, and it was flavorless - how did they manage to make my favorite roll *ever* flavorless?! To add insult to injury, the roll cost $12.95. Disaster. - Sukiyaki (thin slices of beef simmering in broth with napa cabbage, tofu, onions, mushrooms and clear): It just didn't taste great. Tofu had no texture and tasted like it had been soaking in tap water all day. Mushrooms tasted gross. Just a mess. - Service: The waitress was a bit air-headed. I think she may have had the whole upstairs dining area to cover, though, so I forgive her, but it cannot be denied that it was a bit silly of her to serve the dinner entrees and not ensure that we had forks and knives - heck, we didn't even have chopsticks! Good: - Miso soup: It's hard to mess up, but I've had worse elsewhere. - Asian Lamb Chops (grilled Frend-cut lamb chops, marinated in garlic-sesame soy sauce): Chops were marinated well and perfectly grilled to medium. It wouldn't have hurt if the portion had been bigger, though. - Upstairs dining: The upstairs lounge-themed dining area is very cute, cozy and romantic. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. I don't understand the 4+ star ratings from other reviewers, though. Perhaps, it's just a sad case of people settling for mediocre food because it's close to their homes.
(2)
David N.

I came here with a group of friends to celebrate a friends birthday. I have been to this place a total of about 3 times. I do have to say it is pretty good. I give the wait staff a total of 5 stars, they are very friendly and attentive. The food is good, but I would not say it is one of the best sushi places I have been. The spring roll is very good and I highly recommend that. I did order an avocado roll, which tasted fine...but very expensive. I do like the choices they have for vegetarians, and I think next time I would like to try some of the vegetarian noodle dishes they have. A friend of mine had ordered a Japanese cold green tea noodle dish, and that looked pretty awesome.
(3)
Lindsay D.

Ive always been kinda off and on about this place, but my dinner last Saturday, well Kamehachi totally redeemed itself! We got the special rolls: the Tropical and Cucumber one, the spicy tuna roll and my fave: a piece of Ikura. The special rolls really knocked it out of the park. They also used very soft rice and not the kind you may find at other sushi places where the rice has kind of hardened a bit. Next time Im there, Im headed straight for the specials, you cant go wrong!
(4)
Patti B.

Thanks to Leang E. for the tip about heading upstairs! The dim lighting and cozy tables made for an intimate experience even though all the tables were quite close together. We started off with our usual favorite, agedashi tofu, which sadly was not at all crispy this time, and the gyoza, which someone else recommended and I'm glad they did. For the entree, I decided to try a non-sushi dish this time since that's all we ordered when we visited the other location the first time. I was definitely happy with my yaki udon but my boyfriend didn't like the sushi special he picked. The summer roll wasn't bad though. We opted for dessert since the other location had a yummy tiramisu - no tiramisu here, but we did enjoy a chocolate mousse cube instead. The peach limeade was not as yummy as the green tea martini, but hey, you can't always make right choices! Overall, I'd give this place 3.5 stars and suggest going to the other location.
(3)
Amanda O.

You can enjoy pretty good sushi at Kamehachi. It's not a bad atmosphere either. I would suggest sitting upstairs though. The downstairs atmosphere is more like a sushi cafe. It's very bright, and the table are packed together closely. The food is good though. I would still go back, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list for sushi places.
(3)
Doris D.

OK, now I'm just on a rant and rave about every place I have been to the past 10 years in Chicago...thanks Yelp! So I came here about a year ago with an ex boyfriend...a strange character all his own, but anyway. Though it didn't take long for me to figure out that I had no interest in him, I definitely knew I had a serious interest in this place! The sake was great. The tempura shrimp and chicken terriyaki were absolutely delicious. The only other place that can possibly compete with the food in that area is Sushi Samba. Just try this place out with someone you like...!
(5)
Kimberly C.

45 yelpers before me can tell you that the sushi here is fantastic, so I won't waste your time telling you about my mostly identical experience. What I'm really going to do is share a little secret... come on in a little closer. That's it... ok, listen up... If you are looking for a fancy drink on an off night or waiting for your table on a Friday night, I HIGHLY recommend that you head to the upstairs bar. There you will find a nice looking gentleman behind the bar named Jeremy. Say hello, tell him the flavors you like and then ask him to make you "something." Prepare to be amazed by what you get. I gave Jeremy the explicit direction of "not sweet" and was graced with quite a fine cucumber-ginger saketini that he shook up on the spot. It was excellent. It wasn't the cheapest drink I have ever had, but I will certainly make my way there if I am looking for "something" and have no idea what the hell that is.
(5)
Eric B.

I've been here twice. The service is pretty good and the menu is extensive. I especially enjoyed the cold unfiltered Saki. It was the perfect setup to a relaxing and enjoyable evening both side. The first time I went, I felt the sushi was pretty average so I decided to try it again. Again, the same feeling. I'm not sure where sushi comes from in the midwest, and maybe that is the problem but I felt that the sushi overall was rather bland. The rice was especially good though and I give that high marks. I might go back again as I have friends in old town, but I won't make any special trips.
(3)
Norman H.

Average sushi but reasonably priced with great service. Green turtle roll was the best.
(3)
Annie S.

I have only been here once and it was a long time ago, so that's why I am giving it 4 stars. My friend and I went on a Saturday night and sat upstairs. The upstairs is more clubby and has a lounge vibe. The atmosphere is great and it's a fun place to go with friends. The sushi was great and fresh. The prices are pretty standard and the service was fast and kind. If you want a nice date place, go here. If you want something simple, go down the block to Cafe Sushi!
(4)
Jeff K.

I liked the food, went with a group of 8 and we all tried a few different sushi's and overall was impressed with all of them. I would suggest the green turtle, spicy tuna deluxe, deluxe, fuji role, chicago crazy and a few others. The only reason why I would not give it 5 stars was that i was semi expensive. It was not insane but on the higher side. Overall very good food
(4)
Tracy K.

Being in the area and hungry for sushi, I stopped in, by myself, for a late lunch. The host seemed confused by my midday presence. Maybe he thought I was lost? him: Can I help you? me: Yes, I'd like to eat lunch, please. him: Just you? me: Yes, just me. Making an already semi-awkward experience just a little weirder, I was their only diner. So I got to eat with an audience. Yay. Weirdness aside, my food (AAC maki and futomaki) were good and my waiter was extremely attentive.. probably because I was the only person there. I doubt I'll come back here, but mostly because I'm rarely in the area.
(3)
Nycole H.

Some friends and I went to Kamehachi Friday night for dinner, four of us. We got seats up stairs, it was a very tight space but it made sharing everything really easy without having to totally reach across people and across the table. We had several different rolls which I horribly can't remember. We had the spicy edamame which was just delicious, it tasted more garlicy then spicy to me which is good I can't do spicy. We all had the super white tuna and it was beyond good, I love super white tuna and I regret eating that first that would have been a great finish!! This was my first attempt to drink sake, and it was very good. It was kind of sweet which is a must for me. I really enjoyed it. Even though the sushi rolls were good, I still think my favorite Blu Coral comes out on top. The rolls at Kamehachi didn't have the really unique distinctive tastes. And one of my rolls was really overpowered by one fish when you should have gotten a taste of all of them.
(4)
Christine S.

My new Sushi Place! Been exploring the restuarants in the Gold Coast and Old Town as of late and this is my favorite place for Sushi. Fresh, reasonably priced and great drinks. Try and get a table upstairs if you can.
(5)
Kristy N.

Special Salmon roll was amazing and our server was awesome. The ChickenTeriyaki was huge, easily enough for two people. I'll be back!
(4)
Billy C.

This is the only Kamehachi restaurant I go to when I am Chicago. Although I haven't been there in over 2 years, on my most recent visit I still enjoyed their food, decor and atmosphere. I prefer dining upstairs (club like). I have dined a few times downstairs and it just wasn't the same. Dishes to try: 1. Absolutely the Oyster shooters 2. Kani Su (Real king crab) 3. Teriyaki Steak (NY Strip, medium rare) IT IS THAT GOOD! 4. Agedashi Tofu Sushi, Sashimi and Rolls are good but nothing special. Fish and Seafood ingredients are fresh. Felt good just like old times.
(5)
Brenna M.

Three words : Green Turtle Maki And no there's not real green turtle in it...hellooooo McFly
(4)
Flo J.

Their specialty rolls are SO good... Nice atmosphere too.
(4)
Sophia R.

I have done delivery from here twice and I highly recommend it! If you're looking for excellent sushi delivered to your door, this is your place. For non-traditional sushi, loved the New York Maki with smoked salmon, but definitely loved the Kamehachi roll! They even add in all the necessities with your order including a little plastic dish for your soy sauce. It's definitely worth the 45 min. wait.
(4)
Mary C.

I was thrilled to see Kamehachi added a vegetarian section to its menu, until the wait staff informed us that several of the items listed there aren't actually vegetarian because they are made with dashi, or fish stock. We complained about the mislabeling, and a manager acknowledged that the heading should be changed. The service, ambiance and quality of food are exceptional, but they get severely dinged in my book for being dishonest. Perhaps If they add more real vegetarian items to their menu, we will be back.
(2)
DR. S.

I have no idea how people can eat at this place with the service they have. The quality of the food is up to the standard at most of the times; however, the server disappeared after they dropped off the food and I didn't see them until I had done with my meal, and there were still empty tables which mean they were not busy at that time.
(1)
Julie H.

I was going to give Kamehachi only 3 stars, but after seeing that so many other people gave it high remarks, I decided to be a little bit generous (if only Yelp had half stars - Kamehachi would safely be a 3 1/2). The sushi is good, for sure, but honestly, with all the other hip and fun sushi spots in Chicago, why bother with this one? Its a very safe neighborhood joint; nothing more, nothing less. I go when its convenient, but its definitely not worth a special trip to Old Town.
(4)
Jeremy A.

Walked into Kamehachi at 9:15pm on a Saturday night looking for a quick bite to eat. I could have waited ~10 minutes for a table to open up, but opted to sit down right away at the sushi bar. I was shocked that this place wasn't mobbed. I highly recommend the "Summer" maki roll. Add in tempura crunch and you will be pleasantly surprised. My wife and I love going here. Very good sushi at very inexpensive (you can easily eat very well for less than $50 per couple with tip). The one downside is that the restaurant itself is packed tight. Not much room to spread your wings. Plus there's only one toilet in the bathroom - there can be a line if someone is taking a bit longer than average.
(4)
Jessica R.

I have only ordered delivery from Kamehachi, but it has been pretty great each time. The miso soup is fantastic, chock full of seaweed and tofu. The fried oyster (Kaki Fry) appetizer is great too...the oysters are huge. All the maki rolls I have tried have been very tasty and super fresh. Those include: Spider Roll, Special Salmon Roll, Tekka Maki, Spicy Tuna Deluxe, Sunset Roll, and New York Maki. They were all equally delicious. Oh, and they quoted us with a 65 minute delivery time, and it arrived within 30 minutes. 2 thumbs up!
(4)
Jeff M.

My family and I ate at Kamehachi on Saturday night. Our server Jason was fantastic and the food was outstanding. Jason made several spot on suggestions for my family. The vibe is great and I would eat there again in a minute.
(5)
Katherine R.

Be prepared to open your wallet at this place. Our bill for two people was $134...um really? yes, we had 5 glasses of wine total, but it would have only saved about $5 had we gotten a bottle. This place has good sushi for sure, but for the price? No thank you. We had the Crazy Chicago Roll, The Green Turle Roll, the Sunset , the Salmon something roll and two of the specials... All were pretty good, the salmon one had a weird crunch to it and I guess I'm not a fan of baked salmon- just a weird flavor. Presentation was nice and the sushi tasted fresh, so that was good. The specials were $15.95 a piece and they gave you about 8 pieces, so not bad. Again, the sushi was good, but nothing spectacular; Sushi Wabi and Coast definitely beat this place. We dined here on a not-so-busy night yet our server was unattentive, that was kind of annoying considering Not sure I would go back, conisdering there are awesome restaurants in this city I wouldn't mind emptying my wallet for.
(3)
Faye S.

My boyfriend and I had a great experience there. We followed the advice of yelpers here and asked for table upstairs. The decor was okay. It was dimly lit so was perfect for a date night. The tables were spread out so we had some privacy. The food was great. The portion was comparatively small though. I didn't care much for the seaweed salad there. It just tasted off to me. The service was good. I used the groupon for the meal so we ended up paying about $40 in total. Not sure if it's worth the full price though.
(4)
jenny m.

I have to say I was very disappointed after my last visit. THe first time I was there was about 1 1/2 years ago. I had just recently started eating fish & seafood again after a 12 year hiatus so it was one of my first forays in to sushi. I remember thinking it was good, but I was so inexperienced with sushi I didn't feel qualified to really judge. So the second time I was there a few weeks ago, and after eating sushi for awhile now and experiencing some great sushi places in this city, I just don't think Kamehachi ranks up there. I was with two other people so we ordered probably 8-10 different rolls, along with a couple of apps. All of the food was just pretty generic and dare I say, somewhat bland. The fish did not taste as fresh as I've had at other places either. Its not that the sushi was horrible or inedible, I just think there's half a dozen other sushi places that are way better. And for the price, I don't think its worth it. The one thing going for this place is they do have great, attentive service and a good location in Old Town. The patio is really cute too and would be a great date spot. But, I can't justify spending $100+ on sushi for just the location & atmosphere.
(2)
A B.

I like this place, the fish tastes fresh and not fishy, which I can't stand sometimes at other sushi spots. I mean we live in Chicago, it's hard to come by fresh seafood. I really don't have anything negative to say about this place, it's good and always consistent. I would recommend to anyone that has not been here yet, you have to check it ou.
(4)
Nicole L.

Thanks to my dad he received a free gift card and since he wont eat raw fish my lucky day. I must say i had a lot of fun going but there is absolutely no free parking and valet cost more then a meal there. the prices are what usual places are. Their california rolls are not the best but we daringly tried something very similar called sunset rolls which was delicious. along with the food the staff is good looking so harmless flirting was in the works and they were nice enough to make the evening fun and be nice back. its always nice to have a good meal friendly conversation and some laughs. I'm sure we'll be back.
(3)
Jaclyn C.

Like many others I got the groupon and finally checked this place out. Hubby and I ordered the steamed dumplings, 4 rolls and beer. One thing I love when ordering sushi is trying the creative rolls that sushi places make up names for like Red V, snow white, Connie Chung and so on...not here. They literally have no rolls other than the standard run of the mill. So we got the rainbow, spider, philly and sunset roll (BORING). I'd heard about upstairs being nice but we sat downstairs and it just felt really stark and cramped. Overall, very unforgettable. Go to Coast, Wakamono, Toro or even Butterfly and all these are BYOB too. Would probably never go there again, not even with a groupon. I'd use the $20 and buy some alcohol and go somewhere else.
(2)
Ericka M.

Seriously, this is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I can't say I'm one of the die-hard sushi fans, although I do enjoy GOOD sushi. And it really has to be good. Can't tolerate the crap - and I've never had crap here. This is also the place where I tried sake for the very first time - yes that's right, I was once a sake virgin, too. It wasn't bad, but I think I'll stick to wine. But I digress... The service has always been great and the ambience is fantastic , especially if you dine upstairs. If you haven't been to this place yet, then be sure to put it at/near the top of your list!
(5)
Joscelyn M.

Nice sushi place in Old Town. Food is always good, love the rolls. Service can be hit or miss, though. Downstairs ambiance isn't too nice, but upstairs is.
(4)
Kathleen O.

went here with a small group and it was overall pretty good. We shared the pot stickers and they were really yummy. Then I got the chicken yaki soba and it was REALLY good. I don't eat sushi, but the rest of the table shared a bunch. They definitely did not order enough, but liked what they got. It was a LITTLE overpriced, for what we got, but overall was not bad. The service was not great, though, The waitress took like 20 minutes to bring us our drinks and then I asked 3 times for a fork and still never got one (the only give you chop stick). I would probably go again, but would not go out of my way to come here.
(3)
Amanda H.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that you can order sushi until 2am in their lounge section. There are a few different rooms here so depending whether you want a restaurant atmosphere, lounge or patio atmosphere you can take your pick! I prefer the upstairs lounge section since its laid back and open later. I also love the neighborhood, therefore late sushi dinner=late night out in Old town!
(4)
Andrew P.

I don't know what to think of this place. I think my perception is misconstrued. This is one of my girlfriend's favorite places. We ordered it take out last week. The flavors weren't all that bad, but the textures were not good. The tempura sucked. Everything was soggy. The sauces weren't that good. They messed the order up in a couple of different ways.... Maybe this is all due to it being take out. As I said, I think I will definately give this place another chance because it has come so highly recommended.... but my first impression was not a good one. Perhaps I will have to dine in my next meal at Kamehachi.
(3)
Amanda N.

So this place is adorable...it really knows how to set the mood especially if you're on a date...the food is delicious and the bus boys are super nice. Some of the waitresses could do their job better, but that's about the only complaint I have for this place. Other than that...I have to say that if you want fresh sushi and a great atmosphere then this is the place to be.
(4)
Bethany J.

I adore Kamehachi in it's entirety. The first time I came here was back in the fall- a friend and I just wanted to get a drink upstairs- it ended up being an amazing time and the bartender kept giving us free sake. It was amazing. The second time I came was a surprise from a date on my birthday. When I realized he was taking me here I was ecstatic. We dined upstairs, which was most romantic and we both had excellent wine, tempura & rolls. The service of course, was great. I came here again the other day with 3 other friends; we dined outside, which was like a beautiful little Asian garden, and everyone was very pleased with their meals. I got futomaki and special salmon roll, my friend had sunset & NY, someone else got one of the entrees, and everyone was very full and satisfied at the end. The service was phenomenal, there was an attendant who was all over the refills and clean ups. We ended with some mochi which pretty much sealed the deal. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Michelle E.

There is nothing worse than bad sushi. I wanted to fall in love with Kamehachi. People RAVE about this place! It's like being set up on a blind date, where your friend talks the guy up to be the greatest guy in the world and you are so excited and SURE he'll be The One! Then the date goes down as the boringest date in history and a week later you can't even remember his name. I actually ate here a few months ago, and I read some reviews that same day. Elisabeth N's review was the latest one. I should have listened to you, E! But I got all distracted by the natto talk, and was determined to try this mysterious thing that everyone (well, everyone non-Japanese) hates! Let me start with the good things. It was a beautiful night, and we were seated in the patio, which is SO cute! It's really a great space. Also, we were seated next to a table of 3 Japanese businessmen. That seemed to be a good sign, right? Now I suspect that they were actors hired to add authenticity to the place! For apps we ordered the edamame and the mushrooms. The mushrooms were SO tasty, and I really enjoyed them. Next we ordered a sashimi platter and a few rolls. I can't remember which rolls we ordered, but I think we got a spicy tuna, a green turtle roll, and the infamous natto maki. The waitress warned me, saying, "You know natto has a very strong smell, right?" LOL! The sashimi was not good. I found several of the pieces to be incredibly fishy. Fishy sashimi is scary sashimi! The other rolls we had were pretty unremarkable, since I can't even remember how they tasted! The natto maki--I braced myself for something really pungent and odorous. Actually, I thought the natto was pretty inoffensive. I didn't really notice a strong scent, but maybe because it was just a little bit of it in each lil piece of maki? I didn't think the taste was overpowering either. I can't say I liked it. But I didn't hate it either! Is it possible to be indifferent to natto? Dessert was a momentous occasion, as it was the first time that Mr Man ever had mochi! Thank goodness I came along to broaden his horizons. There are so many other places in Chicago to get sublime sushi. Maybe come to Kamehachi to sit on the patio and have a snack, but don't expect anything impressive.
(2)
Nick S.

Kamehachi was a pioneer in the Chicago sushi biz. I was disappointed after hearing a lot about this place. They had a few good rolls, but I wouldn't go back. I think the restaurant is poorly run and behind the times.
(2)
Kristin N.

One word - disgusting. I just used my Groupon for dinner with a friend and my partner the other night and was absolutely, 100% grossed out by this experience. Let me clarify that I love sushi. I'm not a wussy either - I like the raw fish, not cooked crap. However, this place didn't have anything slightly resembling raw fish (chewy, fushia "tuna" anyone?). Furthermore, their drinks were weak, the place was 1,000 degrees and smelt 'fishy' (NOT a good sign for a sushi place), crowded (for some insane reason - it sucked) and our server was horrible. To sum it up, I will never ever go back and will be sure to guide friends/colleagues elsewhere so they don't get sick.
(1)
Jennifer G.

The sushi is o.k. There are so many other great sushi bars in the City, unless this was one of my only choices, I would choose another.
(3)
Carrie B.

Kamehachi has very fresh sushi. Though the service has sometimes been hit or miss (I waited far too long for just simple tuna rolls the last time I went) they usually are fast and it's not too pricey. They have other entrees on the menu that are good, which is nice for people who aren't huge sushi people. This is usually my fall-back spot for a last minute sushi reservation. I like how this location has a more intimiate setting upstairs, while the other location on Ontario is much larger and spacious. After reading other Yelp reviews, it sounds like I need to try this Salmon Teriyaki!
(4)
J. L.

Probably one of the better sushi places in Chicago. The specials can get pricey. I recommend the Green Turtle Roll, the Spicy Tuna Deluxe Deluxe (not on the menu), and the tatsuta age (order with a side of spicy mayo). Service is friendly and good. If you eat on the 2nd floor, it can get very cold, so bring a sweater. There's a small bar in the back of the 2nd floor. I like their lychee martinis (hard to find).
(4)
Lesley S.

The sushi was really fresh, but none of the rolls were that creative or unique in my opinion. I loved the martini I got- some sort of cucumber martini. Tasty and refreshing! It had good ambiance for a date- dimly lit upstairs. Seemed to be a little on the expensive side.
(3)
Alexis H.

Kamehachi is a solid restaurant in all aspects of dining. Located in Old Town, it's a small restaurant, but it sure packs a punch. Their dining room only seats about 20 with room for only about 10 more at the sushi bar. In the spring and summer, their outdoor patio is open which makes room for another 20 diners. The decor is simple and classic, combining elements of finer dining with traditional Japanese decor. The sushi here is great and you really can't go wrong. This is one of those places where you can open the menu, blindly put your finger down, order that item, and be completely satisfied with your meal. I love the tako salad in particular, which comes with a heaping serving of fresh tako over a bed of greens and seaweed salad. A couple tips: - Go early or get a reservation - Go with a small group, 4 people max - Valet your car or park on Schiller, the side street adjacent to the restaurant - Try it for lunch - it's quick, yummy, and costs the same as Jimmy Johns if you stick to basic maki rolls
(5)
Brad C.

The lunch bento box is wheres its at! It is such a great deal. I have never eaten at Kamehachi we usually just get it delivered. I have tried a few other things on the menu which are great, but that bento box lunch special is such a good deal.
(4)
Tim D.

My wife is a sucker for anything pumpkin - bless her heart - so we visited Kamehachi for it's pumpkin soup. But I'm a sushi guy and Kamehachi is a sushi place, so I must warn you that the sushi here has taken a tumble downhill. I'm going to pass on Kamehachi, which used to be a favorite of mine, until I hear it's improved.
(2)
Ben T.

I think the best word to describe Kamehachi is "solid". It doesn't have as many special rolls as some other places (like Tank or Sushi Wabi), but it does old standbys like unakyu and negi hamachi well, for probably less than you'll pay at most other places. The service has been good if not great every time I've been, and while the downstairs area is nice, I really like the atmosphere in the upstairs area. It's a good place to take a date. There are better sushi places out there, but Kamehachi is a great option if you live on the North side, and for less than most other places.
(4)
Toshi B.

I do not get why this place gets such good reviews. I highly recommend avoiding the Streeterville location b/c it is overpriced for just average Japanese food. It is Japanese food made for the American palate and it is a shame b/c Japanese cusine can be so much more and amazing. If you want crazy dragon rolls, sure...maybe it is for you. However, sorry to bust the bubble but Japanese people do not eat all those fancy rolls that we have...it is an American invention just like the Chinese fortune cookie (which is actually creation from a Japanese American in SF). And btw, the place is in a basement. If you are willing to pay $50/person for basement dragon rolls, bon appetit.
(1)
Matt J.

We are sushi aficionados (though admittedly not connoisseurs) and were in the neighborhood so we stopped in. We got four rolls and I have no complaints. They were good, but didn't knock my socks off. We ate upstairs which was pretty nice though the lighting made it sort of hard to read the menu. The service was good. I'd go back when in the neighborhood, but wouldn't go out of my way.
(3)
Ben E.

Not the best sushi in Chicago, but it's always fresh and they don't compromise on the quality of the fish. If you're in the area and in the mood for very good nigiri and maki, definitely visit. It is definitely a little expensive, but not too much so.
(4)
K M.

This place is Chitown's best kept secret - keep the deep dish pizza, gimmie more Kamehachi sushi! The food is outstanding and I couldn't get enough! They're open late which is always a plus, especially when you've been boozin' for hours and you're in the mood for some good eats. The mackerel is unreal, I got my first taste of it at Kamehachi and I haven't found anything that tops it. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
penny h.

great sushi restaurant.. the mango mochi is amazing
(4)
Holly M.

You'll find trendier sushi spots in town, but Kamehachi is one of the better ones in my opinion because their fish truly is fresh. The decor varies - upstairs is more dimly lit and 'funkier', compared to the downstairs which is a bit crowded and a bit lacking in atmosphere. However, my favorite spot is their outdoor patio in the summer. I guess I've grown to love this place so mush as it's a regular standyby being a few doors down from my apartment. Now for the food...as others have mentioned, I'm obsessed with the Green Turtle Roll! They stuff the rice with eel and its sweet brown sauce along with crunchy tempura flakes. On the outside, they lay a piece of ebi (shrimp) over the rice and drizzle the whole thing with a creamy wasabi sauce (to die for!) and green tobiko. It somehow combines every taste combination in one go - sweet, spicy, creamy, crunchy - it's a must!
(4)
Robin W.

I've unfortunately only been here once when a certain other sushi restaurant down the street was closed around 10 pm on a Friday night, but it was EXCELLENT sushi, service and atmosphere. I went with a couple girlfriends, but it's definitely intimate enough for a good date. I was ravenous and ordered 4 rolls and split edamame, seawood salad and dessert with my friends. Everything was awesome. We were pleasantly surprised with the bill after all the food we ordered. Also the wait staff was really nice, offered honest recommendations about menu items, and was prompt and attentive. I need to go back very soon! It's also open pretty late night. Plus the location is great - Old Town is just so darn cute!
(5)
Kevin D.

I've been to Kamehachi many times before but its been a while and I've always liked the sushi and the upstairs atmosphere. I returned there this week and its was a great as I remembered! Green Turtle Roll rocks! Cool thing was is that I had some questions about the sake, which I've always been inquisitive to ask about but was too embarrassed to do so. Finally I asked for maybe the manager for assistance and on came over and really broke it down for me. He also explained what fish goes best with what sake! After that he checked back to see if everything was fine with the pairing he suggested and even cracked a joke or two. I work in the industry and is sometimes VERY critical of service in every aspect. In a time in which the restaurant experience is now sometimes dulled by hipness and service takes a back seat to "cool" lights and glassware, Kamehachi brought it back old school, thanks to great sushi and great staff all around, especially the manager. I think his name was Larry or Lance. Ask for him if you want the 411!
(4)
Tom Q.

The sushi is ALWAYS consistently good. It's been around for a while so it's not always crowded, which may turn some people off, but is great for me because it's easy to get a table and I love their sushi. Have been there probably a dozen times and never had a bad experience.
(4)
Tom S.

If you're going to sushi at Kamehachi, this is the location to go to, even if it's out of your bubble or off the beaten path. It's clear, after dining at two other locations, that this venue gets first pick of the fish. They always have the biggest and freshest selection here and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The first floor dining space is a bit cramped, but I don't mind rubbing elbows with my fellow sushi aficionados.
(5)
Alice M.

I enjoy trying out different sushi places, but always end up coming back to this one. Things to die for: turtle roll and scallop appetizer dish. This has been a place that I often take sushi virgins to, and no one has been disappointed. Even if you are apprehensive about eating raw fish, there are rolls here that are so delicious that you forget you are eating fish. I always try to ask for a seat upstairs...I guess I just think its more romantic and personal. Some people might think that the tables and chairs are too close, but I think they're fine. I always make reservations prior to coming here through opentable. Although I live 3 blocks away from this place, there are other sushi places within the same radius that I could frequent just choose not to after trying them (RA Sushi, Cafe Sushi, and Tsunami....which actually just closed its doors recently) Whenever anyone asks for a good sushi place I ALWAYS recommend this place, and without fail, everyone who has gone there has enjoyed it just as much as I have. I am actually sad to say I'm moving and will not have this place within walking distance anymore :-(
(5)
MJ d.

This place is clutch. How can you go wrong when they deliver at 1am? I love their summer rolls and I just had their Chilean sea bass tonight. It was amazing. They're modestly priced and a great place to go on a date or a casual meal with friends. Service is great and delivery is timely to add to it.
(5)
Megan S.

We went here on NYE. Before we arrived, they called to confirm our reservation, which actually put my mind at ease. I recommend upon arrival asking if their upstairs is open - it's much more loungey and romantic than the downstairs, which looks like a traditional sushi bar. They were very accommodating. The service was fabulous, and my boyfriend loved it even though he's not a raw fish/sushi fan. The Dragon roll was great! We also had the soft shell crab as an appetizer and it was great. We had 2 appetizers, 1 sushi roll, 1 dinner, 2 glasses of wine and one saki, plus dessert all for only $85. Not a bad deal, I thought!
(4)
Jeff F.

No matter what you think, this is not the best sushi house in Chicago. Kamehachi is decent, good even, but by no means great. The fish isn't spectacular and the prices are high for what you get. I've had better sushi from Sai Cafe, Tsunami or even Papajin. Why people think this place rules Chicago sushi is beyond me. Maybe they don't know sushi. Maybe they haven't been to enough sushi places. Regardless, this place is a decent enough place to warrant a reccomendation, but not one I would stake my rep on. Overall, you pay a premium for sushi that isn't bad at all. Sadly, the value isn't there. The sushi-ya's aren't consistent with their rolls. Some parts of the rolls have huge chunks while others have almost none. It all depends on who is working. If you like individual pieces of real sushi, again the quality doesn't warrant the price. I used to tell people to go and enjoy, but after far too many bad experiences reported, I give it 3 stars and send people elsewhere if possible.
(3)
Katie C.

I recently ate here with the fellow and his parents. I would give this place my kudos if it weren't for the fact that the maki I ordered left a kind of lingering fishy smell at our table...I'm not going to entirely question this establishment's freshness--okay, so I am. I have to say, though, it's not the best sushi I've had, but considering the price, it's a darn good deal for the quality.
(3)
colleen c.

i've been maybe 10 times, always sit upstairs. its cosy. once you do, you wouldn't consider the sterile 1st floor. sushi is always great, service attentive, and its all reasonably priced. and they are open late, often until 2, so industry people can sometimes visit after work. i always leave content.
(5)
Mark D.

If I came directly from the sushi mecca of San Francisco, then this place is about average. But coming from sushi-starved DC...this place was awesome. They say they are the place that introduced sushi to Chicago (and probably all of the Midwest for that matter). Sushi was well done, I ordered the kamahachi sushi platter #2 which came with a variety of sushi, and if you eat it in order you finish off with a nice sweet taste. Service was fantastic.
(4)
Paul C.

This is the only Kamehachi worth going to--and if you do, make sure you've got a table upstairs, where the homey atmosphere makes you forget your troubles. Delicious, creative sushi, great sake, and a fun place to eat it all. What more do you want?
(4)
Leang E.

I saw a couple decide to go eat upstairs, and thought that my sister and I should do the same. I have to say I'm glad we did, because the decor really helped give the place a character and an ambiance of its own. It has a traditional Japanese style decor with a slightly modern twist. It was ironic that the Japanese character for beauty was up, because it's the same character that is in Chinese for my sister's name. We started off with some hot tea and the Vegetarian Spring Rolls. I loved the dip and the way they taste with the mushrooms inside with the noodles soaking up the flavor. We also ordered all the special maki rolls - the cucumber, the Georgia, and the summer roll. All of it was unique in flavor. The cucumber was refreshing and light so that it doesn't fill you up. The Summer Roll was just a burst of flavors. We even had 2 desserts - the apple tart and the Chocolate Cube. Oh my god on the Chocolate Cube. It has this subtle taste cherries in it, and if you are lucky you'll get a bite or two of them in it! Yummy! This has got to be the Old Town spot for sushi.
(4)
Blair B.

This is the best sushi in Old Town! That being said, I would take the Clark Bus to Toro rather than eat here unless there was a massive blizzard outside. The fish is fresh, I will give them that. I usually get this place take-out, and i haven't had any issues with it (which is great). However, I think their roll list sucks. I really enjoy fun, creative rolls, and I think this place is lacking. It's a solid choice for the area (and prices aren't THAT bad), but this place will never be my favorite until they add to the menu a little bit.
(3)
Mae W.

I've been here at least 30 times in the past two years of being in Chicago and it has NEVER disappointed. I love the variety of seating options (downstairs, downstairs sushi bar, heated garden, upstairs, upstairs booths, upstairs sushi bar, upstairs liquor bar . . .). I just found out recently that it's the oldest sushi restaurant in Chicago too (open since 1967).
(5)
A M B.

!P E R F E C T I O N! I haven't had a bad experience here yet. I prefer the seating downstairs- lighter, more traditional w/ sushi bar; while my boyfriend prefers upstairs-dark and more 'bar-like'. I've had the miso soup, various sushi rolls (the dragon roll is my favorite) and pieces (the toro = so yummy) and green tea ice cream - all have been amazing. The service is prompt even though they are most often packed. Go and enjoy- you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Andrea R.

There are so many amazing sushi restaurants to choose from in Chicago. Although Kamehachi isn't one of my favorites for a big night out, there sushi is pretty good and reasonably priced. It's a great neighborhood spot for sushi lovers in the area.
(3)
Raul V.

The food was good but the service was by far the worse experience I have ever had. The waitress was horrible! She would mumble and then disappear for twenty minutes before bringing back only a portion of the food. She would only acknowledge my wife to see if she wanted anything to drink. She did not help us with explaining the menu items. I can go on and on but I will end this review with the most unforgivable part of the evening. The experience was so bad that we asked for the bill although we were still hungry. The waitress brought the bill but added a $120 item among other things which tripled the amount that the bill should be! Instead of being it being around $75 it was closer to $225! I pointed this mistake to the waitress and while she gave us the new adjusted bill, she did not apologize for her error with it. We were all too happy to go to another restaurant that evening after this experience. I am huge fan of Japanese food, but I will never go back to this restaurant with the poorest of service.
(1)
Janette L.

Okay so I may be a little biased since some of my good friends used to work at different Kamehachis, but I do think this is a great place for sushi. Whenever we go we typically order the Chicago Crazy, Special Salmon, and Spicy Tuna Deluxe rolls with some additional nigri. I also recommend starting with the Kamehachi salad (bigger than most Japanese style salad and with a wonderful ginger dressing).
(4)
Allison L.

Very good Japanese food in town. If you like the traditional Japanese atmosphere, stick to downstairs. If you want a more contemporary feel, a little bit dimmer and more romantic setup, head upstairs... Isn't it cool they have 2 different options??? We have tried many different varieties of things... from appetizers, sushi and maki rolls to nabiyaki udon and beef sukiyaki; everything was delicious. It was not pricey too! Awesome! BTW, we were amazed by the portion of tempura that came with nabiyaki ..... HUGE... You cannot get that anywhere else!
(4)
Maria T.

I love this place, intimate setting, dim lights, nice for date night. Good food and sake. I love it!
(4)
Maegen R.

You might walk up to this restaurant and think you're entering some whole in the wall dump from it's outward appearance, but don't let that fool you. Inside you'll find good sushi, pleasant service, quaint atmosphere and all for a reasonable price.
(4)
Suzanne H.

Normally I wouldn't write about this place, as it was just eh to me (love my CA sushi). However, something happened that I find very annoying, and I hope the owner reads this and stops it...... We ate lunch here at 2 pm on a Tuesday. There were 4 groups of diners, 2 to a group, plus us. Two couples were in the half-circle banquettes, and two couples were at tables for 4. Where did the guy seat us? At a HORRIBLE table for two--very small--against a wall!!!! WTF. Why?? There were plenty of tables for 4 and banquettes to seat us at. What is your problem? I don't like it when restaurants do this. It is mean and nasty and I won't be back because of it. The sushi was OK, the prices were OK, the service was OK. We spent $50 there and a great tip--which I wouldn't have given, but it wasn't the waitress's fault.... But, next time......"nobody puts Baby in the corner"....or by the wall......train your staff!!!
(3)
Dawnsie E.

I used to dine at Kamehachi at least once a week either at the restaurant or by ordering in. It was kind of a staple in our house and they were a "5th food group" for us. The Chilean Sea Bass melted in my mouth and with the noodles and veggies made for an amazing dish. The Shrimp tempura was great and all the sushi options were yummy. I've had several poor experiences here in the last year and keep giving them a break thinking it is just an off night or they were off their game temporarily. I'm so forgiving to restaurants that have been fabulous for so many years and a bad couple of experiences can happen even to the best of places. But this last experience I just once again felt physically unwell after dining and couldn't wait to leave. The place just isn't up to its former glory.
(1)
Debbie Chiou S.

Does not taste fresh. Very overpriced for what it is. When the drinks menu is as long as the food menu, you know how much they care about their food.
(2)
John K.

There is absolutely nothing to complain about the interior decor of this place. It has the nicest decor I have ever encountered for a restaurant in the US. My only worry when I first walked in was, will the food quality still hold up or will it be at the mercy of the decor? ... It was at the mercy of the decor. I ordered the Tori Kara (spicy fried chicken with sesame glaze)...nothing like what it said. It wasn't spicy at all! I was a little taken back at how fast the chicken got cold as well. I also ordered the white heat. Why I ordered it was because of the red chilli pepper paste...I swear I did not taste any of it. The whole maki seemed a little tart as well, the combination of jalapeno, citrus soy, and cilantro being a little overpowering. I m not saying overall things were bad, but there is certainly room for improvement in becoming the best (after all, that should be the goal, right?) Then again, should I be seeking gourmet sushi in Chicago far away from the ocean? But I do love to be surprised...
(3)
Kathleen A.

I went for the first time on a Saturday night, it was reasonably busy but my companion and I were seated quickly. We tried a couple of appetizers and a few rolls. The octopus salad was a fantastic item to share, a little on the sweet side though. My favorite item of the evening was the spicy scallop maki, the texture was phenomenal and it was super fresh.
(4)
Mel A.

I am not much of a sushi/sashimi connoisseur but I thoroughly enjoyed every piece I ate with the exception of the Eel and it was just a "texture" issue for me. My date said he could eat a whole plate of Eel :) I really loved the Mackeral! We also had raw scallops, escolar, yellowtail, wasabi infused fish roe and a few others! All of this was enjoyed with a couple of Sofie beers! Our server was attentive and offered great ideas. We went on a Saturday around 1pm so it wasn't too busy.
(4)
Jennie C.

Came to the old town location for a late dinner. Friends ordered sushi, I had the yakisoba. It arrived piping hot, which was pleasant for a chilly night. Flavors were good but too salty. Good portion of veggies and beef in the dish. Service was friendly. Just didn't get blown away. Decent choice if you're in the neighborhood and wants Japanese.
(3)
Brian L.

I'm not sure I agree with all these negative reviews--I actually had a great experience at Kamehachi. Others have mentioned that service was poor and slow, but our waitress was attentive to our needs, my water glass was never empty, and the food arrived shortly after we ordered. My Chirashi was delicious, and I also tried the Green Turtle, Chicago Crazy, and the Sunset rolls with the Sunset being the best of the three.
(4)
Michael G.

It's time to play is it KameHA(WT)chi or KameNAWTchi?! Today's contestant is the Old Town location of Chicago's venerable sushi institution, Kamehachi. Let's check out this potentially sexy beast's vital measurements, shall we? Ambiance: Venerable is a nice way of saying old. Occasionally it also means out of date. Maybe when this location was first built, people liked being crammed together like sardines while waiting for raw fish. But I personally accidentally elbowed the person next to me in the head twice as I stood up. I swear. Accidentally. Nothing to do with the fact that it was St. Patrick's weekend and the couple at the next table were acting drunky-douchey. The lighting was great, not like a normal classy sushi place, but unfortunately on this visit, it was bright enough to see the drunken idiots there on a Saturday night. NAWT! Food: Nothing mind blowing. Definitely serviceable maki. The AAC (avocado, asparagus, and cucumber), their vegetarian choice, was a little bland. The Tekka (tuna), however, didn't taste overly fishy and was delectable. One thing I have to say is that the menu isn't overly experimental. But I think that's a good thing. I like my restaurants like my women, a bit predictable. HA...NA...HA...NA...HAWT! Um, cute? Price: Relatively large portions. A group of four of us went in with the $50.00 Groupon and ended up going about $20.00 over total each getting two to three maki with a couple of sides of seaweed salad. At between $4.00 and $6.00 for six pieces of maki, they've got a good thing going. We didn't get drinks, but about $20.00 a person was not bad, not bad at all. In fact, HAWT! Service: The word "ignored" comes to mind. But our server was friendly when she passed by us to go to the kitchen when she did acknowledge us. NAWT! Wasabi: HAWT! Deary me, HAWT! Boobs: Always HAWT! Wait, restaurants don't have boobs! Wrong review! I think this place is a lot like Betty White. 40 years ago when it was Chicago's first sushi place, it was hawt and you wanted to see it in all its naked glory. But now, even though the pictures are still circulating, I just don't want to see that! Either nude Betty White or Kamehachi again. Sorry, to the legion of fans of this place, but I have to go with KameNAWTchi on this one.
(2)
Grace A.

Currently I am visiting Chicago and I was so excited to find a sushi place in my favorite part of town, Old Town. I came in by myself because my sister is at work. First, it took the waitress about 15 minutes to bring me my water, when she brought it she set it down and walked away. Second, after I got my food, she never once came back to ask me anything, I even had to flag her down and ask for more water. Third, I ordered the spicy tuna roll and the sunset roll. The spicy tuna roll had no flavor other than the soy sauce and was very chewy. The sunset roll had no flavor besides the cilantro. After all of this when I was finished I put my chopsticks across my soy sauce dish and set my napkin on the table, the waitress never brought me my check. It took me asking twice to get it. The only reason I gave it two stars is for the environment, but I won't be returning.
(2)
Helen B.

This one star is for the store decoration ONLY. The service is horrible. My friend and I just ordered two noodles, and we waited for AN HOUR! In the first 40min, they totally forget about us, we were trying to get the waitress' attention, but she never notice us, we had to drag the bus boy to get a waitress. Then it took them only 20 min to prepare the Udon. And the FOOD IS NOT GOOD!!! Normally when people starves everything would tasted better, but the tempura they made makes me want to puke. And the noodles are just ok, nothing special about it, fast food level
(1)
Tonya P.

Great fresh ingredients, deliciously crafted food, nice service! Prices are very reasonable. My friend and I just randomly stoped by for a lunch and quite enjoyed it!
(5)
Amelia S.

My husband and I love Kamehachi! It is a great restaurant with beautiful presentations. This is a great place to come whether you like sushi or not. There is something wonderful for everyone!
(5)
Lise S.

We had dinner last month on a Saturday night at 7:30 pm and the food and service were excellent. My only regret is the restaurant was so loud in the dining area that I could barely here my friends at our table for 4 people. I've been in busy restaurants before were it was loud, but this was exceptionally loud in my opinion. The food was truly worth trying again, so I would definitely go back. I've been in the upstairs dining area before and we did not have this issue. If you have a large group, the space upstairs is perfect!
(4)
Silvio R.

Had a great experience here after a show at Zanies. They had great vegetarian options and a nice beer selection at the bar. The atmosphere was really nice, service was great, and the decor in the bar/restaurant was on point. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Lindsey G.

Had a great meal here a few weeks ago. The staff was helpful and the assorted sushi's my group ordered were all delicious. I'm partial to this restaurant because they have no peanuts in the entire restaurant so it's safe Asian food for people with allergies. Will definitely return.
(5)
Kyle D.

Overall: Great atmosphere, food, and service put Kamehachi on that map for a nice Japanese option in Oldtown. The good: Good atmosphere. A nice casual bar and small table section in the front and larger dining area in the back. Very clean and appropriate decorations. Great service, everyone was very attentive. The food was great, a lot of entree items outside of the sushi (which was also great). Plenty of drink options. The bad: Nothing really "bad", but the prices seemed to jump quickly on some of the items. The food was great but not 5-star worthy. Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 8/10
(4)
Paige W.

I am definitely a fan of Kamehachi. It's right by my place of work and I frequent it at least probably once a month. The only downside is the relatively slow service. I think they are just understaffed during peak hours, so it makes it slow to get orders taken, and slow for refills and the like. However, one server was kind enough to split a bill of over ten people, into individual checks, with everyone's individual orders. I know what a pain that is, and it was very appreciated by everyone. My favorite offering of Kamehachi are their lunch bento box specials. They are super reasonably priced, and the food is delicious and plentiful. They have really great veggie rolls as well.
(4)
Norbert W.

lesson to the atrocious girl and the goat about customer service. Kamehachi had an error with our order and immediately rushed to fix it. polite, professional, no-nonsense. so appreciated! thank you
(4)
Margaret H.

I was looking forward to trying this place, but was very unimpressed. Service: We were told there was a 2 hour wait, then were seated 10 minutes later. The waitress was not attentive and we had to waive them down to order and pay. Food: I'm very adventurous when it comes to sushi, but I didn't enjoy any of the sushi rolls we ordered. It was bland and unoriginal. I enjoyed the Tempura Udon only, but was disappointed that I ordered vegetable tempura as an appetizer and the waitress didn't tell me that the Udon came with a side of a vegetable tempura. Atmosphere: The decor is okay. The tables are too close together so you hear everyone's conversation around you.
(2)
Sam N.

Life is about simplicity and luxury sometimes. I was here a few nights ago during the old town art fair. This is my new favorite spot. Had the Sukiyaki I thought it was pretty good. I had 3 Tokyo Tea's. It packed quite a punch so to speak. If you remember the 2nd "naked gun" movie ( which was titled "Naked Gun 2 1/2)Where the guy at the bar says "give me the strongest thing you got" and a guy punches him. Well Luckily for me no one punched me but this contains vodka,triple sec,gin,tequila and just for the fun of it coca cola so this kind of put me out of commission for a while. This place is not making any sacrifices on the quality. I will be coming here again with some friends to sample some of the other potent drinks and sushi.
(5)
Audrey S.

Fun dining experience! We came here for a friend's birthday and sat upstairs. We had a few extra people show up and our waitress was very accommodating. I really enjoyed the Spicy Tuna ($7) and Kamehaci roll ($9), which is tuna, avocado, cucumber, and masago. The Dragon Lady drink is lovely. It's a delicious mix of vodka, pomegranate, orange, and pineapple juices, and lemon-lime pop. I also got the Migi-tiny, but didn't care for it. This was gin, lemon, cucumber and had peppercorn flakes sprinkled on the top. Old Town is a fun neighborhood, so be sure to check out some of the cool after dinner drink spots while you're there.
(5)
Amanda M.

Was very pleased with the dÃ©cor and whole ambiance of the place. Pretty roomy and comfortable. The bar is located upon entrance and plentiful tables extend all the way to the back with plenty of intimate room for each table. Had the uni and oyster shooter to start along with the mushroom tobanyaki. The mushrooms were delicious and featured a variety of mushrooms (about 3). They were very tasty without being too salty. The uni shooter was overly acidic while the oyster shooter tasted much better. While I'm glad I tried these, I will not be having them again as the uni and oyster got stuck at the bottom of the glass and was somewhat hard to digest. Also, did not think that the flavors of the shooters complemented the uni and oyster that well. Had the crouching tuna hidden crab signature maki, which definitely was the best out of the other rolls I had...as it is signature for a reason. Also had the rainbow, summer, and sunset rolls, which were all pretty good, but not mind-blowing. I enjoyed the summer roll because of its spiciness and the sunset roll did have a nice sweetness to it that I do not often find in sushi. Overall, the rolls weren't filled with too much rice and were made very well, as they did not fall apart. Also tried my sister's yasaiya veggie roll, and it was really intriguing. It was nice to see other veggie options, instead of the usual avocado or shiitake roll. However, she did feel that her veggie rolls were made with a tad too much rice, relative to my non-veggie rolls. Service was pretty good. Our waitress was very nice. The busboys were really on their game, as my water was constantly refilled. Definitely wouldn't mind returning. Prices are about right, solid food and good selection.
(4)
Isabel C.

This place is So-So. We went for lunch and there were quite a few people in there. It took a while for anyone to come and greet us and take our order. It seemed like the staff was having a pow-wow in the back before they prepared for dinner which I found strange. The bartender and 1 bus boy were the only ones clearing tables and the bartender took our order. The sushi and miso soup were okay.Nothing to rave about. The decor is very nice and the patio seating looked nice as well. Not my favorite place in Old Town but it's convenient so I will probably be back to give it another try.
(3)
Amy D.

Love this place! I get delivery once a week here and it's always fast and friendly! I love the spicy edamame, miso soup, Kamehachi roll, salmon deluxe and summer roll! The outdoor patio is nice too when it's warm out!
(5)
Myles A.

Really great food. Not just your average rainbow rolls and spicy tuna. They have some truly creative dishes and wonderfully inventive appetizers. They have a great atmosphere inside and a nice little place to eat outside. The server was a little nonexistent. But it seemed like it was just the one that we had at our table.
(4)
Dana H.

Okay...all I have to say is CRAB CAKES! Maybe the best I have had.....anywhere. Rest of the meal was....well....only delicious.
(5)
Beth Q.

My first impression upon walking in was that it smelled fishy in the restaurant. Not a good sign. Then we ordered a glass of wine, which was delicious. However, upon ordering our first two sushi picks, we were disappointed. The spicy tuna was pretty good, but the other (I think the spider roll?) was by varying bites super bland/dry, and then sometimes badly fishy.
(1)
Tony M.

One of the few Japanese restaurants open late near downtown! Great service and tasty fresh food! The assortment of appetizers and entrees are great! The warm sake is smooth and tasty! The atmosphere is romantic for the two of you to converse for a long time with a great meal! It is a little pricey for the small portions you get! Everything is fresh and full of flavor tasting great! It is hard to find parking unless you don't mind circling around a little or park in the parking garage. They have two floors, so the dining area can handle a lot! They have a big long bar fully stocked! No complaints here! Always a great place for late night sushi!
(5)
Julie Y.

Heavens knows why we come here. I think it's because we tend to crave Japanese before we head over to see a Second City show. Both times we've been here we have been underwhelmed. The appetizers were "meh", but the fact that they charge $16 for 2 dry chicken breasts with some teriyaki sauce poured over it on top of a bed of undercooked broccoli is a joke. I find it ironic that one of the cover pictures for the restaurant is chicken teriyaki on a bed of bok choy. At least splurge a little on the bok choy, guys. Or maybe broccoli is easier to freeze? We will never be coming back
(1)
Natalie L.

This is a good weeknight spot. Our server was great and we didn't feel rushed to leave. The udon noodle bowl that I had was really good. The broth had good flavor. The gyoza was just ok.
(3)
Kirk M.

Well. Food is good. Don't get the a bottle of anything you will get raped. If you want sushi in old town this is one of two choices.
(2)
Lindsey M.

Young and energetic crowd. Great for Date night or a casual night with friends. Food was really good; they even have sushi making classes. We sat at the front bar & had female wait on us... Very attentive & down to earth.
(5)
Horace B.

i have read a few reviews on this restaurant (and other japanese restaurants in chicago). it's so aggravating that most people in chicago think japanese food is dragon rolls and such. my goodness, people, japanese food is so widely diverse, and sushi is no different. i finally decided on this one for a special 20th anniversary dinner. i talked that afternoon with the head sushi chef about what he did and what he could offer. when he heard my list of interests with sushi, he mentioned that he could do those things. i was still a little wary because of the kind sushi crowd that populates chicago. to be completely honest, if i were alone, when we got to the address, i would have just walked by and looked for a steak house. the front is a sports bar, for goodness sakes. ugh. *not* the impression i had from people that had recommended it. but with my wife in hand, i braved it out. it was my good fortune. we walked past the sports part of the pub and sat back at the sushi bar. the chef came over and we talked a bit about what he would be doing for omakase (google it). i started having hope. we started with a sashimi platter. it was decent and the fish was tasty, but i was not overly excited about the sashimi 'shooters'. tried two anyways, just for kicks. it was ok. i thought the platter was trying to be too 'cute' or trendy. but then he started the sushi portion of the meal, and i have to say it ranks as probably one of the top 5 sushi dinners i have ever had. simply outstanding fish, preparation and variety. they even had a few types of fish i had never had as sushi before. most notably, mahi mahi. awesome fish. turns out, after my call, he got his whole staff working on various different types of sushi that i had mentioned. one of them is 'dzuke' which has many varieties, some of which actually requires a few days to prepare, but the shorter varieties are also quite nice. the konbu was stellar. every one of the prep people were taking a special interest in our meal, indicating what they had worked on. i think the experience was enhanced by the fact that these people were normally used to preparing rolls for the normal customer, that they were excited to have the opportunity to do what they had been trained to do. and serving people with a wider taste in sushi. we thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would go back again any time. the bill was $300, but considering what we had just experienced, was in keeping with the quality and variety. this is a definite go-to place for us. next time we're in town, we'll be back at the sushi bar.
(5)
D T.

I hadn't been here in years, because I'll say til I die, not many 20/30 something's hang in Old Town when they're single. Think about it. I'm still single, and hanging out in this hood more often, clearly trying to extend this single life as long as possible. We ate a ton...shocker. Spicy edamame- was soooo excited bc I've never heard of this before, but blah city. Next . Shrimp tempura app- really tasty, but not much here. Special Maryland soft shell crab- super good, but not even close to worth $18 . Maguro- yummy, nothing to write home about. Salmon special- at $6 I had serious high hopes for this. And it was super awesome. Red dragon- super fresh and good. But not worth $17. We also had a couple more rolls, but writing this I realize how little impact this place had on me for the price. If you read my reviews you know price is never an issue. But in this case, this little neighborhood joint needs to remember they're not on the gold coast.
(3)
Jessica H.

My friends & I done here once a month after serving dinner at a local soup kitchen. We always hope for Jessica to be serving us! She is the best in the house! Two words: Rock Shrimp!!! You won't regret it! Love this sushi spot! Especially in the summer & in it's side walk seating!
(4)
Happy Face E.

food is OK but the service is so slow and bad. The waiter and waitress are so racist. They are treating the white customers are much nicer and faster than color ones. not recommended for Asian to go.
(1)
Kristen D.

The ambience is great. I love the decorations, dim light, and theme of the restaurant. The inside has a sexy air about it, and having walked in for dinner before catching a Second City show, I was impressed with the first impression of the restaurant. The rolls of sushi had pretty decent sized pieces of fish in them, which is a plus for people that look for that. I really enjoyed the Spicy Scallop roll, though the kick of spice doesn't really hit you until after you've chewed through most of the piece. We also ordered the Spider roll and the Chicago Crazy roll - certainly nothing to write home about. All in all, Clark and I were a little disappointed in what we thought was going to be some pretty great sushi. Now that we've marked it off the long list of sushi places to try in the city, we won't be hurrying back there.
(2)
Shayna R.

I actually love the food here. The reason I'm reviewing it poorly is because of the slow service and the gnats that we're flying in and around our food. I was in last night, seated promptly at 9pm. Unfortunately the sushi came out on time but the chicken teriyaki came out 20 minutes after. I can't eat much sushi due to an allergy so I was a little miffed I couldn't eat while everyone else was eating. Also the drinks were slow. I didn't have a beer to compliment my meal because it came out so disjointed I had already finished it by the time the food came. It was another 20 to get my Sapporo delivered. And then there were the gnats. There were 3 flying around our drinks and food. I didn't get a chance to talk to the manager mainly because the waitress would disappear. She was very nice and great when she was present, but that was far and few between since we were 3 people and spent $200 on dinner. Come on girl. Get with the program.
(2)
Maurice C.

Kamehachi on Wells is simply fantastic. My wife and I eat at the bar most Friday nights when we are at home in Chicago and have yet to experience anything other than a great meal in the past two years. The sushi is always fresh, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the environment is both welcoming and designer friendly. I highly recommend the salmon nigiri, summer roll, and spicy tuna deluxe deluxe (not a misprint)--our go-to selections.
(5)
Linda G.

Another great FAMILY owned restaurant. The owners are there. Atmosphere is very classy, waitstaff sophisticated and attractive. Sushi is excellent and presented with artistic flair combining flowers, sculpture and creative plating. for desert: try Green tea Mochi ice cream this is is a Japanese confection made from mochi (pounded sticky rice) with an ice cream filling. Very GOOD! This is a restaurant good for well-behaved children who sit in their seats.
(5)
Cherry J.

Title: Bug In Sake!!! I'm writing this review based on the experience and professionalism received after encountering the infamous 'bug-in-food' experience rarely heard about in nice restaurants. After ordering items that added up to almost $100 (before tip), we poured the last of our hot sake to find a pest inside of the container. Although I've never worked in a sushi restaurant, it's hard to say whether this type of occurrence is avoidable, or if it's primarily up to the sake provided to ensure a bug free product... In any case, this review isn't so much about the bug-in-the-sake as it is the response received from the management during this night. After informing the acting manager of the bug, and providing a picture (posted with the review), she claimed that she would look into the matter and would check the water and thoroughly clean the plates (why the water, or cleaning the plates would matter for what's in the sake is beyond me). So we left unsatisfied with the action promised by upper management. We didn't request any items removed from our bill though common sense dictates that this should have been one of the first things promised after such an event occurs. Less than an hour later we called to check the status of our do-gooder manager with inspecting cleaned plates and looking into the water (not the sake). She informed us that they are still looking into it. She also said she would reimburse the drinks only if we returned to the restaurant. Seeing as this didn't come up until after we left, we were a little taken back, now we have to go back to the scene of the crime if we want to be offered what should have been offered in the first place? The only other option provided was to receive a gift card for the restaurant. Even looking over the fact that our experience would give anyone an adequate reason not to ever step foot in this establishment again, we are out-of-towners that will have as little of need for this gift card as giving Anthony Weiner advice on sexting. Bottom-line: I won't guarantee the same experience that we received with the bug-in-sake, but I can most certainly guarantee an unprofessional manager on staff that throws ridiculous quality prevention suggestions (thoroughly checking the water..) or even more ridiculous damage control options (gift card for out-of-towners...). If you ever have a problem with this restaurant, you're better off writing your thoughts through social media than addressing them at the restaurant.
(1)
Michael G.

We were going to second city and decided for sushi. Great location. The decor is elegant and romantic. The service is outstanding. Overall, it is a great value and I strongly recommend.
(4)
Rix T.

Nice ambiance. Waitress is attentive. The food just didn't wow me. The presentation of Kow Haku Don was really nice and appetizing but the food wasn't overall great. It was really hard to eat since the bowl was too crowded with stuff. They included roasted sesame seed on the rice which added an nutty taste to the dish. Spicy tuna deluxe was okay. I had it better elsewhere. It' s usually have a clean spicy aftertaste but this just taste fishy. Has avocado cucumber and spicy mayo which still surprise me why it tastes like that. Miso soup was good not too salty and it also have bits of seaweed and tofu. Oh another added bonus bathroom is clean.
(3)
Antaash U.

I haven't been to Kamehachi in a while, and the last time I went, it was the Gold Coast location. What made me want to come back to Kamehachi was the Shrimp Yaki Soba and the maki rolls I had previously. They had left a strong impression on me and I have been waiting to go back. Well, the opportunity finally presented itself a few days ago. Of course, my friends trust my opinion and were more than amenable to my suggestion. Since particular things had brought me back to Kamehachi, that's what I thought we should order. Well, I was disappointed. The food was good, but it was not as great as I remember. First of all, the shrimp in the Yaki Soba were those teeny tiny, generic shrimp that the hole in the wall Chinese restaurants use. The last time I was at Kamehachi, the shrimp were large. almost prawn size, succulent and tasted of perfection. Also, the flavor of the Yaki Soba was different. There was something in this Yaki Soba that was just...eh. Also, I judge sushi places by their spicy tuna. It's a basic roll, but so easy to mess up. If a restaurant can handle the spicy tuna, then it tells me whether or not they can execute the more complicated rolls. When our maki platter came out, the spicy tuna were these itty, bitty rolls, the spicy tuna filling on the sparse side, and what was the offical deal breaker: it was NOT spicy. Sigh. Why call it spicy tuna, if you're not going to make it spicy? We also ordered the shrimp tempura maki. It was good, but without the soy sauce, there was no real flavor. Boo! Finally, we ordered what was the sunset maki. This was the highlight of the meal. The flavors were fresh, and balanced. You could taste each individual ingredient but the flavors were harmonious. This roll alone is why I am giving Kamehachi 3 stars instead of two. I'm not sure if the menus vary by location of if the items have just "evolved" since my last visit. Either way, I don't think I am ever going to return to Kamehachi because this past experience burst the bubble of my first time here. Cest la vie!
(3)
Elizabeth M.

My immediate reaction was being very pleased with the ambience. Very relaxing and chill. The sushi was also good. Not amazing but not terrible
(4)
Robert M.

Incredible food and great service! Highly recommend
(5)
May Y.

A traditional Japanese outfit, which has a phoenix pattern sewed by hand, at Kamehachi's entrance caught my attention. I immediately entered the restaurant with my friend, and Kamehachi did not defy my expectations. Juicy, crunchy and flavorful. Tofu dengaku (tofu skewers with miso sauce) is the best in Chicago. It has three flavors - yuzu miso, aka miso and matcha miso, which is quite rare in the States. In particular, I like the yuzu miso skewer that is quite refreshing. I also enjoyed eating the spicy renkon (lotus root). Very few Japanese restaurants prepare renkon because it takes time to marinate it well. I applaud Kamehachi for putting it on the menu. The yaki nasu dengaku (eggplant with miso) is quite good too, but it is slightly too salty. After this meal, Kamehachi is in the top 3 list of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Chicago. Kamehachi, I am sure that you will fly as high and far as a phoenix does. P.S. The waitress kept ignoring us when we attempted to order food. One star off for that. Food: 4 Decor: 5 Service: 3
(4)
Kevin A.

My favorite sushi spot in Old Town. Unfortunately, they've discontinued the Maki 51 sushi boat which means we may stop going. Come on Kamehachi! Bring it back! This was a staple in our household.
(3)
Shan A.

We ate here for my husband's birthday dinner last week before heading to a show at Second City. We were not disappointed! The sushi was fresh and tasted great, and the custom cocktails were delicious as well. If we lived in Chicago, we would definitely make this a favorite of ours!
(5)
Avery A.

Just went here with my gf last weekend. Happily surprised to have really great fish, which I have felt isn't as common in Chicago as New York. This place is a 5/5 when it comes to Chicago Sushi, probably a 4/5 for you out of towners. Also they have really great Yaki Udon for those who are a fan of noodles.
(4)
Jesus D.

Great place, atmosphere, and the service was amazing. You have to love a place that sells Sapporo beer. Definitely coming back. Our server was very friendly and food came out in a timely manner.
(5)
Tim Y.

Delicious sushi. And a good drink. It has a nice atmosphere as well. My one criticism is that we came during karaoke night and it didn't really fit the ambience of the place. I could have done without that. Otherwise wonderful experience. Good food and good service
(5)
Beth K.

Great food, great service. Love this place!
(4)
Audra N.

First and foremost, I have to say I usually love this place. The food is always great. Some of the best sushi in the city. My beef with this place is that they advertise that they are open late post specific hours and than close early! I went in tonight craving my fav roll in the city a half and hour before they close ( on the yelp app it says midnight). Being in this industry I understand closing early if you haven't had business well before close but they had guests at the bar! I on average eat there one to three times a month. It's just frustrating to be told were closed when they advertise specific hours....
(3)
Rita P.

This place is fine. It's okay. Nothing to write home about. Being that it's 2014 and good food in the city of Chicago has EXPLODED in taste and atmosphere to nationally recognized levels, Kamehachi has lagged behind. Unless this restaurant wants to only attract patrons (from the suburbs) on their way to Second City, don't change. If they'd like to appeal to the Chicago masses who have hundreds of different options within a 5 miles radius, step it up. There are much better sushi restaurants to spend your hard earned money on in neighborhoods to the west side and north side. Since I can't give half stars, I've rounded up to three stars. The restaurant is large and each floor has a different feel. If you want to feel like you are part of the restaurant, then the downstairs is great. There seems to be hustle and bustle of patrons, the bar and feel of a a lively fun dining experience. If you feel like you should be banished to the attic like the forgotten relative who moved away and only in town for the holidays or did not have a reservation at 6:45pm (at a mostly empty restaurant), then enjoy your table upstairs as much as possible. It's vast, cavernous, and spacious with early 2000s decor complete with plastic flowers and plants along with a poor selection of smooth jazz saxophone muzak to complete your Saturday evening. The food is "safe". Their big plate entrees have been Americanized on your plate to consist of the three traditional categories you find on any midwestern dinner plate: meat (fish), vegetables (asparagus/broccoli/carrots) and starch (rice). Specialty seasonal fish (priced at $6-9 a piece) with elaborate descriptions could've been bigger portioned or presented in a different manner than put in corner of the more elaborate looking regular maki sushi roll that is of equivalent pricing. I wasn't impressed and won't be going back. It was fine. It was ok. It was not worth visiting again.
(3)
Jon I.

The sushi wasnt bad, they just used waaaay to much spicy mayo in the spicy tuna and salmon rolls. So if your the kind of person who cant get enough spicy mayo then this place is for you. Also you have to pay extra for eel sauce on a shrimp tempura roll!! Whats that about?
(3)
Amelia B.

Some of the best sashimi I've had in the city, some of the worst/slowest service. The new(ish) location is flashy and sexy, but didn't back it up. But because the fish was so fresh, the cuts were so large, and the waitress was so apologetic, I'll save them the one-star. But on a Sunday night, with about a half-full restaurant, there's no excuse for an hour long wait for a sashimi plate and a few rolls. No excuse that my food came out 15 minutes before my boyfriend's. No excuse for just forgetting to bring out one of my rolls. No excuse for a server that made herself so absent I could barely get a water refill. Perhaps they were short-staffed - she looked a bit haggard. I understand the concept of a leisurely dinner, but on a Sunday evening, no reason for a meal to take 2+ hours, especially when we didn't even order drinks. She did give us a $10 gift card for the next time we come. Despite great sashimi, I don't think there will be a next time. There are plenty of other sushi joints in the 'hood.
(2)
Kristy D.

Been here twice now and had relatively the same experience both times. The spicy edamame is awesome and the sushi rolls are pretty good and seemed fresh. However, the tables for 2 are incredibly small and very close together. Its hard to hear yourself over all of the other noise in the restaurant.
(4)
Mark H.

To start, the atmosphere is really nice - outside seating, bar seating and sit down seating and they're all decorated nicely. I got the Nabeyaki udon soup which was incredible. The noodles were great, tempura shrimp was excellent, basically everything was awesome and my friends who got the soup also agreed. My friends who got the sushi ate it all but didn't think it was anything special - they said they wished they ordered the soup instead. I can't speak to the sushi, so I guess you'll have to go and try yourself. Definitely recommended.
(5)
Daliah F.

I have been to Kamehachi a couple of times over the years and to their location in Northbrook. Our experience in Old Town was definitely "meh." Positives were the atmostphere - really lovely new location and a front section that opens to the sidewalk - and presentation. All the plates were beautiful. For the prices, I'd rather go elsewhere for good Japanese. The service was just okay. We wandered around the front of the restaurant for almost 5 minutes before someone approached us and told us it was fine to sit at one of the front tables. It was almost another 10 before the waitress came to even take drink orders. Service was intermittent throughout; however, the server did quickly change out my cold sake when I said I didn't care for her original recommendation. For appetizers we had beef asparagus rolls and chicken yakitori. The beef rolls were bland with too much sauce. The chicken yakitori was probably the best dish of the evening - great flavor and the cuts of chicken were good. The veggies on the skewers seemed fresh. My boyfrind had the gyoza. He said they were as good as he could get at a Japanese grocery store. For dinner, I ordered the spicy salmon deluxe, the tasmanian salmon and a sushi toro trio special - over $40 in sushi. Literally every piece of fish I put in my mouth was sinewy and I had to pick the parts that I couldn't chew out of my mouth and leave them on my plate. This almost never happens with fresh salmon. I didn't find the quality of the fish great and the spicy salmon deluxe was bland. My boyfriend had the ton katsu - he said the panko crumbs were just like heavy breading...not light and crispy the way they are supposed to be, and the cutlet itself was not pounded thin enough. Even though the presentation looked nice, we decided that overall, the ingredients did not seem particularly fresh - from my fish to the cabbage on the side of the his plate. All in all, there so many other restaurants in the neighborhood, this one won't be a destination for us.
(2)
Maria-Elena T.

Three of us stopped here for dinner on a Friday night around 7pm. We were seated immediately. The place is a far cry from the usual sterile Japanese restaurant; it is beautiful with its high ceilings, exposed brick walls, low flattering lightening and unobtrusive music. We sat at a high top table parallel to the front door and were able to people watch. The whole wall opens so it is like eating outside but we weren't. Which is good because it was raining. Service was good and the bathroom is co- love the copper tile detail. We started with the edamame which has an unusual preparation- rock salt, a little spicy and some butter. Very very good and addictive. We went through 3 bowls! We had rock shrimp, salmon sashimi, rainbow roll, California roll, mushroom roll, and eel nagiri. All was delicious! I would return and order the same things!
(4)
Anne A.

Visited this place last Saturday. My friend took me here for my birthday and we arrived at 7:30 with no reservations. We were seated right away and place was about half full. Sushi was just mediocre, but service was so dreadfully slow. They seemed understaffed. They did not make my friends wine spritzer right. I wanted to order another beer before we left but our server was no where to be found. We tried to get another server to help us but were denied. Naturally, it took forever to get the bill too. This place should of had much better service, especially for it not being busy on a Saturday night. Too bad because it's very close to where I live and I love sushi.
(2)
Natalie D.

I'm super shocked I havnt written this review yet. This is a review from about 2012! I love this place! I used to work just down the street and would come after work or even before (It was a wine bar.) the vibe was amazing, fast and informative service, and of course very fresh sushi! My sister tried her first sushi here! Now she loves it and eats it like a pro!! Thanks to the versatility of Kamahachis menu, she was able to try something she really liked and is a sushi convert!
(5)
Shambavi K.

Great place to grab cocktails and sake with Japanese appetizers. Staff was busy but friendly and attentive. Food is just ok. - rock shrimp tempura was good but I feel there was a tad too much batter. - spider roll - worst roll of the night. Too much rice and not enough crab at all. Too bland. Not worth it - spicy salmon deluxe was tasty - the 1st one on the specialty rolls were was pretty good. Not sure if it was worth the price - summer roll - best roll of the night. I didn't like the migi-tini - had a soapy taste. The whiskey cocktail and the dragon martini was good. Hot sake was great to share throughout dinner.
(3)
Valeria G.

Impressive! I tried Kamehachi last night with a friend. We ordered a bottle of wine, tuna carpaccio appetizer, and 3 makis (rainbow, sunset, and dragon). The sunset was my favorite! I must say I was really impressed to have a delicious sushi place nearby. It is a bit on the pricier side, but is overlooked by the quality of the fish - all very fresh! Our waitress was a doll - very sweet, amicable, and attentive (we sat on their patio). Overall, it was a good experience.
(5)
Diane V.

This beautifully decorated restaurant has amazingly delicious food, and a favorite place of ours to bring others to lunch. We have had one experience of eating here for dinner and it was not good due to very noisy customers taking up a huge table on second floor. Restaurant staff did nothing to quiet them down. We won't return on the evenings but love it during the daytime. Great service, so very close to our workplace/church, and ALWAYS good food!
(5)
Chris T.

After getting out from seeing an improv show at Second City at 11pm, we were starving and didn't know where to go. Luckily this place was open late, because we were about to do McDonalds. The ambience here was very cool and the place is huge too. Two of the best rolls we had were the Chicago Crazy Roll, and the Crouching Tuna, Hidden Crab. They were delicious, and would definitely order them again. Looks like people have had trouble with the service here, but I didn't experience that. It wasn't anything to rave about, but again I was so hungry when I was here I wouldn't even of cared if they spat on the food in front of me.
(4)
Lauren H.

I enjoyed this place! Great atmosphere. No complaints. I just had some basic rolls so I will update the review next time I go once I have more to say about the food.
(4)
Grace C.

Shrimp tempora is pretty good. I came to this place twice. Both time, we enjoyed it. Their lunch menu works during the weekend as well. Their bento portion is generous. Service is good. I definately recommend this place if you are lincon park or near old town.
(3)
Liz G.

I have never reviewed a restaurant, but I would strongly discourage anyone from coming to this restaurant. Service was fine, but the sushi tasted like it had sat out for hours. I thought it was just my experience, but after talking to several friends they have had similar experiences. Way too expensive for the nasty fishy sushi you receive.
(1)
Chrys L.

Love the food...never going back I'd been going to Kamehachi when it was in its old Wells St. location and always had a great experience. Unfortunately, the excellent food and adequate service isn't enough to make me return to their new location when you have to shout at your dinner guest in order to be heard. After 90 mins, we were both so hoarse that rather than sitting any longer, we decided to continue our evening across the street. After 23+ years, Kamehachi, you've lost my business.
(1)
Mike H.

ZERO stars due to NO ONE waiting on us. My girlfriend and I were sat by the MANAGER by the front door at a high top. We were given water by the bus boy and started looking at the menu. After a few minutes we were wondering where our server was. The restaurant was somewhat busy but that doesn't excuse the fact that noone waited on us, especially since the MANAGER sat us. At around 20 minutes we decided to leave due to not being waited on. I guess they didn't want our hard earned money so we decided to spend it elsewhere. Complete failure!!!
(1)
Rodney H.

I wanted to like this place, but I got disappointed instead. Service was amazingly slow on a Sunday afternoon. Sushi was pretty good but drinks were poorly made - disappointing, because the cocktail list is fairly tantalizing. Not the worst experience ever, but if you go there, don't worry about running in to me, because I'm not going back.
(2)
Callie K.

My friends and I loved this place! Beautiful atmosphere, large drink selection, really friendly bartender/waiter, and delicious sushi that came out super fast! The bartender also gave us really good drink and sushi roll recommendations when we asked. Thanks!
(5)
Chris F.

If you're a fan of cilantro get the Summer roll. One of the best rolls I've had in Chicago. For realz. Had the Dragon (also nummy) and a few others. Everything was better than a typical BYOB suchi place. That being said, not being a BYOB made it slightly on the pricer side of things to make it my go to place. Otherwise dinner was nom.com !
(5)
Erin R.

I loved my Kamehachi experience on Friday! The white heat roll was simply to die for but honestly all of our rolls were surprisingly good. So were the gyoza which are often good but rarely remarkably so. I would absolutely recommend!
(5)
Matthew F.

Decent sushi in an otherwise fairly dismal patch of restaurants, which makes it a good choice before a show at Second City. The specialty rolls are typically very good, though some of the standard rolls can be improved - on my last visit, the rice-to-shrimp ratio in my Shrimp Tempura roll was all out of whack. Beer choices beyond the standard Japanese labels, and a decent wine list too.
(3)
Travis M.

I got three pieces of nigiri and they were all about the size of my thumb. Not sure if they were running out of sushi but it looked like the pieces had been cut in half. For the price they charge the amount I got was ridiculous.
(1)
Ime P.

Food is delicious, some of the best sushi I have ever had. Banana tempura was amazing. However, service was very slow, our waitress was nowhere to be seen several times throughout the evening, leaving our glasses empty for too long. We would have ordered more drinks if she had offered, but we had to flag her down. Great place overall, cozy atmosphere and pleasant music. Will visit again.
(3)
Jeff S.

***3.5 stars*** Sushi was fresh, but not memorable. Prices were reasonable for the area, but not the best value around (especially if you're willing to venture outside of the Old Town area a bit). Decor is nice and has an intimate, cozy vibe. I live within walking distance to Kamehachi, but it doesn't really inspire me to revisit countless times out of pure desire, but instead due to proximity. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I didn't find Kamehachi to be anything special in the sea of sushi restaurants all over Chicago. But if you're in the area and hankering for some sushi and/or familiar Japanese kitchen food, I recommend that you stop by.
(3)
DJ S.

This place is fine. Nice dining room. Nice waitress but we had to look for her a few times. The food is pretty average. Sushi is fine but nothing amazing. We had lots of appetizers to share. All fine. Over $225 for three people. A little pricey for just fine.
(3)
Benjamin P.

Pros: Our waitress was able to recommend sake to try and offered samples of our choices. Nice atmosphere and decor. Decently priced "standard" sushi rolls. Cons: Waited about 45 minutes for our meal. Specialty rolls are better than the standard fare but still not that memorable. Bottom line: I'd go back (or order delivery) for cheap rolls or if I'm extremely lazy and unwilling to leave the Old Town area. Otherwise, I'd happily hike it somewhere else.
(3)
Mihir P.

I was looking forward to going to eat at Kamehachi in its new digs but the experience was far less than luster primarily due to the service. Our waiter was cracked out or very nervous. He was so quick, fidgeting, and speaking really fast almost incoherently with a New York accent. When he was at our table it was as if he had "one foot out the door" if that makes sense. I asked him for some sriracha, he didn't know what that was. So I asked for Sambal Oelek - he has no idea. So I asked for hot sauce. He brought spicy mayo. The food isn't bad. The mushroom app is a must for anyone who loves 'em. Rock shrimp app is standard. Crouching tuna - hidden crab roll was very bland. The pork katsu would've been decent if we could have got some sriracha or sambal oelek. They did have an excellent jalapeno margarita so if I am walking by, I'd stop at the bar.
(2)
Carol K.

Kamehaci in Old Town has made a smart move in taking over the old Evissa space. For now the ambiance is trendy and dynamic, but holds on to some traditions, from the bar in the front with the lanterns hanging, to the intimate dining area upstairs (open Thurs- Sat) with soft couches to sink into, to the private room (washitsu) for more traditional dining, this space is lovely. I've been a few times now and it seems like the crowds and madness that was present when they first opened has tempered a bit which was a welcome change. We started our evening with some sake at the bar and then were escorted to a cozy table for two upstairs for dinner. I like the way they staggered the placement of the tables for even though there may be someone next to you, they are not right next to you. Our server, Laura, was great, explaining the menu (very well organized and easy to find favorites) to going over the specials of the day. And while their specialty cocktail list is nice- they also have a good selection of wines, and sakes. While I won't go through everything we had, there are a few things worth a special call out. First, we went with the mussels steamed in sake as our first course- delicious! And their maki rolls are always good- try the rainbow, the spicy tuna deluxe or our server's favorite, the Summer roll with Tuna, Yellowtail, Green Pepper, Avocado, Masago, Cilantro . . . . . .it tasted like Summer feels! My friend also ordered a wide array of sashimi and the presentation was lovely- almost too pretty to eat! I was a little underwhelmed by a couple of things. First- my fatty tuna (toro) tasted fishy to me which made me question if it was as fresh as it could be. Also- skip the chocolate cake for dessert- it is just so so and certainly not "calorie worthy"! Dinner for two with plenty of drinks, appetizers and dessert ran about $150. Valet parking is available out front for $12 (a life saver in the Winter months). And they are open until 2am so it's a great place to stop in for a drink anytime. Domo, Kamehachi!
(4)
Chris S.

I placed a delivery order after I departed from O'Hare airport for some rolls and an appetizer. Being a weekly traveler, I have a good idea how long it takes to get to Old Town from the airport at 10pm. Unfortunately, I got a cab driver that drove at a glacial pace (literally 55mph on the highway and 20 mph on North Ave). This meant my delivery arrived before I did. The delivery man had every right to yell at me or be disgruntled as he waited about ten minutes for me to arrive. Instead, he was professional and very polite about it. Great service.
(5)
Thanh L.

Asian chimichurri steak and rock tempura shrimp app were delicious. Lychee drink was good. Sushi was pricey $16 rolls for crouching tuna hidden crab and the Valentines day special roll which ended up being very similar. The fish was fresh and both rolls were ok. Service was great.
(3)
Natalie M.

I have been a fan of Kamehachi for years, and their move just two blocks north was a great idea. Kamehachi retains its casual sophistication, with even better decor and floor plan. They have also added more vegetarian dishes as well as drink options to their menu. Many of the old staff members are still there so you will see many familiar faces. Kamehachi is still my favorite date night spot, and now that they are RIGHT NEXT DOOR to Pinkberry they have reached a new level of perfection.
(5)
Khadijah L.

Downgrading. Since they moved, the new Kamehachi is much more spacious and swanky. They're still open late so this is a good place to come after shows when you have not much choice. Key: You don't have much choice late at night. Bad thing. The sukiyaki was waaay too salty. The sushi was A-OK (sashimi and a couple of rolls, nothing to write home about) Service was awful. My glass was not refilled even once. The waitress came to get our order, and never returned. Given the salty sukiyaki, I was so thirsty and I didn't get any water. BLEH This isn't my first review. I had given 5 stars in 2011, 4 stars in 2012, and now 2 stars only. Something is wrong obviously...
(2)
Kaitlin M.

I love you even more Kamehachi! Nice job on the new location! It is sexy, sleek, welcoming and much more spacious! I have always like Kamehachi because they have good sushi for a good prince, and deliver!!! Now that they are in this new location I will be dropping in a lot more to get dinner versus ordering in! There are two things that make this place stand in front of many other sushi restaurants and that is their vegetarian/ vegan sushi section. They have two of my favorite vegan rolls in the city: the Veggie Crunch and the Shiitake roll. Now to me, the veggie crunch is the best vegan roll I have ever had! It is the perfect mix of vegetables and a bit of glutenous tempura crunch! The Shiitake is better than the usual because they add creamy avocado to the roll which creates a yummy combination comparable to a meat and cheese taste and texture! You HAVE TO check out there new location and try one of the rolls I recommend even if your not vegetarian. I promise you will like it!
(5)
Tommy M.

You can see from my history that I don't give many 5-star reviews. Why now? It wasn't the udon, which was fine but not spectacular. It wasn't the salmon or miso soup or gyoza or sushi rolls - they were good but not distinguishably better than other places. Kamehachi gets 5 stars because the tempura (both shrimp and vegetables) was the best I have ever eaten anywhere. The batter was perfect - thin, not heavy and greasy like you find in many restaurants, and clean, meaning the batter had a neutral taste so the flavor of the shrimp and vegetables (especially the broccoli) came through well, and light-colored, meaning the cooking oil was fresh. And, the outdoor seating (only room for 2 tables) on a gorgeous fall day certainly contributed to the pleasant atmosphere.
(5)
Chi G.

Sushi was pretty fresh but the rice was terrible. It was hard and did not taste good. Told the server, but she didnt seem to care. Wont be back!
(2)
Jason H.

One word.... Awesome. Great food and great prices... Took food tour and this was one of the places.. We had to come back for dinner....
(5)
K B.

There's really nothing bad that can be said about the food here. The fish is top-quality, succulent and delicious, and you sure will pay for it. Given this, why not opt for less fashionable, as-good or almost-as-good sushi, at lower prices in a more pleasant setting? For the size of the tab here they really should treat you better: although they were perhaps only two-thirds full on a Friday night, we were seated upstairs, where the claustrophobic space was dominated by a large, drunk party who were so loud and obnoxious that we could barely focus on the menu, much less have a conversation. The table next to ours actually asked to be reseated downstairs, but this seemed to fluster the staff so badly that we opted to stay put. Servers were friendly but seemed harried and overextended. I can corroborate other reviewers on the glacially slow service (we thought it was just that we'd been stuck upstairs and forgotten about, but this seems to be the norm here). I usually don't complain about things like service and atmosphere, as for me the food is the point. But at these prices, at the very least the environment should not detract from the meal. I miss the old Kamehachi with its traditional, non-trendy vibe - if it were still that place, the quality of the food would keep me coming back. But I don't think I'll be back here unless someone else is paying.
(3)
Barb B.

My husband and I first started coming here at the Ontario location and then moved to the new location on Wells after the Ontario restaurant closed. We are long-time addicts, drawn in by the comfortable yet beautiful atmosphere. Ontario was a bit more airy and open, but the Wells location is simply another style to be enjoyed. Our favorite entrees include the sea bass, one of our party always gets it, and we also like the salmon teriyaki. For appetizers we always get several shrimp shumais, they are so good, also edamame and the steamed spinach gomae and vegetable spring rolls- all very delicate and tasty! My husband and I almost always order the flights of sake just because they never disappoint and we enjoy sampling different brands. If you are a fan, you will enjoy this as as well. For sushi, we have gotten the samplers as well as ordering individual sushi and it is always excellent. Someone said it is the same as costco and that is not at all true, at least not in our experience and we eat a lot of sushi. We have also ordered specialty rolls and some we have enjoyed include the shrimp tempura roll, rainbow roll, and veggie crunch roll. All in all we enjoy Kamehachi very much! We do wish the Ontario location was still open but we will be returning to the Wells Street address again very soon!
(4)
Rachel V.

Kamehachi has a lot of menu choices for the sushi lover and sushi hater! It would be totally easy to bribe a sushi-hating friend into coming here on a night when you're craving some rolls! I loved the menu - the prices are great and the portions are generous. Also extra stars for their service. I went there with a bachelorette party of 9, and since they somehow didn't have our pre fixe menu ready to go, they offered to give us all separate checks so we could order whatever we wanted. Also, the manager sent us TWO rounds of drinks - sake at the beginning and champagne at the end! That's fabulous service compared to Second City who saw our party coming and sat us in the back corner of the theater! I'll definitely be going back soon!
(5)
Jen O.

I liked this place a lot but there is just nothing so special about it to give it 5 stars. We went on a Monday night and if you go out in Chicago you will realize that's kind of a dead night in the city so there was no one there, so that's not really their fault. We ordered the Duck Tataki appetizer with kumquats which was tasty. Then we had a Dragon Maki and a selection of Nigiri. Everything was very good and fresh. The cut of the fatty tuna for being market price was not as generous as I would normally get. It is also expensive (around $100 for two with only 1 saki) so that's another factor. Overall, it is a solid sushi place and nothing personal against Kamehachi but there are so many other sushi places to try I wont rush back.
(4)
Ray D.

Awesome sushi! This is one of the best sushi spots with the best ambiance in Chicago. If the sushi chefs would cut the pieces thicker like the in the islands it would be the best in Chicago if not the Midwest.
(4)
Princess D.

This is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in the city. I've been coming here since my late teens and the sushi has always been fresh. The service and ambience is consistently good.
(4)
Tiffany S.

delicious salmon sashimi, nice atmosphere. services was nice, they also have really good spicy edamame. highly recommend!
(5)
General T.

I used to love coming here to experience the live jazz duet they'd have upstairs, but I've stopped coming since they inexplicably got rid of it. bring back the jazz!!
(1)
Peggy C.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice and feels very authentic. I had the zaru soba and salmon sushi. The food was good but I've had better japanese food for around the same price or less. The soba broth could have used some more flavor.
(3)
Dallas F.

I enjoy Kamehachi mainly for its convenience. It's close to home, open late, and affordable. Though the sushi is good, I actually prefer the entrees on the menu like the chicken katsu. Incredibly tasty and always enough for two meals. The service is fast and friendly and I've never had to wait to be seated. If you go late night, you'll probably be seated upstairs which has a totally different vibe than the downstairs area. The ambiance is nice in the upstairs portion of the restaurant. Its a bit classier and almost has a touch of a romantic loungy vibe to it. Overall, Kamahachi offers good food for a good price, especially given the neighborhood where its located.
(4)
Eliza K.

Have ordered from this place frequently on on grub hub and a couple of times the fish they've sent isn't fresh. Today I got food poisoning. I will submit this place to the board of health
(1)
Deepika B.

I really don't know what we paid for at this place. Sushi - you get better sushi at costco that's much cheaper Tempura - could fry a few more in the oil that we had on the tempura Service - the servers kept staring at our plates so that they could clean the table and say goodbye. Save your money and spend elsewhere for some good japanese.
(1)
Sophia R.

I have done delivery from here twice and I highly recommend it! If you're looking for excellent sushi delivered to your door, this is your place. For non-traditional sushi, loved the New York Maki with smoked salmon, but definitely loved the Kamehachi roll! They even add in all the necessities with your order including a little plastic dish for your soy sauce. It's definitely worth the 45 min. wait.
(4)
Mary C.

I was thrilled to see Kamehachi added a vegetarian section to its menu, until the wait staff informed us that several of the items listed there aren't actually vegetarian because they are made with dashi, or fish stock. We complained about the mislabeling, and a manager acknowledged that the heading should be changed. The service, ambiance and quality of food are exceptional, but they get severely dinged in my book for being dishonest. Perhaps If they add more real vegetarian items to their menu, we will be back.
(2)
DR. S.

I have no idea how people can eat at this place with the service they have. The quality of the food is up to the standard at most of the times; however, the server disappeared after they dropped off the food and I didn't see them until I had done with my meal, and there were still empty tables which mean they were not busy at that time.
(1)
Julie H.

I was going to give Kamehachi only 3 stars, but after seeing that so many other people gave it high remarks, I decided to be a little bit generous (if only Yelp had half stars - Kamehachi would safely be a 3 1/2). The sushi is good, for sure, but honestly, with all the other hip and fun sushi spots in Chicago, why bother with this one? Its a very safe neighborhood joint; nothing more, nothing less. I go when its convenient, but its definitely not worth a special trip to Old Town.
(4)
Jeremy A.

Walked into Kamehachi at 9:15pm on a Saturday night looking for a quick bite to eat. I could have waited ~10 minutes for a table to open up, but opted to sit down right away at the sushi bar. I was shocked that this place wasn't mobbed. I highly recommend the "Summer" maki roll. Add in tempura crunch and you will be pleasantly surprised. My wife and I love going here. Very good sushi at very inexpensive (you can easily eat very well for less than $50 per couple with tip). The one downside is that the restaurant itself is packed tight. Not much room to spread your wings. Plus there's only one toilet in the bathroom - there can be a line if someone is taking a bit longer than average.
(4)
Jessica R.

I have only ordered delivery from Kamehachi, but it has been pretty great each time. The miso soup is fantastic, chock full of seaweed and tofu. The fried oyster (Kaki Fry) appetizer is great too...the oysters are huge. All the maki rolls I have tried have been very tasty and super fresh. Those include: Spider Roll, Special Salmon Roll, Tekka Maki, Spicy Tuna Deluxe, Sunset Roll, and New York Maki. They were all equally delicious. Oh, and they quoted us with a 65 minute delivery time, and it arrived within 30 minutes. 2 thumbs up!
(4)
Jeff M.

My family and I ate at Kamehachi on Saturday night. Our server Jason was fantastic and the food was outstanding. Jason made several spot on suggestions for my family. The vibe is great and I would eat there again in a minute.
(5)
Katherine R.

Be prepared to open your wallet at this place. Our bill for two people was $134...um really? yes, we had 5 glasses of wine total, but it would have only saved about $5 had we gotten a bottle. This place has good sushi for sure, but for the price? No thank you. We had the Crazy Chicago Roll, The Green Turle Roll, the Sunset , the Salmon something roll and two of the specials... All were pretty good, the salmon one had a weird crunch to it and I guess I'm not a fan of baked salmon- just a weird flavor. Presentation was nice and the sushi tasted fresh, so that was good. The specials were $15.95 a piece and they gave you about 8 pieces, so not bad. Again, the sushi was good, but nothing spectacular; Sushi Wabi and Coast definitely beat this place. We dined here on a not-so-busy night yet our server was unattentive, that was kind of annoying considering Not sure I would go back, conisdering there are awesome restaurants in this city I wouldn't mind emptying my wallet for.
(3)
Faye S.

My boyfriend and I had a great experience there. We followed the advice of yelpers here and asked for table upstairs. The decor was okay. It was dimly lit so was perfect for a date night. The tables were spread out so we had some privacy. The food was great. The portion was comparatively small though. I didn't care much for the seaweed salad there. It just tasted off to me. The service was good. I used the groupon for the meal so we ended up paying about $40 in total. Not sure if it's worth the full price though.
(4)
jenny m.

I have to say I was very disappointed after my last visit. THe first time I was there was about 1 1/2 years ago. I had just recently started eating fish & seafood again after a 12 year hiatus so it was one of my first forays in to sushi. I remember thinking it was good, but I was so inexperienced with sushi I didn't feel qualified to really judge. So the second time I was there a few weeks ago, and after eating sushi for awhile now and experiencing some great sushi places in this city, I just don't think Kamehachi ranks up there. I was with two other people so we ordered probably 8-10 different rolls, along with a couple of apps. All of the food was just pretty generic and dare I say, somewhat bland. The fish did not taste as fresh as I've had at other places either. Its not that the sushi was horrible or inedible, I just think there's half a dozen other sushi places that are way better. And for the price, I don't think its worth it. The one thing going for this place is they do have great, attentive service and a good location in Old Town. The patio is really cute too and would be a great date spot. But, I can't justify spending $100+ on sushi for just the location & atmosphere.
(2)
A B.

I like this place, the fish tastes fresh and not fishy, which I can't stand sometimes at other sushi spots. I mean we live in Chicago, it's hard to come by fresh seafood. I really don't have anything negative to say about this place, it's good and always consistent. I would recommend to anyone that has not been here yet, you have to check it ou.
(4)
Nicole L.

Thanks to my dad he received a free gift card and since he wont eat raw fish my lucky day. I must say i had a lot of fun going but there is absolutely no free parking and valet cost more then a meal there. the prices are what usual places are. Their california rolls are not the best but we daringly tried something very similar called sunset rolls which was delicious. along with the food the staff is good looking so harmless flirting was in the works and they were nice enough to make the evening fun and be nice back. its always nice to have a good meal friendly conversation and some laughs. I'm sure we'll be back.
(3)
Jaclyn C.

Like many others I got the groupon and finally checked this place out. Hubby and I ordered the steamed dumplings, 4 rolls and beer. One thing I love when ordering sushi is trying the creative rolls that sushi places make up names for like Red V, snow white, Connie Chung and so on...not here. They literally have no rolls other than the standard run of the mill. So we got the rainbow, spider, philly and sunset roll (BORING). I'd heard about upstairs being nice but we sat downstairs and it just felt really stark and cramped. Overall, very unforgettable. Go to Coast, Wakamono, Toro or even Butterfly and all these are BYOB too. Would probably never go there again, not even with a groupon. I'd use the $20 and buy some alcohol and go somewhere else.
(2)
Ericka M.

Seriously, this is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I can't say I'm one of the die-hard sushi fans, although I do enjoy GOOD sushi. And it really has to be good. Can't tolerate the crap - and I've never had crap here. This is also the place where I tried sake for the very first time - yes that's right, I was once a sake virgin, too. It wasn't bad, but I think I'll stick to wine. But I digress... The service has always been great and the ambience is fantastic , especially if you dine upstairs. If you haven't been to this place yet, then be sure to put it at/near the top of your list!
(5)
Joscelyn M.

Nice sushi place in Old Town. Food is always good, love the rolls. Service can be hit or miss, though. Downstairs ambiance isn't too nice, but upstairs is.
(4)
Kathleen O.

went here with a small group and it was overall pretty good. We shared the pot stickers and they were really yummy. Then I got the chicken yaki soba and it was REALLY good. I don't eat sushi, but the rest of the table shared a bunch. They definitely did not order enough, but liked what they got. It was a LITTLE overpriced, for what we got, but overall was not bad. The service was not great, though, The waitress took like 20 minutes to bring us our drinks and then I asked 3 times for a fork and still never got one (the only give you chop stick). I would probably go again, but would not go out of my way to come here.
(3)
Amanda H.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that you can order sushi until 2am in their lounge section. There are a few different rooms here so depending whether you want a restaurant atmosphere, lounge or patio atmosphere you can take your pick! I prefer the upstairs lounge section since its laid back and open later. I also love the neighborhood, therefore late sushi dinner=late night out in Old town!
(4)
Andrew P.

I don't know what to think of this place. I think my perception is misconstrued. This is one of my girlfriend's favorite places. We ordered it take out last week. The flavors weren't all that bad, but the textures were not good. The tempura sucked. Everything was soggy. The sauces weren't that good. They messed the order up in a couple of different ways.... Maybe this is all due to it being take out. As I said, I think I will definately give this place another chance because it has come so highly recommended.... but my first impression was not a good one. Perhaps I will have to dine in my next meal at Kamehachi.
(3)
Bethany J.

I adore Kamehachi in it's entirety. The first time I came here was back in the fall- a friend and I just wanted to get a drink upstairs- it ended up being an amazing time and the bartender kept giving us free sake. It was amazing. The second time I came was a surprise from a date on my birthday. When I realized he was taking me here I was ecstatic. We dined upstairs, which was most romantic and we both had excellent wine, tempura & rolls. The service of course, was great. I came here again the other day with 3 other friends; we dined outside, which was like a beautiful little Asian garden, and everyone was very pleased with their meals. I got futomaki and special salmon roll, my friend had sunset & NY, someone else got one of the entrees, and everyone was very full and satisfied at the end. The service was phenomenal, there was an attendant who was all over the refills and clean ups. We ended with some mochi which pretty much sealed the deal. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Jennifer G.

The sushi is o.k. There are so many other great sushi bars in the City, unless this was one of my only choices, I would choose another.
(3)
Carrie B.

Kamehachi has very fresh sushi. Though the service has sometimes been hit or miss (I waited far too long for just simple tuna rolls the last time I went) they usually are fast and it's not too pricey. They have other entrees on the menu that are good, which is nice for people who aren't huge sushi people. This is usually my fall-back spot for a last minute sushi reservation. I like how this location has a more intimiate setting upstairs, while the other location on Ontario is much larger and spacious. After reading other Yelp reviews, it sounds like I need to try this Salmon Teriyaki!
(4)
J. L.

Probably one of the better sushi places in Chicago. The specials can get pricey. I recommend the Green Turtle Roll, the Spicy Tuna Deluxe Deluxe (not on the menu), and the tatsuta age (order with a side of spicy mayo). Service is friendly and good. If you eat on the 2nd floor, it can get very cold, so bring a sweater. There's a small bar in the back of the 2nd floor. I like their lychee martinis (hard to find).
(4)
Lesley S.

The sushi was really fresh, but none of the rolls were that creative or unique in my opinion. I loved the martini I got- some sort of cucumber martini. Tasty and refreshing! It had good ambiance for a date- dimly lit upstairs. Seemed to be a little on the expensive side.
(3)
Michelle E.

There is nothing worse than bad sushi. I wanted to fall in love with Kamehachi. People RAVE about this place! It's like being set up on a blind date, where your friend talks the guy up to be the greatest guy in the world and you are so excited and SURE he'll be The One! Then the date goes down as the boringest date in history and a week later you can't even remember his name. I actually ate here a few months ago, and I read some reviews that same day. Elisabeth N's review was the latest one. I should have listened to you, E! But I got all distracted by the natto talk, and was determined to try this mysterious thing that everyone (well, everyone non-Japanese) hates! Let me start with the good things. It was a beautiful night, and we were seated in the patio, which is SO cute! It's really a great space. Also, we were seated next to a table of 3 Japanese businessmen. That seemed to be a good sign, right? Now I suspect that they were actors hired to add authenticity to the place! For apps we ordered the edamame and the mushrooms. The mushrooms were SO tasty, and I really enjoyed them. Next we ordered a sashimi platter and a few rolls. I can't remember which rolls we ordered, but I think we got a spicy tuna, a green turtle roll, and the infamous natto maki. The waitress warned me, saying, "You know natto has a very strong smell, right?" LOL! The sashimi was not good. I found several of the pieces to be incredibly fishy. Fishy sashimi is scary sashimi! The other rolls we had were pretty unremarkable, since I can't even remember how they tasted! The natto maki--I braced myself for something really pungent and odorous. Actually, I thought the natto was pretty inoffensive. I didn't really notice a strong scent, but maybe because it was just a little bit of it in each lil piece of maki? I didn't think the taste was overpowering either. I can't say I liked it. But I didn't hate it either! Is it possible to be indifferent to natto? Dessert was a momentous occasion, as it was the first time that Mr Man ever had mochi! Thank goodness I came along to broaden his horizons. There are so many other places in Chicago to get sublime sushi. Maybe come to Kamehachi to sit on the patio and have a snack, but don't expect anything impressive.
(2)
Nick S.

Kamehachi was a pioneer in the Chicago sushi biz. I was disappointed after hearing a lot about this place. They had a few good rolls, but I wouldn't go back. I think the restaurant is poorly run and behind the times.
(2)
Amanda N.

So this place is adorable...it really knows how to set the mood especially if you're on a date...the food is delicious and the bus boys are super nice. Some of the waitresses could do their job better, but that's about the only complaint I have for this place. Other than that...I have to say that if you want fresh sushi and a great atmosphere then this is the place to be.
(4)
Kristin N.

One word - disgusting. I just used my Groupon for dinner with a friend and my partner the other night and was absolutely, 100% grossed out by this experience. Let me clarify that I love sushi. I'm not a wussy either - I like the raw fish, not cooked crap. However, this place didn't have anything slightly resembling raw fish (chewy, fushia "tuna" anyone?). Furthermore, their drinks were weak, the place was 1,000 degrees and smelt 'fishy' (NOT a good sign for a sushi place), crowded (for some insane reason - it sucked) and our server was horrible. To sum it up, I will never ever go back and will be sure to guide friends/colleagues elsewhere so they don't get sick.
(1)
Alexis H.

Kamehachi is a solid restaurant in all aspects of dining. Located in Old Town, it's a small restaurant, but it sure packs a punch. Their dining room only seats about 20 with room for only about 10 more at the sushi bar. In the spring and summer, their outdoor patio is open which makes room for another 20 diners. The decor is simple and classic, combining elements of finer dining with traditional Japanese decor. The sushi here is great and you really can't go wrong. This is one of those places where you can open the menu, blindly put your finger down, order that item, and be completely satisfied with your meal. I love the tako salad in particular, which comes with a heaping serving of fresh tako over a bed of greens and seaweed salad. A couple tips: - Go early or get a reservation - Go with a small group, 4 people max - Valet your car or park on Schiller, the side street adjacent to the restaurant - Try it for lunch - it's quick, yummy, and costs the same as Jimmy Johns if you stick to basic maki rolls
(5)
Brad C.

The lunch bento box is wheres its at! It is such a great deal. I have never eaten at Kamehachi we usually just get it delivered. I have tried a few other things on the menu which are great, but that bento box lunch special is such a good deal.
(4)
Tim D.

My wife is a sucker for anything pumpkin - bless her heart - so we visited Kamehachi for it's pumpkin soup. But I'm a sushi guy and Kamehachi is a sushi place, so I must warn you that the sushi here has taken a tumble downhill. I'm going to pass on Kamehachi, which used to be a favorite of mine, until I hear it's improved.
(2)
Ben T.

I think the best word to describe Kamehachi is "solid". It doesn't have as many special rolls as some other places (like Tank or Sushi Wabi), but it does old standbys like unakyu and negi hamachi well, for probably less than you'll pay at most other places. The service has been good if not great every time I've been, and while the downstairs area is nice, I really like the atmosphere in the upstairs area. It's a good place to take a date. There are better sushi places out there, but Kamehachi is a great option if you live on the North side, and for less than most other places.
(4)
Toshi B.

I do not get why this place gets such good reviews. I highly recommend avoiding the Streeterville location b/c it is overpriced for just average Japanese food. It is Japanese food made for the American palate and it is a shame b/c Japanese cusine can be so much more and amazing. If you want crazy dragon rolls, sure...maybe it is for you. However, sorry to bust the bubble but Japanese people do not eat all those fancy rolls that we have...it is an American invention just like the Chinese fortune cookie (which is actually creation from a Japanese American in SF). And btw, the place is in a basement. If you are willing to pay $50/person for basement dragon rolls, bon appetit.
(1)
Matt J.

We are sushi aficionados (though admittedly not connoisseurs) and were in the neighborhood so we stopped in. We got four rolls and I have no complaints. They were good, but didn't knock my socks off. We ate upstairs which was pretty nice though the lighting made it sort of hard to read the menu. The service was good. I'd go back when in the neighborhood, but wouldn't go out of my way.
(3)
Ben E.

Not the best sushi in Chicago, but it's always fresh and they don't compromise on the quality of the fish. If you're in the area and in the mood for very good nigiri and maki, definitely visit. It is definitely a little expensive, but not too much so.
(4)
K M.

This place is Chitown's best kept secret - keep the deep dish pizza, gimmie more Kamehachi sushi! The food is outstanding and I couldn't get enough! They're open late which is always a plus, especially when you've been boozin' for hours and you're in the mood for some good eats. The mackerel is unreal, I got my first taste of it at Kamehachi and I haven't found anything that tops it. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Holly M.

You'll find trendier sushi spots in town, but Kamehachi is one of the better ones in my opinion because their fish truly is fresh. The decor varies - upstairs is more dimly lit and 'funkier', compared to the downstairs which is a bit crowded and a bit lacking in atmosphere. However, my favorite spot is their outdoor patio in the summer. I guess I've grown to love this place so mush as it's a regular standyby being a few doors down from my apartment. Now for the food...as others have mentioned, I'm obsessed with the Green Turtle Roll! They stuff the rice with eel and its sweet brown sauce along with crunchy tempura flakes. On the outside, they lay a piece of ebi (shrimp) over the rice and drizzle the whole thing with a creamy wasabi sauce (to die for!) and green tobiko. It somehow combines every taste combination in one go - sweet, spicy, creamy, crunchy - it's a must!
(4)
Robin W.

I've unfortunately only been here once when a certain other sushi restaurant down the street was closed around 10 pm on a Friday night, but it was EXCELLENT sushi, service and atmosphere. I went with a couple girlfriends, but it's definitely intimate enough for a good date. I was ravenous and ordered 4 rolls and split edamame, seawood salad and dessert with my friends. Everything was awesome. We were pleasantly surprised with the bill after all the food we ordered. Also the wait staff was really nice, offered honest recommendations about menu items, and was prompt and attentive. I need to go back very soon! It's also open pretty late night. Plus the location is great - Old Town is just so darn cute!
(5)
Kevin D.

I've been to Kamehachi many times before but its been a while and I've always liked the sushi and the upstairs atmosphere. I returned there this week and its was a great as I remembered! Green Turtle Roll rocks! Cool thing was is that I had some questions about the sake, which I've always been inquisitive to ask about but was too embarrassed to do so. Finally I asked for maybe the manager for assistance and on came over and really broke it down for me. He also explained what fish goes best with what sake! After that he checked back to see if everything was fine with the pairing he suggested and even cracked a joke or two. I work in the industry and is sometimes VERY critical of service in every aspect. In a time in which the restaurant experience is now sometimes dulled by hipness and service takes a back seat to "cool" lights and glassware, Kamehachi brought it back old school, thanks to great sushi and great staff all around, especially the manager. I think his name was Larry or Lance. Ask for him if you want the 411!
(4)
Alice M.

I enjoy trying out different sushi places, but always end up coming back to this one. Things to die for: turtle roll and scallop appetizer dish. This has been a place that I often take sushi virgins to, and no one has been disappointed. Even if you are apprehensive about eating raw fish, there are rolls here that are so delicious that you forget you are eating fish. I always try to ask for a seat upstairs...I guess I just think its more romantic and personal. Some people might think that the tables and chairs are too close, but I think they're fine. I always make reservations prior to coming here through opentable. Although I live 3 blocks away from this place, there are other sushi places within the same radius that I could frequent just choose not to after trying them (RA Sushi, Cafe Sushi, and Tsunami....which actually just closed its doors recently) Whenever anyone asks for a good sushi place I ALWAYS recommend this place, and without fail, everyone who has gone there has enjoyed it just as much as I have. I am actually sad to say I'm moving and will not have this place within walking distance anymore :-(
(5)
MJ d.

This place is clutch. How can you go wrong when they deliver at 1am? I love their summer rolls and I just had their Chilean sea bass tonight. It was amazing. They're modestly priced and a great place to go on a date or a casual meal with friends. Service is great and delivery is timely to add to it.
(5)
Megan S.

We went here on NYE. Before we arrived, they called to confirm our reservation, which actually put my mind at ease. I recommend upon arrival asking if their upstairs is open - it's much more loungey and romantic than the downstairs, which looks like a traditional sushi bar. They were very accommodating. The service was fabulous, and my boyfriend loved it even though he's not a raw fish/sushi fan. The Dragon roll was great! We also had the soft shell crab as an appetizer and it was great. We had 2 appetizers, 1 sushi roll, 1 dinner, 2 glasses of wine and one saki, plus dessert all for only $85. Not a bad deal, I thought!
(4)
Jeff F.

No matter what you think, this is not the best sushi house in Chicago. Kamehachi is decent, good even, but by no means great. The fish isn't spectacular and the prices are high for what you get. I've had better sushi from Sai Cafe, Tsunami or even Papajin. Why people think this place rules Chicago sushi is beyond me. Maybe they don't know sushi. Maybe they haven't been to enough sushi places. Regardless, this place is a decent enough place to warrant a reccomendation, but not one I would stake my rep on. Overall, you pay a premium for sushi that isn't bad at all. Sadly, the value isn't there. The sushi-ya's aren't consistent with their rolls. Some parts of the rolls have huge chunks while others have almost none. It all depends on who is working. If you like individual pieces of real sushi, again the quality doesn't warrant the price. I used to tell people to go and enjoy, but after far too many bad experiences reported, I give it 3 stars and send people elsewhere if possible.
(3)
Katie C.

I recently ate here with the fellow and his parents. I would give this place my kudos if it weren't for the fact that the maki I ordered left a kind of lingering fishy smell at our table...I'm not going to entirely question this establishment's freshness--okay, so I am. I have to say, though, it's not the best sushi I've had, but considering the price, it's a darn good deal for the quality.
(3)
Tom Q.

The sushi is ALWAYS consistently good. It's been around for a while so it's not always crowded, which may turn some people off, but is great for me because it's easy to get a table and I love their sushi. Have been there probably a dozen times and never had a bad experience.
(4)
Tom S.

If you're going to sushi at Kamehachi, this is the location to go to, even if it's out of your bubble or off the beaten path. It's clear, after dining at two other locations, that this venue gets first pick of the fish. They always have the biggest and freshest selection here and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The first floor dining space is a bit cramped, but I don't mind rubbing elbows with my fellow sushi aficionados.
(5)
colleen c.

i've been maybe 10 times, always sit upstairs. its cosy. once you do, you wouldn't consider the sterile 1st floor. sushi is always great, service attentive, and its all reasonably priced. and they are open late, often until 2, so industry people can sometimes visit after work. i always leave content.
(5)
Mark D.

If I came directly from the sushi mecca of San Francisco, then this place is about average. But coming from sushi-starved DC...this place was awesome. They say they are the place that introduced sushi to Chicago (and probably all of the Midwest for that matter). Sushi was well done, I ordered the kamahachi sushi platter #2 which came with a variety of sushi, and if you eat it in order you finish off with a nice sweet taste. Service was fantastic.
(4)
Paul C.

This is the only Kamehachi worth going to--and if you do, make sure you've got a table upstairs, where the homey atmosphere makes you forget your troubles. Delicious, creative sushi, great sake, and a fun place to eat it all. What more do you want?
(4)
Leang E.

I saw a couple decide to go eat upstairs, and thought that my sister and I should do the same. I have to say I'm glad we did, because the decor really helped give the place a character and an ambiance of its own. It has a traditional Japanese style decor with a slightly modern twist. It was ironic that the Japanese character for beauty was up, because it's the same character that is in Chinese for my sister's name. We started off with some hot tea and the Vegetarian Spring Rolls. I loved the dip and the way they taste with the mushrooms inside with the noodles soaking up the flavor. We also ordered all the special maki rolls - the cucumber, the Georgia, and the summer roll. All of it was unique in flavor. The cucumber was refreshing and light so that it doesn't fill you up. The Summer Roll was just a burst of flavors. We even had 2 desserts - the apple tart and the Chocolate Cube. Oh my god on the Chocolate Cube. It has this subtle taste cherries in it, and if you are lucky you'll get a bite or two of them in it! Yummy! This has got to be the Old Town spot for sushi.
(4)
Blair B.

This is the best sushi in Old Town! That being said, I would take the Clark Bus to Toro rather than eat here unless there was a massive blizzard outside. The fish is fresh, I will give them that. I usually get this place take-out, and i haven't had any issues with it (which is great). However, I think their roll list sucks. I really enjoy fun, creative rolls, and I think this place is lacking. It's a solid choice for the area (and prices aren't THAT bad), but this place will never be my favorite until they add to the menu a little bit.
(3)
Mae W.

I've been here at least 30 times in the past two years of being in Chicago and it has NEVER disappointed. I love the variety of seating options (downstairs, downstairs sushi bar, heated garden, upstairs, upstairs booths, upstairs sushi bar, upstairs liquor bar . . .). I just found out recently that it's the oldest sushi restaurant in Chicago too (open since 1967).
(5)
A M B.

!P E R F E C T I O N! I haven't had a bad experience here yet. I prefer the seating downstairs- lighter, more traditional w/ sushi bar; while my boyfriend prefers upstairs-dark and more 'bar-like'. I've had the miso soup, various sushi rolls (the dragon roll is my favorite) and pieces (the toro = so yummy) and green tea ice cream - all have been amazing. The service is prompt even though they are most often packed. Go and enjoy- you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Andrea R.

There are so many amazing sushi restaurants to choose from in Chicago. Although Kamehachi isn't one of my favorites for a big night out, there sushi is pretty good and reasonably priced. It's a great neighborhood spot for sushi lovers in the area.
(3)
Raul V.

The food was good but the service was by far the worse experience I have ever had. The waitress was horrible! She would mumble and then disappear for twenty minutes before bringing back only a portion of the food. She would only acknowledge my wife to see if she wanted anything to drink. She did not help us with explaining the menu items. I can go on and on but I will end this review with the most unforgivable part of the evening. The experience was so bad that we asked for the bill although we were still hungry. The waitress brought the bill but added a $120 item among other things which tripled the amount that the bill should be! Instead of being it being around $75 it was closer to $225! I pointed this mistake to the waitress and while she gave us the new adjusted bill, she did not apologize for her error with it. We were all too happy to go to another restaurant that evening after this experience. I am huge fan of Japanese food, but I will never go back to this restaurant with the poorest of service.
(1)
Janette L.

Okay so I may be a little biased since some of my good friends used to work at different Kamehachis, but I do think this is a great place for sushi. Whenever we go we typically order the Chicago Crazy, Special Salmon, and Spicy Tuna Deluxe rolls with some additional nigri. I also recommend starting with the Kamehachi salad (bigger than most Japanese style salad and with a wonderful ginger dressing).
(4)
Allison L.

Very good Japanese food in town. If you like the traditional Japanese atmosphere, stick to downstairs. If you want a more contemporary feel, a little bit dimmer and more romantic setup, head upstairs... Isn't it cool they have 2 different options??? We have tried many different varieties of things... from appetizers, sushi and maki rolls to nabiyaki udon and beef sukiyaki; everything was delicious. It was not pricey too! Awesome! BTW, we were amazed by the portion of tempura that came with nabiyaki ..... HUGE... You cannot get that anywhere else!
(4)
Maria T.

I love this place, intimate setting, dim lights, nice for date night. Good food and sake. I love it!
(4)
Maegen R.

You might walk up to this restaurant and think you're entering some whole in the wall dump from it's outward appearance, but don't let that fool you. Inside you'll find good sushi, pleasant service, quaint atmosphere and all for a reasonable price.
(4)
Julie P.

I get take out here all the time because it's on my way home from work, and I am always impressed with how quickly my order is prepared. Sure it's a little pricey, but I'd rather pay for quality than sub-par sushi. Can't wait to try more of the specialty rolls. My fav is the rainbow roll so far!
(5)
Alexzandra A.

Kamehachi is a solid four stars. The staff is nice, the upstairs room is somewhat romantic and the food is fresh. We ultimately per-fer Oysy to Kamehachi, but it is nice to have a reasonably priced alternative. We both enjoy sushi and this place delivered on all of the rolls we tried.
(4)
Matt S.

Just a so-so place. The Kamehachi on Ontario is A LOT better. It is such a small place I felt a little claustrophobic just eating. The selection of rolls is good as is the price. My main issue: drinks. It should be a BYOB place as the bartender there somehow managed to mess up a vodka & tonic...it tasted fruity and was terribly off. Overall the experience was ok but, I would have much rather gone to their other location on Ontario.
(3)
maggie c.

Kamehachi is the best! I have never ever had a bad experience. I love the patio in the back (very zen like) and both sections of the restaurant. Longevity is the secret to this establishment, I found out the have been open since 1967, and the restaurant expanded from a modest sushi counter to an elegant dining institution that's been around for more than three generations in one family. The food is always in perfect harmony, and as a plus I have never ever felt any stomach uncomfort after eating here. i love that I can eat raw fish with confidence!!!
(5)
Kristen D.

One of my favorite sushi restaurants. They have a great atmosphere and the staff is really top notch. The miso soup is delicious, as is the seaweed salad. Try the green turtle roll (not made with green turtles)...it's like a dragon roll, but so much better! A very nice date place, complete with candles on the table. This place can get busy at times.
(4)
Chase L.

We just moved from San Diego, so let's just say our taste for good fish is apparently a little more refined than a lot of people who have been here for a while. However, after trying several local places in LP and the Loop, this place has the best sushi we've tried. Good, fresh yellowtail, salmon, scallop, tuna, not too much mayo in the spicy rolls, good hand rolls, and I'd even trust the more exotic stuff (Uni, etc.). Worth the extra $ you may have at lunch for yellowtail that isn't rubbery and fishy. Try Kamehachi.
(4)
kiley w.

My family took me here for my birthday. I've been here once before and I remember liking it. The place isnt too big, but it is nice and clean. It would be a good place to bring a date too. Service is really good here, if you read my other reviews then you know im a big fan of places with good service. We had the asparagus beef roll and sauteed scallops as appetizers and I really liked the scallops. The sushi was just alright. But the dinner was really good, and portions were huge. I had the steak terriyaki. Nice and tender and the sauce made it delicious. For dessert I had a key lime pie. It was just alright, since it was probably from somewhere else. I'd come here again.
(4)
shelly s.

Kamehachi has outstanding sushi. Their special maki rolls are always the best. You can count on Kamehachi for super sushi every time. It's a busy place but worth it. Service is good as well. Their wine list is average if not lame, but with plenty of variety of sake.
(5)
v. t.

god bless the turtle rolls, the spicy tuna deluxe deluxe, sake bombs and jeremy the bartender, serving up a healthy dose of stimulating conversation on the side. gotta love the upstairs bar/smoking room - there's some good lookin' cats who are regulars there! p.s. based on just the upstairs section of the restaurant
(5)
Bridgette B.

I hate sushi - but this place made me love it (or at least the non-raw fish/seafood kind). The soy sauce is amazing, the restaurant is cute and date-like (if you are looking for that). It may not be the best place to beat the table with saki bombs - but the food is very good and there is a nice atmosphere. I recommend the AAC sushi & the spinach with peanut sauce. yum. And they have a little lunchtime sushi only location across the street from the sears tower.
(5)
Ren H.

A great place for sushi and they have an awesome outdoor patio in the back! Not ideal if you wanted to sit outside and people watch but if you're content to just sit outside its cool!
(5)
Jason E.

best sushi in the Chicgoland area so far. tasty, fresh. and a great list of specialty drinks.
(5)
Jo W.

Just ok -- go to Shiso for cheaper and 4 star sushi.
(3)
Rebekah Z.

My favorite sushi place in the city! It's so reasonable, especially when compared to other posh places like sushi samba. I recommend sitting upstairs or, weather permitting, in the garden. The downstairs is a bit obnoxious.
(4)
K M.

Ok so I'm stuck at home working on a Saturday night (don't worry, I plan on being absolutely useless during the few days of work next week to make up for it!) - but I figure I should treat myself to some take out sushi so I'd feel better I love the Kamehachi on Ontario, and since Sushi X seemed to be going downhill each time I tried it, I thought I'd give Kamehachi a try for delivery. First time I ordered from this location and was told it would be an 1-1 1/4 hour till it got here - it was here in less than 40 minutes, probably closer to 30. Nice surprise! I couldn't believe it got here from such a busy area so quickly on a Saturday evening Also its just so damned good, and so reasonably priced! They have the best spicy tuna (well Katachi is just as good but too far away sadly) - I also tried the green turtle which was definitely interesting in a good way :) Summer roll is also excellent. Really I haven't had anything here yet I haven't really liked! This is now where I just go for sushi for takeout, its so dependable and I hate taking chance on takeout sushi!!! I would highly recommend Kamehachi! Especially if you are a lazy ass like me and like your sushi brought to you! Kamehachi, I love you for satisfying my sushi fix without requiring me to even step out my door!
(5)
S L.

I've only actually eaten here once, but the experience was good. It's a little crowded and since we live in the neighborhood, we almost always get takeout. Once we ordered out on a Sunday which was my boyfriend's idea and got sick. I try not to order sushi on Sundays but he really wanted it. Honestly, I have no idea if the sushi is what made us sick but we both felt it the morning after we ate it. I gave it a 4 star rating because it's definitely above average. It's consistent, which is what I want from a place I frequent.
(4)
Libby R.

I forgot how much I like this spot! I had the Fire Roll for lunch today, and it was superb. It was on the Specials menu, but I hope they keep it around.
(4)
Audra S.

Sushi is not my forte, by any means, but I'll go along with my friends if the majority rules. From what I have had, Kamehachi is just as good as any, but I'm not a big fan of their set up. If you have to wait for a table, the bar is upstairs and off to the side, which is a bit of a turn off. Additionally, the space seems to be put together strangely. In the summer, they have a great patio out back. I will say that I adore their dragon rolls, but everything else tastes pretty much the same to me.
(3)
rachel c.

Kamehachi has consistently good sushi. You know you can always count on a pretty crowded restaurant, decent service, and great food. The upstairs atmosphere is much better than the downstairs, and it's strange that they differ so much... it's like 2 different restaurants. I definitely recommend Kamehachi for a great sushi experience!
(4)
Lisa H.

Oh what can I say about this place, except the fact that I been coming here for years. They have great special pieces of fish that you don't see at other places and a great selection on japanese dinner and late night hour, but I don't know if it's the late hour I went in or they are busy but the services are always slow and I have to always get up to get a server. That is kinda annoying to me but hey what can I say this is a nice sushi restaurant at this whee hour.
(3)
Yujin A.

I really liked their sashimi although I think everything here is a bit over-priced. They have a pretty good wine list, which is a plus. Good service. I guess old town is a cool spot, which is probably why it's more expensive than other sushi places. If you are short on cash, I'd recommend Toro Sushi for maki rolls and Tokyo Marina for sashimi. This place is definitely better than any other Kamehachi locations in Chicago.
(4)
Jessica C.

This resturant isn't bad....even though it might be a lil pricey, the sushi is pretty good. I've only dined downstairs, so I'm not sure what it looks like upstairs, but to me, it's more of a laid-back/chill type of place. :)
(4)
Zack M.

I don't get it...This place has average sushi and a long wait. We were seated at a table in the middle of two busy aisles and had slow unenthusiastic service. At Streeterville location, there was a staple in the food and they did nothing for us. I am talking about a piece of freaking metal in the food!!!!! They are 0/2 at two locations thusfar...
(1)
Lauren H.

I first fell in love with Kamehachi at their Northbrook location, but after just 1 visit to the Old Town location I was hooked! I love sitting upstairs in the "lounge" or outside in their "garden" area. Both seating areas are cozy but not stuffy and are tastefully decorated. As for the food- since that is what I really go there for- I've only ever had their sushi. What else could I want!? The fish is always fresh, rolls are always well prepared, and the sake always knocks my socks off. I always order the dragon roll (BEST I've ever had), rainbow roll (also VERY good), and some super white tuna. Aside from that, I've tried other things here and there, but those are the staples I have to have everytime. The prices are comparable to other sushi joints. The only con here is that the service can be slow at times (as this place is ALWAYS packed), but the quality of food makes it tolerable. If you go at night (anytime after 7pm), expect to wait, sometimes even if you make a reservation. If you do make a reservation, make sure to specify where you'd like to sit: upstairs, downstairs, or outside. As a bonus, they're open quite late (2am), to satisfy your late-night sushi cravings!
(4)
Eric L.

Pretty underwhelming food and surprisingly expensive for a place with no uniqueness to it.
(2)
Dave A.

This place looks like fairly casual dinning as far as sushi goes, but the prices say otherwise. I ordered the sashimi and the cuts of fish were super small. The chefs took a really long time to get to my order even though they had 3 sushi chefs and a restaurant that was 1/2 full. I was not impressed. I've had quicker service in fuller restaurants with less chefs working. I don't know what the problem was. The rice seemed different than I'm used to, but maybe it's just a different style (bigger grain and more like uncle ben's). But I'm not a sushi expert.
(2)
elizabeth n.

I prefer to eat in the upstairs clubby atmosphere of Kamehachi, but no matter where you sit- upstairs or downstairs you are guaranteed great sushi. The service can be slow but the food is worth the wait. I love the maki rolls as well as the salmon teriyaki. It's all delicious! I go here every chance I get!
(4)
AnnaLucia U.

Really great sushi, sometimes a little overpriced. The turtle rolls are amazing, as are the spider rolls. The downstairs area doesn't have much of an atmosphere, but the bar upstairs is pretty cool. The best place to sit, though, is the teeny little party room upstairs- I didn't know about it until about 3 months ago, and since then have reserved it 4 times. Its super comfy and you can bring your own cds because it has its own sound system, and could fit about 8 people max- the only downside is that its $30 to reserve it, but I think the room is worth it; still, if you go and order a ton of food (not that its much of a struggle to do so at Kamehachi- everything on the menu is good), they usually waive the room charge from the bill.
(4)
Tony M.

The first sushi house Chicago ever had...and it's my favorite. They use only top quality steaks, and have great presentation. 5 stars.
(5)
jamie k.

this is a nice place, and a good ambiance. the food is definitely quality, a little pricey but not like sushi samba. i would go back again.
(4)
Gilda A.

Kamehachi is one of the best sushi restaurants in Chicago!! The ambiance is great and the food is even better. Since it's located in Old town I would suggest you make reservations on the weekend. If not you can always wait a while, it's worth it. Try the Philadelphia roll and definitely the Dragon roll ( you can't go wrong with those two). Prices are very reasonable .
(5)
Richard R.

I guess it depends on my mood or who I'm with that evening, sometimes I really enjoy it other times, forget it. Many of my out of town business associates love coming here though so if they're happy I guess that's ok.
(3)
Anna V.

Kamehachi is not special, the sushi is okay and it's a bit overpriced for what you're ordering. I personally don't think it is any better than Cafe Sushi right up the street and much less expensive.
(3)
Gilbert G.

sushi. o yea . o yea
(4)
kiki m.

people love is place. i think it's just ok. since the hubby and i are addicted to sushi, this is the place we go when we are craving sushi at midnight or want it delivered after 10pm. we order just standard stuff like the rainbow maki, dragon maki, some sashimi pcs. quality is good. it's just there are sooooo many places soooo much better than this one at similar prices. this place doesn't really offer any special rolls or anything unique that impresses me. it's also slightly overpriced, but overpriced is totally ok when they are there for you at 1am to fulfill that crave!!
(3)
Kate K.

Good God, the turtle rolls...
(4)
S. O.

Decent sushi, decent cocktails but the atmosphere leaves some to be desired. However, if you sit out back in the summer it is kind of like eating sushi on your back porch.
(3)
Dana P.

Not the best sushi in Chicago, but I come here pretty often since it's close to my apartment. Their rolls are good and inexpensive (at least in comparison to some of the other places). I like sitting upstairs or in the back room rather than the main area.
(3)
Dan B.

Best sushi place I've been to in Chicago. Then again I haven't been to that many sushi places.
(4)
Paul B.

Supposedly the oldest sushi bar in Chicago. Laid back and not pretentious. Most importantly the sushi was great. The turtle moon or something like that sushi was kick ass!
(4)
Zach M.

Authentic Japanese, not so much, but when was the last time I had "authentic" anything. Awesome selection of traditional rolls and nigiri, with a few non traditional choices. Fairly large, reasonably priced menu. The downstairs dining room is always cramped and too warm, so ask to sit upstairs, where it's dimmer and a little quieter. Staff was decent, although the sushi chef took a while to get us our orders in a fairly empty restaurant.
(4)
Ashley W.

Sushi is ok and the prices are reasonable. Kamehachi is a great place to grab some sushi for lunch or during the week. It's nothing special so I wouldn't go out of your way to eat here unless you live in the area. I'd also suggest sitting on the covered patio...the atmosphere is much cooler out there.
(3)
John S.

There are better Japanese restaurants in Chicago. Skip Kamehachi. Half way through my green tea I found my cup to be embarrassingly dirty...and then as I got to the bottom of my Miso soup I found a large chunk of plastic in the bottom of the bowl. The manager on duty was kind, and gave us a free dessert, but was far from apologetic.
(1)
Dee W.

In an effort to impress me, I was taken here on a date and fell in love with the turtle rolls (not the date but the food) was delicious and the atmosphere felt trendy and chic. Service was great and the server recommended the turtle and dragon rolls which was worth the bill (which btw - the date "forgot" his wallet)
(4)
Mission S.

Eww! Stinky hand towels to start the meal. Clumsy and absent service. A mood-killing crowd on the patio. The edamame is overpriced and limp. The maki is acceptable -- if uncreative. If you are nearby and have that "must have sushi" urge, I would stop here and put the blinders on. If not, I'd advise to choose from one of the many, many better sushi places in Chicago.
(2)
Zach A.

Not the best sushi in town, but pretty fresh and inexpensive. I recommend Kamehachi if you live in the Old Town area. Otherwise it's not really worth the trip.
(3)
Carly M.

Kamehachi in Old Town is a great place to go for some good sushi. It's not the best but it's up there on my favorite list. Their sushi is fresh and good, but it's not the best. I really enjoy going there and eating upstairs though- it's much better upstairs than the downstairs dining area- very cute and trendy.
(3)
Doug p.

the little patio in the back is nice, it was by no means the best sushi i ever had, and i thought for the overall feel of the place it would be a lot cheaper, the sea weed salad was decent , but it certainly did not compare to the one at sushi samba, but then again nothing does
(2)
Nicola C.

This place is awesome if you are willing to spend a lot of money on sushi. It is definitely a nicer place to eat out at, so good for a celebration with friends or on a really nice date. The sushi is excellent, the ambiance is what you make of it. It can be romantic with a date, yet fun w/friends.
(5)
Kate H.

Still my favorite. Lunching on Wells street is so enjoyable, relaxing. You are welcomed at the door, the wait staff is warm and friendly greeting you ... and the sushi is excellent. I even order from the Ontario site to the south loop ... which is out of their delivery zone, but for $6 it's worth it!
(5)
H M.

This has always been one of my favorite sushi places. I enjoy the seating upstairs better than downstairs. The staff is very friendly and they might have the best dragon rolls ever.
(5)
penny h.

great sushi restaurant.. the mango mochi is amazing
(4)
Vaishali P.

I was pleasantly suprised by this sushi place. The sushi here is great. I was excited that had my favorite even on the menu since most places I have to ask if the chef will make it for me. The waitress was honest about her reocmmendations. Try the patio. It is excellent atmosphere, especially while the weather lasts.
(5)
Niall C.

Kamehachi is the best place for authentic Japanese food in the city of Chicago. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the food is delicious. I go there every other week. Prices are reasonable. Great place for a date as well (which is usually the case for me) The Sushi & Sashimi Combination is an excellent choice!!
(5)
Stephanie H.

Went last night, sat on the back patio...which was nice, quaint. Service was really poor, we ordered a bottle of wine...and our appetizers came before the wine! The waitress never came back to check on us, after the sushi was brought and we wanted to order more!! Ended up paying the check and leaving. Our bill was $80, which seemed kind of steep...overpriced for the experience. The sushi was fair. I won't go back here.
(2)
Natalie B.

This is one of the first places I went to for sushi when I moved here. It has been here a really long time and for good reason! The sushi is very tasty and fresh. They have a good selection of speciality maki as well. I usually eat at the sushi bar which is fun. The service is great as well!
(5)
olivia p.

a solid four stars started off with the soft shell crab. really tasty. for sushi we got one of their special rolls - tornado i think it was? white tuna on top with spicy mayo and tobiko. good, not great. then we shared the sashimi moriawase. lemme just say, the cuts of salmon and tuna were ridiculous. they were like little steaks. you could stand them up on their side they were so thick! salmon is usually my favorite, but the tuna was hands down the best. so smooth, not fishy at all and so much tuna to enjoy! the whitefish et al were standard. and then i had otoro for the first time. omg. it was like eating butter. so rich and creamy i almost forgot i was eating fish! wow. made me wanna go to tokyo even more and try the 7 different levels! prolly can't afford that, but i'd put another $10 down again for otoro on a special occasion. solid sushi overall and amazing tuna.
(4)
Ms K.

Really good sushi, but not *amazing*. The tables outside in the back garden area are really close together; so don't have a private conversation because people sitting next to you can't help hearing everything you say.
(4)
daniel w.

I think the sushi here is pretty good and it's more affordable than some of the other sushi restaurants I've been to in Chicago. Cool atmosphere and great location as well.
(4)
Bobby C.

One Word "GO"
(3)
Brenna M.

Three words : Green Turtle Maki And no there's not real green turtle in it...hellooooo McFly
(4)
Flo J.

Their specialty rolls are SO good... Nice atmosphere too.
(4)
Dax R.

I used to order here a lot but every time I order the Kaki Fry it seems that I get sick. The quality has gone down.
(2)
Kohl F.

The Sukiyaki is delicious!
(5)
Blair R.

Somehow Kamehachi's updated, trendier space makes its food taste better. I'm sure the sushi is the same as it was before. But whereas before I only dropped in because it was close and convenient, I now drop in because I actually want to be there. On my most recent visit this past Saturday, I was happy with all of my sushi -- there was the perfect ratio of rice to fish (not too much rice as some Chicago restaurants do) and the fish was fresh. My friend's Salmon Teryiaki also looked really good. HOWEVER, I was not happy with the service. We arrived around 8 30 with a reservation and were seated right away. About ten or fifteen minutes later our sever strolled by and took our order. We were pretty hungry so we started with some miso soups, edamame and a seaweed salad, figuring they'd be out pretty quickly. WRONG! The appetizers took FOREVER to come out. When they did come out, the waitress forgot half of them, only bringing one miso soup. When we asked about the other soup and the edamame, she told us "the kitchen is delayed". I am pretty sure that both items are already sitting in the kitchen and take less than one minute to make, so this was clearly a lie. Not to mention, I counted about 6 waitresses huddling in a corner by the bar with nothing to do. The night continued to get worse and worse. It took about 40 minutes for my sushi to come out and 60 minutes for my friend's salmon to come out. Our waitress rarely came by our table to check up on us. I am hoping for her sake that she is in training. Lucky for Kamehachi, I won't judge it for this one failed experience and I will return again. I can only hope that the next time around service is better (I expect it will be because I have had one waiter in the past who is SUPER attentive)
(3)
Zach L.

Rare to find a great sushi place like this one. Fish was fresh, staff was friendly, Awsome atmosphere.
(5)
Andrew Q.

Went there with a couple friends on a Saturday night. They called ahead and made a reservation. We were put into the private room which could fit 4-6 comfortably. That was a nice feature. Food was good and prices weren't too bad.
(4)
C M.

I was very pleased with my experience here. First off, I do not eat seafood of any sort and was pleased to find that they have a nice selection of veggie rolls. I am a picky eater and they made substitutions to my rolls for me. My dining partner had lots of questions and our server was very knowledgeable and gave great advice. They had excellent drinks. I can't wait to go here again.
(5)
Joey F.

Was surprised how big Kamehachi was because it looks really small from the outside. They have a comfortable atmosphere and is not as busy as a lot of other sushi places. Sushi is fine. It is pretty standard. There is much better sushi places in the city.
(3)
Sunshine C.

Kamehachi is alright. It's probably the best sushi place in Old Town but falls behind outside of that area (I think there are 3 sushi places in Old Town :\). I'm a bit of a sashimi nut so I usually go for those. Quality is average but servings are small for the price. I can get the same quality and more generous servings for cheaper if I just take a step beyond the border of Old Town to Lincoln Park. I've also tried the Bento Box for lunch. Again, it's okay. At first taste, I liked the Pork Katsu but on the second, I realized that it was lacking in crunch and flavor. The rest of the bento box consisted of sushi, edamame, and some salad. Again, it was average... not something I would crave and come back for. On the bright side, I would say that Kamehachi is great for groups. Dinner service has always been good for me but lunch service is pretty slow (considering that there are usually only 4 tables when I come in for lunch). I guess the server does triple as the hostess and bartender. Long story short, I go here when I'm desperate for Japanese food in Old Town and get too lazy to walk a couple of more blocks away to get a bigger bang for my buck.
(2)
James K.

Great, Great, Great! The only hard choice, upstairs or downstairs. I like upstairs, a little quieter than below.
(4)
Monique B.

The ambiance and atmosphere are better than the food and service. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and is great for large parties and small tables alike. I came with a group of friends and we ordered a lot of different dishes off the menu. The sushi was ok, but no better than you run of the mill corner sushi restaurant. I had the chillean sea bass, which is one of my favorite fish and I thought it was decent, but it's such a great fish, there are so many ways to make it taste amazing. The soups looked, ok, but not delicious. The veggie tempura was pretty good, but you I can't make a meal out of just tempura. Service was slow, and the restaurant was crowded, but our waitress was a little flighty and kept forgetting to bring things we asked for (pepper, additional soy sauce, etc.) The prices were expensive, given the quality of the food and the service. You're paying for the ambiance and the location. Overall, below average food, above average prices. I say a 2 stars, no more, no less.
(2)
David Moore F.

Solid neighborhood spot. Much better in their new location. Best to order delivered while you wait for Pizano's to be delivered....
(4)
Steven H.

Very good flavor and great ambiance. The sushi menu for rolls is a little limited, but the ones we tried were good. The summer roll is quite spicy, and good. Unfortunately the special spicy tuna wasn't very spicy. The decor is very nice and service was good.
(4)
Laurie B.

The food is good and typically fresh. THE PROBLEM IS THE SERVICE. We were there for dinner last night and originally seated at a 2-top at the very front of the restaurant to enjoy the fresh air. We moved to a 4-top to have more room, and our server informed us that table was not in her section, so we moved further back (away from the fresh air we were trying to enjoy). We proceeded to watch a group pull the 2-top and 4-top at the very front together, and suddenly, it was now in our server's section. Amazing! Go figure. We received our maki rolls and were told our Nigiri would be out shortly... except that we ordered sashimi, NOT Nigiri. Our server seemed confused and convinced that we ordered Nigiri. Clearly she was not paying attention when taking our order. We ran out of soy sauce before our sashimi arrived and requested more. Our server pretended to hear us and acknowledged our request, but no soy sauce was delivered, even after our sashimi arrived. We waited until we could wait no more, and we were finally able to flag down another server/runner to get more soy sauce. We finished our wine well before the end of the meal, but our server never checked on our table or asked if we'd like another drink. ***You're losing money due to Hyona, Kamehachi.*** We did have another drink, we just left to get it elsewhere. This restaurant is in the 'hood and convenient, but I'd rather take my hard-earned money and spend it where somewhere that cares about service.
(2)
Andre W.

After months of wanting to check this place out, I decided it was time to check out Kamehachi on a chilly Friday night. Drove around for a few minutes searching for parking and got lucky enough to catch someone pulling out of their space a few doors down from the restaurant. Walked in and was greeted by the host who asked us if we had a reservation. We did not but there was plenty of seating available. This place is much smaller than I imagined, but it was pleasant. We started out with the Tri-Color seaweed salad which was good and for our drinking pleasure we went with the Pinot Grigio which was good as well. For our maki pleasure, we went with the Spicy Salmon roll (the best one), Spicy Tuna Deluxe, Kamehachi Roll, Chicago Crazy Roll (it was ok) and the Summer Roll which included Tuna, Yellowtail, green bell peppers, spicy mayo, masago, cilantro, avocado, spicy sesame oil & lime. It was damn good!!!! The server was cool as he was knowledgeable about their wines. Luckily we got there at the right time (8PM), because after we arrived the place started to really fill up. The host told me it gets crowded usually around 8 so again, lucky us. Good place to get good sushi
(4)
Hoppie G.

Didn't have the sushi so I can't comment on that but the ramen was only so-so. Little too salty. My friend had some steak dish that also did not look appetizing
(3)
Caroline M.

A very solid 3 stars. Super sexy date spot! Too bad I was dining with a co-worker...Oh well, there is always next time. At any rate, we shared some nigiri and maki. The presentations were simple and not overly creative like some other sushi spots. Maybe it's just me, but when I eat nigiri, I like it to be served cold. Room temp raw fish scares me a bit. I had an exciting personal sushi discovery--the salmon skin maki tasted like bacon. Who knew?! After 3 pieces of nigiri, 3 maki, and one adult beverage, the damage was only $40. Not bad.
(3)
Meredith B.

My friends and I went here for dinner before a night out. We were seated upstairs in a nice, dimly lit area that felt more "loungey" than the brightly lit sushi bar downstairs. We were very comfortable and the music was at a good volume so we could all still hear each other. My half of the table split three rolls and those were the Dragon Roll, the Summer Roll, and the Spicy Tuna Roll. The Spicy Tuna Roll was extremely classic, but very small - like how I'd expect a standard Tuna Roll to be. Often the spicy ones are built a bit bigger, but not this time. It was delicious, however. The Summer Roll was fresh and creative - the cilantro was a really unique touch. I wouldn't recommend it to a traditionalist, but I really enjoyed it. My favorite was the Dragon, it was one of the best I've ever had. So creamy, so fresh, and just the perfect amount of crunch. The service was prompt, and the sushi was nicely prepared although not as artful as it is at some other sushi places. I'd love to come back and stay longer, and try more things on the menu!
(4)
Ermelinda C.

We gave Kamehachi a try today after having contemplating going here many times over the last year. Long story short, the sushi was pretty good - fresh and very tasty. We ordered the classics (e.g. Spider, Spicy Tuna Special, Scallop and California Maki) in order to really compare between Kamehachi and other sushi places we like and we were not disappointed. Ours was take out order for only $3 extra, and the delivery service was nice and on time. All-in-all a very pleasant experience and we would order out here again.
(4)
Stephanie W.

New location is a definite improvement over the old one, even though Kamehachi has only moved 2 blocks up Wells. The ceilings are a little low in the back, but it feels like a really intimate dining experience, and I love the new bar up front. As far as Japanese food goes, Kamehachi has some of the best in the city. It's a regular favorite for my family, which eats a lot of Asian food, and we can always get in quickly without a reservation on a weeknight.
(4)
David A.

New Location - 5 Stars, great new space, wide open, not cramped, tables with privacy Waiter that does not write anything down, repeats order multiple time only to eventually screw up - 1 Star Overall this place is a great Sushi place, made reservations, got there early, sat at the bar, received great advice from the bartender(s), but for the price that we paid for Dinner and drinks, I would rather go to Marai or Sushi Wabi. For startes, we had the Lychee Lemonade and some saki along with the spicy Edamame. For dinner we had some rolls, the rainbow roll and another which were good and the some sashimi and nigiri. The pieces of Sashimi were the smallest I have seen at a restaurant, 2 pieces, but less than equal to a piece on the Nigiri. Overall, it was good, but not great! I am going to have to go and make the rounds at the other places I had mentioend before I come back
(3)
Jennie T.

I was a little early to Ebs B's birthday dinner (actually, more than a little. I was 45 minutes early b/c she told us all an earlier time -- doesn't she know that I'm almost always punctual??) so I sat at the bar upstairs and talked to the bartender while enjoying a nice cold bottle of Sapporo. He was pretty nice. Tiff H. and I ordered and shared two oyster shooters (one each), fried oysters (kaki fried), a sashimi deluxe, a sunset roll, and miso soup. The miso soup was good, better than most Japanese restaurants I've tried here in Chicago. It wasn't grainy, and you can tell they didn't just serve us a bowl of instant miso soup. I enjoyed the oyster shooter. It was a little too vinegar-y but the quail egg and the oyster went down smoothly. I actually enjoyed this more than the kaki fried -- I guess I'm not that fond of fried food. The sashimi was good, but it wasn't the best. I think I also have issues with the low lighting... It makes me suspicious of my sushi. It's a good thing to be a little cautious/paranoid when it comes to eating raw food! I liked the sunset roll for the masago. Loved popping the little fish roe in my mouth and tasting the natural fish oil... It's better than popping Vitamin D supplement pills. Something about the hardness of the fish oil pills and the softness of the roe makes a big difference for me. I'd say that this is really a 3.5-star review. I'm not quite a fan but it's a little better than just "ok."
(4)
Tom T.

Decided to go here, since my boyfriend wanted me to meet up with a friend, and this place was their old hangout. Opted for the Kamehachi bento box, with the special item of the day was the seaweed salad (or shau mai, but the waiter was unsure about it.) The California roll was kind of on the dry side, if that's possible. I'm not really a big fan of California rolls to begin with (even though it's from California, and I'm from there. =P), but I guess the rice was dry and the ingredients didn't seems too fresh. I asked for my teriyaki beef to be cooked well-done, but after arriving in the middle of the beef, it was still pink, maybe about the size of a nickle. I wasn't too sure about this, but I might have gotten sick from it,. Next time, I'll order something else, but from that experience, I probably wouldn't go back, since I know that there are other Japanese restaurants around Chicago.
(2)
Lisa T.

The delivery service at Kamehachi has seemed to decline since they made the big move up the street. I don't quite get it, but based on events as of late, Kamehachi has been shuffled down much lower in my stack of take-out menus. Let me make it very clear that the quality of the sushi is still very good, fresh, and tasty. However, in the last few weeks I've dealt with really rude delivery drivers twice, delivery times taking the FULL estimated time (~1hr+) when they used to estimate an hour and provide delivery within 35 min, and an incorrect order. All I wanted was my beloved Sunset roll, and I was given a Rainbow roll. I just sucked it up and ate it; I like Rainbow rolls just fine, but it was a huge disappointment. I ordered from Kamehachi that night specifically for a Sunset roll. Maybe I'm being overly critical, but I'm going elsewhere for sushi delivery for a while. I hope to go dine in soon to finally get my hands on some Sunset roll goodness. The actual sushi at Kamehachi is easily 4 stars, so if you're looking for some rice + fish goodness in Old Town, I'd absolutely recommend dining in. For the moment, I'm wary of their delivery service.
(3)
J A.

Kamehachi is one of my favorite sushi spots in Chicago. I usually start with the mushroom tobanyaki and ebi shumai. The shumai is some of the best I've ever had; the dumpling is really well done, as is the dipping sauce. For such a simple dish, the mushrooms are also really unforgettable, I've never tasted anything quite like it. I usually order one spicy roll, and a couple others to share with a dining partner. I've never been let down by any of the rolls. I really prefer to sit downstairs, especially if the weather is nice or the sun is out, because upstairs is really dark and sort of bleak. Service has always been sort of spotty; each time I've been here there is something that just doesn't come out. It won't be on the receipt either, so it just was never entered in. Then mentioning it to the waiter/waitress is a lost cause because they are nowhere to be found. This was disappointing last time because I was really up for trying some new things and my order ended up incomplete. If you are rushed at all, do not dine here. If you have all the time in the world, sit back and relax because the sushi bar can get backed up and their waiter to table ratio seems a little off. I definitely recommend a reservation on the weekend.
(4)
Robyn L.

I am giving 1 star not for the food, but for my overall experience at Kamehachi. Went in on a slow Sunday evening with my husband and mom for a nice meal. At the end of the meal we stood up to put coats on and grab our things, and I noticed within a moment of leaving that I didn't have my phone (which I had out on the table waiting for a call). Being that it had been all of 30 seconds after walking away from our table, I called the manager who said he was looking for it. Low and behold, it "couldn't be found" even though there was no one in there except for the small wait staff and two other small tables. Even after I came back and tracked the phone to the restaurant, the manager insisted that they had done everything possible noting that they'd look further when they closed at midnight and call me the following day. Alas, no one called - or called me back - after multiple messages. The saddest part of all is that was my husband's go-to for pricey business dinners but after our latest experience, he won't be back. It's not good for business when an upscale place lacks the ability to combat plain-sight theft on a slow night, and acts apathetic when it occurs.
(1)
Christie B.

Loving the new atmosphere! I've been a fan of Kamehachi for about a year and a half now. The menu consists of Japanese style entrees and very good sushi! There is a full bar and the service is attentive. The old Kamehachi was nice but tables were too close together. The new spot has tall ceilings and plenty of room with two stories of tables. Its new stylish atmosphere and chill music have added to its success! Kudos Kamehachi . . .
(4)
Roy H.

One of the things I found most interesting about this place was that the building looks like is used to be a house.... makes for a pretty cool setup. There are a few private-ish party rooms, and the bar is upstairs in the back in its own room. Pretty cool. I actually wasnt in the mood for sushi the day I went (actually had it for lunch) so I hit up some other items on the menu.... the chicken yakatori was pretty damn awesome. Nice and saucy! The wait was a bit long (even with a res) so that was a bit disappointing, but the bar did save us from being too bored and annoyed!
(3)
Dawn H.

When Groupon offered a deal with Kamehachi, my fiance and I quickly jumped on the opportunity to to try this place out. Since my fellow Yelpers have rated this place high and sushi is my favorite food in the world, what could go wrong? Plenty. But first, let's stay positive. Pros: honored our 7:00 reservation on a Friday night, great variety of maki rolls, romantic upstairs dining area (recommended by you -- thanks, Yelpers!), offered a variety of entree options for the accompanying non-sushi diners, great tempura shrimp and vegetable tempura, nice chunky scallops (or any other protein for that matter) in the sushi rolls Cons: expensive valet parking ($12), took 12 minutes after seated to take our appetizer and drink order, server treated us as if our presence was inconveniencing her, server got my sushi order wrong (ordered a Green Turtle roll, she gave me a Kamehachi roll), I had to ask for a side of unagi sauce twice, we sat for 20 minutes with empty water glasses (I have to admit it killed me as I watch the bus boy with the water pitcher look over our table THREE TIMES and walk on, LOL) I'm really not understanding all the great reviews of this place. The Green Turtle roll, New York maki, and Spicy Scallop maki were just mediocre. My fiance gives their steak teriyaki a 3 out of 5 stars. But the service is just AWFUL. Slower than molasses in the winter. There are other mediocre sushi restaurants out there with better service (hello, Sushi Pink?) Overall, we were quite disappointed, and I seriously doubt we'll return. I guess you live and learn, right? Lucky for us, Groupon let us learn about it in a less expensive way.
(2)
Craig A.

Birthday Sushi rules
(5)
Amanda C.

I've been to Kamehachi twice, once before it moved and once after. The first time I went was one of the first times I tried sushi and I remembered it being soooo good. We sat at the bar in the new location for dinner and drinks on a Friday night about 8. It was pretty crowded but not so much that we had to wait. Ordered a few rolls which were all good and spicy edamame which OMG they are not kidding is really spicy. I asked for Pinot Grigio which, unfortunately, they do not carry, but the substitute was fine. I heard that some of their cocktails were not up to par but can't comment on anything except the martini, which I thought was good. The atmosphere is fun, I like the sake barrels hanging from the ceiling and the lighting. I would probably go back if in the area.
(3)
Laila C.

my friend bought a groupon so it was the perfect opportunity to go on a girl date. i've eaten a good share of sushi...this was mediocre/pretty forgettable. I ordered a kirin, the Sunset roll and the special salmon roll. Both rolls tasted fine, I have no real complaints...but after eating so much sushi and with the overabundance of sushi restaurants, I kind of feel like mediocre sushi just doesn't cut it anymore. I'm tired of mediocre restaurants trying to charge a lot of money just because they serve sushi. Although with the groupon, the meal ended up being really cheap, there's pretty much no chance I'd go back and pay full price. there are just too many other sushi places in Chicago to try!
(3)
Christy Q.

Last night my girls and I had a girls night out. I live in Old Town but hadn't been to Kamehachi yet, so it seemed like a good night to try it. And I'm so glad we did! It's a small cozy restaurant. Ambience was really warm and welcoming and cozy- nothing over the top. Which was nice. I didn't feel like I was in one of those uber-trendy stuck up sushi restaurants. The waiter we had was very nice- I wish I knew his name. I'm so bad with names, doh! But really, everyone there was very friendly and attentive. I had 2 glasses of the red zin (Paso Creek). It just happened to be one of the best zins I've ever had. And I plan to seek it out at Binny's. Gosh I hope they have it! Now onto the important part- FOOD. We had edamame- yummy gyoza- I could really eat 5 pounds of this for dinner. Why is it so tasty?! spicy tuna deluxe roll sunset roll (2 orders- it was the star of the show) summer roll rainbow roll Chicago crazy roll And I had two pieces of the fatty tuna Honestly I thought everything we had was just fantastic. I will absolutely be back, no question about it. If you live in the area you must stop by. I always gotta have a "go-to" sushi place in any neighborhood I live in, and I think this is "the one" for me in Old Town.
(4)
Andrew J.

I've been Yelping for years and have found it to be wonderful way to find restaurants and businesses in the cities I travel to...and yet, I've never been compelled to write a review until today. My family and I have frequented Kamehachi in Old Town for years and have generally found the restaurant to be of high quality in terms of its sushi and service. I'm disappointed to say that while the new space is definitely an upgrade from the old restaurant, the quality of the food and service haven't followed suit. We were seated promptly and loved the vibe of the restaurant with a patio full of diners outside and a large inviting space on this inside. However our dining experience went downhill from there as our waiter was slow and inattentive to our dining needs. We ordered our regular staples of nigiri, udon soup, and maki rolls. The nigiri, while fresh, were smaller than what has traditionally been served at the old Kamehachi, the soup lacking noodles, the rice on the maki rolls was unacceptably dry, and the soft shell crab used in the spider roll tasted like it was sitting in the fridge for a week....absolutely awful. The new Kamehachi hits the mark for trendiness, but this is not the reason I've dined here over the years. The food and friendly service are gone with the new restaurant as is this loyal diner. Goodbye Kamehachi :(
(1)
Joe S.

mmm.mmmm...good! Just got done lunch here. Wondering why it took me so long given that it is only a few blocks from my office. Nice decor, great service and the price wasn't that bad. The sushi was amazing...so fresh it melted in my mouth... (not literally people). Seriously though, I will definitely be coming back here, they hit a home run. Had the Alaskan and the Kamehachi...so good
(5)
Emily H.

My go-to for sushi in Old Town. The specials are always tasty and the fish is always fresh! Love the remodel ans the service is always decent. It's not cheap, but you clearly pay for quality.
(4)
Michael E.

This is a nice little place and perfect for a date. Sitting in Old Town it also affords you to hit some watering holes if you want to continue the evening. The sushi is great/good. My date's sushi was good, I felt like mine was great. The downstairs is a bit bright, so if you are looking for a little different ambience then request the upstairs....very nice and cozy. A good solid place in a great part of town.
(4)
Mike M.

the word Sushi means; Fresh slice. So you can imagine my dismay when I arrived at the sushi bar tonight only to see that all of my precious fish had been pre-cut!! Me: "so, what's with you pre-slicing all of the sushi?" Sushi guy: "Well, we get busy late at night so it helps." Me: "maybe we should just go?" My husband: "naw, let's give it a try and see what happens." I think we both stared at the sushi we saw careening toward our table in all of it's artificial colored glory and thought..."yeah, we should've gone when we had the chance." Ate our sushi rolls, and then went elsewhere for some wine and a steak. This wasn't bad...but we've been spoiled by Osaka (Las Vegas) and Shaw's. Can't seen to top these for sushi. We won't be back, unless it's after midnight and we're in a pinch. Quite disappointing.
(2)
Rebecca H.

Fresh sushi and good service! They have a very nice lunch menu.
(4)
Michael S.

Have heard of Kamehachi and saw a groupon for it so had to try this place out. Service was good and the decor was decent. I guess there is an upstairs section, but didn't get to see it. The food itself was okay. The specials weren't really creative and the quality seemed just okay. Overall, not a bad place at all. Would definitely be open to trying again with hopes of being more impressed.
(3)
Grace N.

I love this Kamehachi. You rarely have to wait for a table, and it's an unpretentious, reasonably-priced, friendly Japanese restaurant with solid food. Order the seasoned Edamame, Sunset Roll, and a few saki bombs (with Kirin), and you're in BIZZNESS!!!!
(5)
Marjorie F.

It had been a really long time since I dined here when I returned with boyfriend in hand. I remember how much I used to love this place. This time around, I wasn't as impressed. Maybe I was new to sushi when I used to frequent this place a few years ago. Or maybe now there are better options. The restaurant is nice - ambiance is good. The sushi is OK... Like I mentioned, I think there are better places out there now. Price-wise I think it's on the expensive side for what you get. It's conveniently located in my neighborhood, so I'll probably be back. If I really have a bad craving for good sushi, I'd be willing to pay the cabfare to go to another place.
(3)
Ebs B.

OMG! I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I've been eating here consistently for months now. I really like this place! Is it the best sushi in the world? Prob not, but it's terribly consistent and the rolls are always fresh (or seem to be). Don't get me wrong, the sushi is outstanding and much better than the sushi place only a block away. I recommend trying their spring rolls if you're looking for something different than sushi. Carry-out is extremely easy and they always have the food ready. Although, if they tell you 20 minutes, be there in 15. They bring the food up front and it's always there when I get there (don't want it sitting out too long). Oh, and last thing, upstairs is a more intimate feel and they also have a garden patio open during the summer. Like it lots!
(4)
Ashley L.

Kamehachi has a great atmosphere and great servers. If you dine in, ask for Nova. Very attentive and overall a great server and knows everything you need to know down to pairing sake or wine with the right type of sushi selection. Sushi Chef chooses the best and freshest selection of seasonal fish and prepares them delicately. I really enjoy whatever the seasonal nigiri is, knowing it is well worth the money. I also enjoy the summer roll. The right amount of crunch, spice, and fresh fish. As far as kitchen food, the rock shrimp is the right amount of sweet, tangy and crunch. Moriwase is nice too because of the selection of fish. I know sushi and I know good restaurants. Kamehachi knows what they are doing and how well they prepare there food. I highly recommend.
(5)
Andrew M.

I think this is the best sushi restaurant in Chicago. n=6 here and I've been to about half a dozen other places in Chicago. Sushi is traditional. There are some nouveau rolls but the highlight of the menu is a massive sushi boat that feeds 3-6 with mostly traditional maki & sashimi. The upstairs and downstairs are different restaurants - totally different ambiance. So make sure you are getting the upstairs part. The Eagles were on and had a disappointing loss to the Vikings. At least Farve wasn't playing.
(5)
Kevin O.

This review is for their delivery menu. Love them and have for years. Love the new space too. But this is about their "new menu" Tonight we ordered the chicken teriyaki an a bunch of sushi. The $15 serving of teriyaki didn't even one chicken breast! When we called to complain, the guy we spoke to 1) didn't seem surprised and 2) said oh have you ordered from our new location because it's different now. "I'll tell the owner". Non responsive. Completely. Very disappointing. Spent nearly $60 but will not order delivery from them again. Great food. Disappointingly small servings for their delivery menu.
(2)
Andrey L.

WOW! What a gerat place! We accidentally came across this place and decided to dine in. The atmosphere, the decorations, the silverware and people there made us feel like we are no longer in Chicago but rather somewhere in Asia. But that's not the best part. The best part is the food itself! My wife and I both agreed that is was one of the best sushi we had so far. The tea was phenomenal and the desert was outstanding. We are certainly coming back!
(5)
Ingrid C.

I was in Chicago this past weekend for a quick girl's trip/30th birthday celebration - the girls went to see the 30-year-old bachelor, mind you. ------- At this point in my writing earlier this week, Yelp went into maintenance mode and I lost the rest of my draft. Then I got frustrated and am only now re-writing my review. Silly me and my late-night yelping habits. ------- We made an OpenTable reservation for the five of us. It was located at about the midpoint between our hotel and our final bar destination, so it seemed to be a good fit. Fun music! We sat and were treated to the Bird and the Bee's "Love Letter to Japan." Google it. You'll love it as much as me. If you don't, it's not my fault you have inferior tastes. Our seats were by the upstairs sushi bar, and Jurassic Park was playing on the TV. I opted out of several minutes of conversation to watch Newman die. Later, there was discussion on whether a velociraptor would have actually attacked a T-rex that snapped up his buddy and not run away. I had a light meal. I tried their tuna tataki appetizer - four slices of seared-but-rare tuna marinated in a spicy soy sauce, served with ripe avocado slices. This was very tasty. I also had oshitashi. I find many excuses to have oshitashi, especially since I don't have the opportunity to eat it often in St. Louis. Salmon sashimi. I was still hungry after the modest offerings above (and 150ml of sake), so I ordered two slices of salmon. Delicious and definitely not frozen! While the food here is quite good, I don't think I would recommend this as a special trip in Chicago. However, if I lived in the neighborhood, it would definitely be in regular rotation.
(3)
Melanie V.

Pleeeeassse. This place is overrated and overpriced. $18 for a Black Dragon roll? C'mon now. $4.50 for a plate of edamame? $2 for miso? Ugh. I'm not impressed. The rolls are ok, but not amazing. They really shouldn't be priced that high. We ARE in a recession after all... I guess since Kamehachi has a billion locations, it's pretty popular. I just feel like there's a ton of non-chain, neighborhood sushi joints that have better food and service. We busted up in here around 10pm on a Sunday since the Ontario St. location told us they were open until 2am. It was packed. So packed, in fact, that our party of four had to crowd around one small table probably meant for 2 people. Plus, the tables are so close together that the people next to us were clearly eavesdropping and judging us on all of the comments we were making. Eh. I don't think I'd come back here again.
(2)
Brian F.

OK, what the heck. I don't give out many 5 stars. I reserve them for restaurants that serve something better than anyone else. Sushi can be hit or miss sometimes no matter where you go, but In this case, I have to say the sushi was the best I've ever had. It was absolutely fresh and delicious. Along with that I had one of their $12 lunch Bento boxes which included a nice piece of absolutely delicious Teriyaki steak which was cooked to a perfect medium-rare. The staff was above-board friendly and courteous taking care of me and my 18-month son. I am going to frequent this place.
(5)
Candice S.

I have never been so disappointed in sushi...ever!! We ordered delivery late last night and I don't know if it's because it was later and they're lazy or care less about the quality or that's how it actually is supposed to be....but whatever the reason...it was not great. Spicy Tuna Deluxe Roll - spicy tuna is always my favorite thing to order and I think it's pretty hard to mess up....but I was wrong because it tasted nothing like spicy tuna...not spicy, the tuna inside seemed microscopic in comparison to the roll Shrimp Tempura roll - it was ok...nothing special at all, just shrimp tempura and cucumber it seemed like...and a ridiculous amount of rice (a consistent theme in all the rolls) Summer roll - once again nothing special...seems like this place lacks quite a bit of creativity New York Roll - pretty good, as expected. Pros: opens late and delivers late (which is why I gave it the extra star) Cons: rolls taste like eating just rice with nothing else, lacks a variety on the menu, i paid EXTRA for a side of spicy mayo which i did NOT get. I definitely will NOT be ordering from this place again. I really wished I had just ordered something else last night.
(2)
Cait A.

Can't say a whole lot about this place cause we just grabbed take-out one night but considering it was like 1am the service was super quick. They have pretty good vegetarian options, and their veggie crunch roll is nothing short of delectable...sweet potato tempura, shitake mushrooms, avocado, asparagus & cucumber with a sweet and slightly tangy sauce.
(5)
Cristine K.

It's my go-to special sushi place. Excellent selection of sashimi and sushi. Creative drink specials. Always had friendly and consistent service. Excellent for out of town visitors as well. It's definitely a bit more expensive than your neighbourhood places but they offer a fantastic experience for your special night out.
(5)
Catherine W.

I ate at this restaurant during an off-hour (around 2pm or so on a Saturday). Sushi was good and service was friendly. I have no complaints except that parking can be difficult.
(4)
Jon H.

I'm not a sushi connoisseur by any means, but the food was very good (in the same ball park as any other top notch sushi place in Chicago) and the presentation was excellent. The restaurant ambiance is very nice, with a modern Asian feel.
(5)
Taran S.

The restaurant was very accommodating to our reservation which was placed only a few hours before. The service was excellent, the decor and atmosphere of the restaurant was great! Our appetizers (salad) and soup were also both very good and we had high expectations for the food, especially after seeing the prices. We ordered 4 rolls of sushi and they were very disappointed. They were dry, lacked any kind of flavor and were very overpriced. I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon, but I would stay away from the sushi and maybe try one of their entrees instead.
(3)
Sourma K.

I've been going to Kamehachi for years and they've never disappointed, from their tri-color seaweed salad to their Chicago crazy roll - I'm always in heaven. The service is great AND it's open late (I think that rhymed).
(5)
Natalia K.

I have three words for you: "green turtle roll." Try it. It's amazing. I came here with a crowd for my birthday once and we ordered at least a dozen of them in addition to a variety of others. They were always the first to go. Not that everything here isn't also delicious, but the green turtle roll is the best roll I've ever had. Everything else about this place is well deserving of 5 stars as well. The service, the ambiance, the location, the prices, etc. Oh, good for a date too- ask to sit upstairs!
(5)
Quentin R.

The zen selection is perfect for those who do not want to make a decision.
(4)
Kammie G.

Went there a few weeks ago with two friends for a late dinner. I was surprised that there was a sushi restaurant open on a Wednesday night till 2am. That's a plus - good to know for future planning outings in the area. Parking was easy to find on the street. We sat upstairs in the loungey area. The seats were very uncomfortable and odd. But the whole atmosphere of the place was enjoyable, low-key, and intimate. Our waitress was friendly and nice. She was responding in a professional manner to my obnoxious friend that kept asking her strange questions and tried flirting with her. I was pleasantly surprised how well she handled him, while I was sitting there embarrased for him. Anyway, I ordered Vegetable Spring roll as a side dish, which came with a delicious sauce. The spring rolls were delicious, although different than I expected. It must have been the tofu that was inside that was different from spring rolls I am used to. Nevertheless, it was tasty. We also ordered California Roll, Alaskan Rolls, Futomaki roll, and Spider Roll. All were tasty and filling. I tried the rolls with the rest of the Spring roll sauce that was left over, and I must admit it tasted pretty damn good too! So yeah, try that ;) Much better than eating it with soy sauce actually. Overall the place is rated 3 stars simply because there wasn't much of a WOW factor. Although, I am willing to go back there when I'm actually hungry next time and trying one of their noodle dishes (I heard they were prettty good). Till next time!
(3)
Sara L.

I would give some of the specials a try. The wonderful roll is absolutely amazing. HANDS DOWN one of the best rolls. The menu is limited for rolls, but the selection of fish is great. The quality/freshness of fish won't disappoint..I believe they get their shipment in daily. Also, I would also recommend trying the entrees..I haven't tried a thing that I didn't like.
(4)
Kymberly J.

I just went there last night and I am now craving it. I wanted to go back for more about a minute after we left but I stuffed my self silly so I dont know where I'd put it. We sat at the bar and watched the chef's create. Our orders were taken quickly and the food was also served fast. I dont mind lingering at a restaurant but we had somewhere to be. I got the Kamehachi combo and my friend got the Begginers sushi combo because he cant have fish. It came with California rolls which contained crab - even though it's shellfish, he cant eat it either. He asked the chef what was in the roll and one of the other staff was in tune to the situation and immediately asked the chef to make him something else at no extra charge. Nice! MY biggest beef with sushi places is when they make the rolls so damn large you feel like an idiot chewing this big fat roll. This place made them the appropriate size -at leas the rolls I got.
(4)
Stina N.

I ate here this weekend with a couple friends, and really enjoyed it. I would probably give it closer to 4.5 stars though. The location is really nice and very cozy, but it's kind of too small. When we first walked in I was feeling a bit claustrophobic. As for the food. It was excellent. Even my one friend from California was pleasantly surprised by how great the sushi was. (She got the dragon rolls.)
(5)
Mary T.

I am a bit of a sushi snob and love this place. I like that the make their spicy rolls with whole pieces of fish (rather than dice it up with the spicy mayo). I also like that they use just the right amount of spice, many places overdo it and drown out the taste of the fish. Some of my favorites are the spicy deluxe and the mexican maki. I always get it for delivery or take out so I can't comment on service or ambiance, but the place always seems to be crowded. For consistent, high quality sushi at reasonable prices you can't go wrong here.
(5)
Marie M.

Tried the "new" location about a month ago. The place is very nice. We sat at the bar and received great service. It was a slow Sunday night which made it even more enjoyable. I believe the menu has changed, everything we ordered (shared a few appetizers and 2 entrees) was very good. Even though there was no room, we ordered one of the dessert and it was delicious. Another great place in Old Town!
(5)
P S.

This Peas & Carrots date brought to you by the awesome folks at Groupon. Thanks, Groupon! Now back to your regularly scheduled review. Spring rolls. Not much to speak of generally. Maybe some decent tofu, some crispy sprouts, an herb or two... but usually, spring rolls rely on a good hoisin or eel sauce to make them come alive. The spring rolls at Kamehachi were easily some of the Best I Have Ever Had. Light, papery wrapping, abundant, delicious noodles and the best use of cilantro maybe ever in the history of sushi. The salty sauce was perfect. Perfect! We gorged a bit, fair to say. The dragon roll and crazy Chicago rolls were great, but the sunset and summer rolls were the best. The spicy tuna roll was indeed nicely spicy but still tasty, and the salmon and tuna sushi pieces were fantastic (not too much rice). My Tokyo-tini (ginger, cucumber, acai booze and sake) was absolutely delightful and has inspired my new summer drink. Carrot's green tea martini was flavorful and interesting. Unfortunately, the one drawback, is that their drink prices border on extortion. For instance, a bottle of wine is usually a savings of a glass or so but not here - Four glasses of wine in a bottle means you're paying four times the glass price for one bottle, with some bottles adding a buck or two. The martinis are four ounce glasses (most specialty martinis are closer to five) and they're $11 a pop. Not a cheap date. Unless you have a Groupon. Since the demise of Kaze, I think it's fair to say that Kamehachi will be one of my very top sushi go-to's. I've needed one of those, too.
(4)
Elisabeth C.

Oh, Kamehachi. I really wanted to like you, I really did. I thought you would be the answer to my late-night sushi prayers, but alas, you were not. While I definitely like Kamehachi's hot dishes (boyfriend ordered a pretty fabulous yaki soba) and their tsukemono (Japanese pickles) are relatively good, I was really unimpressed with their sushi- both the maki (I'm not a huge fan of maki, but am easing the boyfriend into sushi) and the nigiri were terrible. First, the sushi was tiny, hardly worth the price unless the quality of fish was decent- which it wasn't. The ikura tasted really old and disgusting, and the nori on the maki was very tough and stale. There was little rice on any of the maki, and the spicy mayonaise was almost non-present on any of those rolls. Second, the texture of the (minimal amounts of) fish was gummy and not fresh. The only sushi I ordered that was any good was the natto maki (which I was very excited about because few American sushi joints serve the stuff). Third, the delivery took over an hour and a half on a Wednesday night, which is utterly ridiculous given the fact that the sushi looked and tasted like it'd been made by a five-year-old. If you're a serious sushi eater (lived in Japan, order uni and wouldn't dream of ordering a 'California roll', et cetera, et cetera) DO NOT BOTHER. You'll be severely disappointed. I spent almost sixty dollars and ended up throwing out sushi, because it was that bad. I seriously could have gone to Jewel and purchased fresher sushi, which is really sad. Perhaps order the soba or udon from here (thus the two stars instead of one), but save yourself the heartache and just wait for a table at Toro on Clark, Kamehachi doesn't even hold a candle to them.
(2)
Scott C.

We ate on the Kamehachi out on their outdoor patio area. This is a great place to eat in the restaurant - plenty of room and the noise level is very reasonable - no need to shout over other people to hold a conversation. The service was a little bit slow throughout the night but she got our order correct - so it was not a total loss. We started off with the spicy edemame as well as the fried oysters. The edemame was nice and salty and with the added spice, it made for a good appetizer as we waited for our sushi to be prepared and sipping on our drinks. The drinks were very good - like many others I highly recommend the lychee martini. The sushi was good. Again not spectacular but well done with fresh fish. The size of the sushi slices were appropriate and it did not feel like you were eating half a fish at a time on the ball of rice. The spicy scallop roll was very good and they used large scallops when making the roll - which really improved the taste of the roll itself. Kamehachi is a good location for good sushi - not really imaginative or exotic - and good drinks. If you can sit outside I highly recommend this area for to eat here.
(3)
John T.

Went biking with my girlfriend one day and had a huge craving for sushi. I had recalled seeing this place on Yelp, so I decided to stop by and get some food. We were the only one's in the place, but after having heard that this is the original Chicago sushi insitution, we decided to try it out. The prices were a bit high, but the sushi tasted very fresh and the service was extremely fast (we were eating alone)! I like this place a lot, but the sushi was not very interesting, just kind of there. I am glad I ate here because it was a solid experience, but I think that there are other options that will fulfill your full sushi experience.
(4)
Emily O.

I've been here twice, and both times been kind of disappointing. The atmosphere is beautiful and romantic. However, the food is bland. Also, my friend and I both ordered sushi, and the rice was warm. I mean, seriously?!
(2)
Alysha P.

Had lunch with a friend here last Thursday......I live right down the block yet haven't eaten here in years.....now I remember why.....it was just ehhh.....not great....not completely terrible....just okay and for a sushi place....that just doesn't cut it for me..... Food Miso Soup: Pretty standard.....tofu....seaweed....miso....it was fine We got an app that was on the specials list....I think it was whitefish but I honestly can't remember....but I do remember that it was slightly seared on the outside....in some kind of sauce with scallions and whatnot......it was $9 and it was only 3 pieces....3 slightly chewy not so fresh tasting pieces.....not good! We decided to get some rolls.....and again....nothing to write home about...Spicy Tuna....Eel & Cucumber.....Yellowtail & Scallions & Shrimp w/ Avocado & Cucumber.....out of all of these.....the spicy tuna was the best and even that was just okay.....I've def had better (ahem....Mirai) My friend ordered the Mochi for dessert....they had pretty limited flavors....no green tea?? say what?? So he got one mango and one strawberry.....they were both melty.....booooooo :( Service Again...it was fine....not great....not terrible....and not memorable... Ambiance This place def needs an update.....old school and not in a good way.....it really just does not inspire freshness......really small room.....I honestly think the best seats are at the sushi bar.....which is where we should have sat....instead we had a corner table that was slanted (b/c the floor is) right by the server station.....no matter what table you sit at here someone will be stuck in the aisle and in the way of the waiters.....awful! Overall Not impressed.....and with so many great sushi restos in the city.....I don't need to waste my time or $$ here.....
(2)
Alex T.

I've been eating at kamehaci for over a year and a half. It was a very special place for me because it was the first place i tried sushi. Unfortunately since their move from their previous location closer to the loop, their atmosphere has degraded and their sushi is no where near the level it was before. Id say this restaurant is first and foremost a bar than it is a respectable sushi restaurant anymore. For the quality of the fish they get 3 stars, however the preparation is lack and inconsistent.
(3)
Sarah L.

I purchased the Groupon for Kamehaci back in the day and it was damn near expiration before I used it! I'm glad I held on to this baby because my husband and I had a wonderful dinner for next to nothing. We stopped in on a Sunday night so we didn't need reservations. Although, it was pretty busy for a Sunday evening. We started out with spicy edamame. It was different from the usual flavor but it was a nice touch! We ordered 4 rolls to share: sunset, dragon, spicy tuna and rainbow. It was hard to pick a favorite but I really enjoyed the sunset roll. There were huge orange fish eggs on top. If you can get past the fish eggs, you will love this roll! The presentation is beautiful and we were very full on the four rolls we ordered. Keep in mind we ordered 3 specialty and one maki roll, specialty rolls tend to be on the bigger side. Friendly staff, delicious sushi, valet parking and close to Sedgwick brown line stop. Check out this little sushi gem and look out for a Groupon!
(4)
Gigi D.

recently hosted my husband's 40th birthday party in the new upstairs lounge area. What a great space, the set up was perfect! The guests were wow'd at how cool and sophisticated the new location was. I thought the staff was outstanding. Chris, the event coodinator was so helpful and accomodating. We could bring our own music and cupcakes. The wait staff was top notch from coat check, food refill and taking gifts to the holding area. Kristen, the bartender, served up drinks quickly and patiently. Gary, the GM, even checkied n on us to ensure everything went well. Thank you! We ordered sushi trays and everone really enjoyed it. Highly recommend hosting a private event.
(5)
Bryan B.

Had a very fun night out here. Enjoyed a few things off the special menu, which included house made Sangria + special Nigiri. Signature sushi was very good. Always a good experience here. It may not be the best place in Chicago, but I've always had a very good meal & a great time here.
(3)
Jamie H.

Came here on Friday night with a friend. We were seated right away, just in the front so I didn't get to see what the upstairs was like. I got a reisling and my friend got a red, that I can't remember the name of. They were both very good. We got some edamame that was also very good and then ordered the miso soup. It was good. Then we got the three rolls- Something turtle roll, Alaskan Crab and a Spicy Mayo. They were all just fine. Nothing was all that exceptional. It took a while to get our drinks and the server nearly forgot to bring our soup out. I went because I had a Groupon. Probably wouldn't make a special trip to come back.
(3)
Helen H.

I would say 2 star food but plus 1 star b/c they are open late, and deliver to the financial district when everything else in the area closes at like 7 pm. oh and everything is packaged extremely extremely well and thoughtfully - this is huge for to go food for me b/c i all too often drop bags of food before i get to eat it... oops. anyways everything i had was pretty mediocre - what you would expect from an open late delivery sushi (everything was pretty bland... even the edamame wasn't seasoned with salt).. but one thing that i devoured and that super stood out to me was the agedashi tofu - would definitely recommend.. it was just the right amount of fried, and the ginger and bonito flakes on it make it flavorful and added a crunchy texture... i should have just ordered two plates of this alone.. all in all, if i'm working in chicago again... late... when i have no more options other than room service, i would definitely order kamehachi again
(3)
Jenny B.

Is there a 0 star?I think this place probably made enough money.They have no clue what is customer service.Really rude service and bad quality of food.I got tricked by them twice I will never go back there again.
(1)
Jessica K.

If I died and went to Japanese heaven, I'd end up at Kamehachi's. I was raised in a sushi restaurant for the duration of childhood so I know me some good sushi and sashimi and maki rolls...mmmmmm... I'm a huge fan of the one in Old Town even if the parking is atrocious. (You have to pay the meter 24/7) The host who is the only person who's not Asian has always always been fantastic and in a nutshell, exactly what a host should be. Kind, courteous and accommodating to my every inquiry when I walked in. The dining room downstairs is kind of small and more for open crowds and loud guests while the upstairs dining room is more intimate, with softer lighting and again, soft spoken servers. I've never had a bad experience with the service or the food here and I would definitely come here over Rise or Shine-definitely. Do try their dragon roll or their spider roll. Both are very fresh and have large chunks of eel and crispy soft crab. But ask your server for recommendations also! And don't forget dessert! Save room for their mochi dessert which just melts in your mouth and while it looks so delicate and cute even, it melts quickly so eat up! I come here at least once a month and have them deliver from their Ontario location whenever I'm too lazy to get out.
(5)
Johnny R.

I've never tried Kamehachi until yesterday, just never happened. I took a client out there yesterday for lunch and it was very good. I had the sushi/sashimi combo and it definitely met my expectations. For some reason I was thinking it would be little fancier inside, but it was decorated much like 90% of all the Japanese restaurants out there. Having been to Japan a number of times, that blonde wood table and faux paper screen look is quite ubiquitous there. I'd recommend Kamehachi no problem. The fish was fresh, the portions were generous, and the staff is very responsive.
(4)
Kayu T.

I went to Kamehachi with three others while we've been straving all day and still, we find the sushi and food here 'edible'. The sushi rice was lacking flavors so it didn't matter which rolls we ordered, it wasn't good. We also tried the soba noodle, which had the over cooked texture and an udon that was nothing special. I also had a ton katsu which the pork was not even prepared like what katsu is supposed to be!! Watery tasting, boiled carrots and broccoli did not help either. One thing we did enjoyed was the dynamite on the apetitizer menu. It was probably the best dynamite I've ever had. They used big pieces of fish and it was a decent size with perfect amount of kick to it.
(1)
Megan G.

I went here with three of my cousins for a ladies dinner and while some of the sushi was delicious, the place just didn't do it for me. It was good, on par with other (less expensive, byob) sushi places in the city. The upstairs is cozy and really comfy but we opted for outside on an extremely enjoyable first night of the autumn. We started with the stuffed jalapeno special, which was spicy tuna, cream cheese and green onion stuffed inside an entire jalapeno then tempura fried. I had really high expectations for this dish, but it fell really short. Like... Tom Cruise short. I have a really high tolerance for heat but this just wasn't the good heat. I didn't taste anything except for the jalapeno, as a matter of fact and that just warped the flavor of everything else that I after that. The variety of rolls that we had were pretty tasty. The summer roll was my favorite as I love me some cilantro but nothing else stood out as really fantastic. Or even "that" good. I would try it again but I won't be rushing back anytime soon.
(3)
Jim W.

Was less than impressed after having heard good things about this og Kamehachi. Rolling in for a late Saturday lunch, there were maybe 7 people in the restaurant, but it took a good 25 minutes for our main food dishes to come out! The spider roll we ordered was pretty small and pathetic and pretty bleh compared to what I've had in recent months, registering at $2/piece for a paltry 5 piece roll. My katzudon was pretty pedestrian too...I came here to order this b/c it's so hard to find Japanese rice dishes downtown for a reasonable price...if I wasn't so lazy, I'm sure I could make it better. The only saving grace was the special stuffed salmon we ordered. Stuffed with crab, and placed over some garlic/starchy sauce, it was pretty good. But we definitely waited a long time for it...no apologies, nothing from the wait staff. Considering how slow it was, I'd hate to see how service is when it's actually busy.
(2)
Adam E.

outstanding bargain, quality sushi. My date wasn't keen to salmon, so we avoided that, and hit several of the recommendations from Andre's review and we were not dissapointed. Best sushi ever? Probably not. But in a simple non-pretentious non-showy setting (compare to Ra and Japonais among others) they served sushi that I found to be quite palatable. In the end thats what counts.. Add in that its two blocks from my apartment, and its a BYOB and we've got a winner.
(4)
Mikey J.

Authentic Japanese! I love coming here to get the bento baxes. They are a delicious mix of everything you'd want in a Japaneses lunch. I've been to many Japanese restaurants in Chicago, and you can never go wrong with Kamehachi. The prices are fair, the fish is FRESH, and the service is courteous and quick. A restaurant with a focus on the food, I've never had a bad experience here.
(5)
Hillary L.

I came here one Thursday evening with a group of six and we were promptly seated upstairs near the "bar" without any reservations. I liked that they had a wide variety of options on the menu (including drinks!) so everyone could choose to go raw or not. I chose not to and got two different rolls, both of which were great. The real deal for me was when I asked for an alternative, non-soy based dipping sauce... and they provided! This is a BIG DEAL if you have soy allergies. They were super accommodating, whereas most restaurants scratch their head and say "teriyaki" which is basically souped-up soy. I want to say it was a sesame ginger sauce, but that may just be in my head. Overall good environment for large and small groups, but it wouldn't be the place I must go to again- convenient location in Old Town to meet up with some friends. I think if I could, they would get a 3.5 - especially for their reasonable prices and no wait.
(3)
Haley B.

Meh... That's how I would sum up my experience at Kamehachi. But I suppose I should make it clear that my apathy towards this place is mostly situational, meaning that with all the incredible BYOB sushi places in this city, why would you choose one that's just alright? The atmosphere at this place is nice, especially upstairs, which is decorated with cute little structures that make you feel like you're sitting in cabanas. Nothing about their sushi menu really struck me as unique and their wine menu is lacking. So why would I go to a mediocre sushi place and have a so-so glass of wine, when I could go to a phenomenal place and bring my own bottle of my favorite Cabernet? I wouldn't intentionally, and that's why I won't be back.
(2)
Jessica C.

I was brought here for my 26th birthday (by my request of course). It was really easy to make a reservation online. If you're dining as a couple, I suggest you request a table on the second floor - it's most intimate and dimly lit. We ordered a bottle of red wine and indulged in about four sushi rolls. The selection of rolls was somewhat lacking, but either way, what we picked was delicious. I definitely recommend visiting this restaurant.
(4)
Mindy S.

Despite the international Kamehachi name, I feel other sushi spots in the city have done a better job of maintaining a contemporary look in their restaurants and on their plates. Kamehachi is great for a standard, average-yet-good experience. The most memorable dish I order every time is their steamed dumplings, the shumai appetizer. They have inspired me to start making them because I cannot get enough! I have been at this location a few times, because I live in the area and twice because of Groupons. It sometimes takes a while to get a table, but most nights are very low key and you'll have a lot of space to yourself. It just depends. Call ahead. As for their sushi, it has always been fair-to-good quailty, but nothing that I remember. My husband raves about the green turtle roll, while I typically go for one special roll and a few nigiri. No outright complaints, other than the decor feels outdated and cheap. They have beautiful custom wood panels in the stairwell and second floor walls, but they lined them with visible rope lighting. For the money, I have had stellar experiences at Mizu Sushi (right around the corner from Kamehachi on North Ave.) and Oysy. The decor and interesting special roll presentations delight me at those places. Now for a much less stellar review for the downtown Kamehachi.....heads up for this location, there is a HUGE difference between raw salmon and raw tuna. Please don't serve me a Philadelphia roll with tuna and try to convince me otherwise......
(2)
Joe J.

The atmosphere is calm and comfortable. Our server knew very little about the sushi. He erroneously stated that the sashimi specials were "wild caught" and the menu''s sashimi (including the tuna, etc.) was farm-raised. I asked if the fish were line-caught, responsibly, etc. and he had no idea. In this day and age, a responsible and eco-friendly sushi restaurant should educate its servers about the fish it serves. The sushi was decent, not great. The rolls were very average. Overall, I would expect more from a restaurant selling expensive sushi like Kamehachi.
(3)
KAREN S.

I went here on a date and we went to the upstairs level. Very cute and intimate feel up there. Perfect for a date or close gathering. The downstairs is just a typical sushi restaurant, but upstairs is completely different. The service was great. They were super friendly and always checking up on us if we needed anything else. The rolls were delicious and were a decent size. They have tons of options but also have a lot of traditional rolls too. I will definitely go back!
(4)
Jill S.

Solid sushi place. Sitting upstairs is way cooler than downstairs, so go that route. Meter parking actually can be found, just a few blocks south of the restaurant, on Wells still. Ambiance, very cool. Service, great (let us sit and chat forever, not rushed at all.) Good food. Spring rolls are great! Tried Rainbow, Spicy Scallop and Eel... liked all three. WILL go again!
(4)
Steve B.

We went to Kamehachi for New Years this year with a group of around 10 people. The wait staff was not very friendly, which may have been due to the fact that our group was being loud or something, but that's no excuse for poor service. The food was OK, but nothing to get excited about and it was not particularly cheap. The variety on the menu was pretty good, but the drinks were particularly expensive. I'm not much of a fan of $8 beers. We were also seated with one side of our table on a booth that followed the shape of the room around a corner. This made it uncomfortable for one of our friends as she was stuck sitting on the corner of the booth. Poor planning by the host. When it came to paying, the waitress had made no attempt at splitting the bill (which I guess should have been expected), but as we scrambled to put our bills together, the waitress made no effort to help. It felt like we were neglected. I'm certain that we won't return - there are too many other great options in this city.
(1)
Ted C.

My sister managed to get some free tickets to Zanies and since the restauarant was in the area decided to come here for dinner prior to the show. The late night sushi menu impressed me but I didn't have a yen for late night sushi-pun intended! We started with yakitori-which was really like a shish kabob, not that impressed. My sister decided to get the Dynamite starter seafood in masago in spicy mayo, it was a little odd, a mishmash of different pieces in spicy sauce, it was a little disconcerting to see a big oily mess at the bottom of the plate but I guess that's the price for baking mayo. The Martinis were a little on the small side but not too bad. One of our friends ordered a Sapporo and the can was covered in some weird crust. I ordered the sushi deluxe plate and it was okay, sampler wise but for the price I was expecting more. I also ordered two pieces of the white tuna and it was pretty good. The sushi here is good, it's just price wise I think it's a little lopsided. The service was...I don't want to say bad but we did have to flag her down more than once, she wasn't pleasant and I ordered the strawberry mochi ice cream and she brought me the mango. When I mentioned it to her she just said she would get me the strawberry without aplogizing and then came back a few minutes later saying they were out of the strawberry. Did she think that I wouldn't notice? I'm not color blind or anything, give me the option of choosing instead of making the choice for me. I don't think I'll come back, I will go for my sushi needs elsewhere.
(2)
Gfiddy F.

I love this new space and it's a great restaurant, especially since it is open so late.
(5)
Jonathan R.

It was so late. I was so drunk. Luckily my taste buds were unaltered in my altered state. This place filled me until I (nearly) burst. I have no idea how I got here, but I'm glad I came. Try the mackerel. I understand its heavenly.
(5)
Amy R.

Kamehachi is not closed....it just moved. East side of the street......around the subway.
(5)
Kit G.

Do not let the appearance of the downstairs fool you. The upstairs has a completely different and much nicer atmosphere. We started with the asparagus beef rolls which were amazing. The beef was tender and the asparagus was crisp. My friends loved the Chicago Crazy Roll. I had the Yaki Udon noodles with chicken. It was delicious by far more than I could eat! This is a great restaurant that people can enjoy whether they love sushi or not. The prices are far more reasonable than most Japanese restaurants, and I liked the atmosphere of the upstairs. The tables were set far apart, which was nice because it creates a more quiet intimate setting.
(4)
MELEK L.

I agree with Ben E. that Kamehachi on Wells is "not the best sushi in Chicago". In fact, it was a chore to keep the rolls from falling apart before they hit my mouth. And the rolls themselves were ok, but nothing more. A couple of pieces of advise when dining here. I definitely recommend the dimly lit upstairs to the too-bright and sterile downstairs dining area. You will feel like you are escaping the chaos of the city down below when you are cuddled with your date at a small table in the scarlet-hued environment upstairs. I have eaten here several times. My most recent visit was the least impressive, though I have enjoyed past experiences. I tend to prefer their appetizers and entrees more than their sushi rolls. The potstickers I had recently were just ok, with little flavor other than in the dipping sauce. Sarah B and I had a really great app last time we came in, though I cannot recall now what it was. I guess I might find myself here again on a gift certificate, but there are so many great sushi options in Chicago, why settle for Meh?
(3)
alexander p.

They moved to a new site and it's way more upmarket, back to the high quality from whence they came. I am super happy that they have moved to a new space and can say that we are again regulars at this old town location!!! ------------- I was a regular here, it's gone further downhill and not impressed with the quality here. --------------------------- This place is not perhaps what it once was... but we're still regulars here and find the food perfectly acceptable, the service good and the overall experience good enough for us to keep coming back week after week. There are probably better sushi restaurants out there in Chicagoland but this is local and it has a great outdoor area at the back.
(4)
Joe K.

Great sushi and great decor, I recommend Kamehachi to all !
(4)
Terrence C.

I don't get what the hype is about this place. The food is not impressive, the atmosphere is pretty boring. I think this place won best sushi spot, and I have been advised to go here quite a few times, but I doubt I'll go back willingly. Food was slow, rolls we just OK, specialty rolls are small and still have a high price tag. Atmosphere is not very inviting, and the space is pretty tight. One good thing is valet parking, since you'll never find a spot, and the fact that they are open late is nice.
(2)
Rebecca H.

I really wanted to buy a zillion of the $50-for-20 coupons that were offered on groupon.com last Friday for Kamehachi but I missed my chance and they sold out! I had never been here, but the deal was so great even for medium sushi that I figured there was no way to lose! Anyway, we were on Wells visiting a florist and thought, hey we should go to Kamehachi because after midnight when the 5,500 Groupons print, they are going to be slammed for the next 6 months. We sat on the new patio - cute cute cute! A deck with a retractable awning, a waterfall, green plants, good wall decor/lights, good music... It was charming! We ordered some regular rolls (including the super creative and tasty Summer Roll) and added in some of the tuna stuffed jalapenos and a few pieces of blue marlin. We did think the prices were kinda high, especially for the nigiri. The food was good, but only medium fresh. Not bad, not the best. A-OK. The service was good and kept bringing us drinks. The special drinks are also very good. We ordered the hot sake with chambord. Holy batman! I drank a large by myself, ha! We also had 3 of the martinis - tasty! They didn't mind that we ordered another bottle of sake after we were done eating while we chatted about the universe. In general, we always like to personally thank the chefs when we leave, but these chefs seemed very uninterested - 2 of them ignored our second, louder thank you's, and the other just stared at us.
(3)
Ed S.

This sushi should be served with a side of dental floss. The salmon was chewy and stringy. I have been eating sushi for 10 years, and have tried everything from cheap take-out sushi to high-end sushi, and this sushi was among the worst. Ordinary salmon sushi should not be tough to bite into. I don't know if it's the chef, or the cut, or the freshness, but it was bad. The difference between cheaper sushi and expensive sushi should only be in the size of the cuts of fish and the ratio of fish to rice per piece. You should never be eating raw fish that is just bad. They do give you reasonably sized pieces, but the fish quality is a much bigger issue. On top of that, they must know this already, because I mentioned it to the waitress and she did not come back with even an apology from the chef... let alone a discount on the bill. So, they must regularly serve fish like this. The only reason I can think of for all the good Yelp reviews is that maybe there are not many sushi places in the neighborhood, and people in that area just haven't had good sushi to compare to.
(1)
Elizabeth F.

My husband LOVES sushi so for his birthday I arranged lunch there. It was not busy and service was fast. I do not like raw meat or fish but I tried California and Dragon rolls. OMG! Food was fresh and delicious but Dragon roll was just awesome, fresh and melts in your mouth. I could eat this every day. If you go to Kamehachi you have to try Dragon roll. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Jennifer J.

This place is expensive, but then again, Japanese places in Chicago are just generally expensive. I've been here just a couple of times largely because of the price. But the first time, when the host looked us up and down and sent us upstairs into the bat cave, a gigantic spider fell from the ceiling onto our table. I killed it, and asked our unphased waitress to remove it from our table. "Oh!" she says. I lost my appetite and the general appetite to return here for over a year, bringing me to the last time I came. I didn't experience a falling spider (not a roll) again, but the food was all right. Expensive, but okay. It's open late, which I appreciate, so it's always there when you need a late dinner. But I certainly wouldn't go out of my way--I'm sure there are plenty more expensive Japanese places you can go to instead.
(3)
D. R.

Great miso shiru soup. More, more, more! The scallions really bring out the broth with a pop!
(4)
Whitney R.

loved the mood. Ordered a yummy reisling and absolutely love the "crouching crab hidden crab!" The miso soup was awesome and same with the ginger salad.
(3)
Meridith H.

This place serves the best sushi that I have ever eaten. I took my sister here for her birthday, arriving at around 4:30 p.m. Because we hit that magical time between lunch and dinner, we had the entire place to ourselves. We started with the Vegetable Spring Rolls, which were simply delicious. They melted like butter in our mouths, and came with an almost sweet sauce. We then shared three rolls, the Crazy Chicago Roll, the Green Turtle Roll, and another, the name of which I cannot now remember. Each was deliciously fresh and left a clean taste in one's mouth. When we left, the entire staff was full of smiles and thank yous, including the chefs who had prepared our fantastic dinner. This place is phenomenal!
(5)
Haley S.

Good, solid sushi. Liked the kamehachi roll - v. good shumai. Didn't try the cocktails - just had a sapporo light - but they looked great!
(4)
An P.

A long time ago when Kamehachi first opened up, I stopped in for lunch and found it to be mediocre at best. I stopped by to visit my folks at work and we decided to try some Kamehachi as it was Lenten Friday, so I had a hankering for fish and fish products. We were seated immediately and given hot warm towels to clean off hands. I ordered a Kamehachi combo which came with yellowtail, tuna, salmon, shrimp, spicy tuna roll and california roll with customary miso. The food was fresh, but did not taste like it came out of the sea, but I understand considering this is Chicago, not Japan. Tea was refilled often as was water and the service was not intrusive. The food tastes better than when it first opened and has earned their four stars. I ate, I was full, I was impressed by their sushi and I was glad I went.
(4)
Kate B.

Kamehachi is ok. I have been here a few times, and will probably end up coming back. There is nothing wrong with the sushi, it's presented well and is always fresh. But it does lack creativity in signature rolls... while the sushi/sashimi is good, and I do indulge on every sushi outing, I like a little fun with the rolls - I want to see something that hasn't been done before or full of cream cheese. I will say, their specials are usually excellent - but I have found them to be salmon based the past few times have been here, and I am not a fan! During the warmer season, the patio is AMAZING! It is a great space, and even has a retractable roof!
(3)
Kye B.

Always a favorite when I'm in Chi-town. It's a rather large establishment that can cater to parties large and small. A great staff and the sushi is excellent. A lot of the regular sushi choices plus some other really appetizing choices. Nice outside seating available, a cozy upstairs and a great sushi bar on the main floor. Great location too. My food us here and I'm starving. Come by when you're in town.
(4)
Jilliann S.

Average sushi - nothing memorable. I might be spoiled by the inexpensive and delicious sushi places that I enjoyed the past several years in NYC, but - still - this place is way too expensive for the quality. Of course, we will be back since it is next to our apartment. Two suggestions: 1) Sit upstairs - ambiance/lighting is somewhat better. 2) Try the Sunset Roll - it is pretty good.
(2)
Arlo H.

If I could give more stars to this awesome place I would. First time I went here it was a Saturday night with a midsize group. We were informed the wait would be some obscene long amount of time. I was ready to just go but one of the people I was with convienced to me to just stay. We sat down had amazing service and listened to metallica reinterpreted by the Japanese. Never had a better time! I've been going here for over ten years and the service and food has never not been up to par. Thanks! Thumbs up!
(5)
Lena D.

Greta sushi, fresh and wonderful staff. The only problem is that Chicago is over run with Sushi places - so sad that you forget about how great Kamehachi is with their traditional & modern sushi fare (try the turtle roll), AND wonderful service. Stop by the Old Town location it's great, priced in the middle but consistently good food!
(4)
Fabian B.

We liked the place. Really liked it. Then went one night, and the eastern European (Why have an eastern European waitress in a Japanese place anyway ?) got it all wrong. Mixed up stuff we ordered , disappeared somewhere , general service was very slow, too. Massive accent , hard to understand. Anyway, very disappointed. Still ,we went back 2 weeks later to give them another chance, got a seat upstairs. Some guy turned up with 2 glasses , filled them with water without saying a word. No sign of waitress/waiter. We waited for 10mins. Then left. No one stopped us.
(1)
Emily T.

The sushi is good, I mean for sushi in Chicago. No Ocean=sushi fail in my world, but that is not their fault and frankly i didn't have to eat here, nobody forced me. Its a cute spot, the atmosphere is eeh and the tables were too close together for private conversation ( um rude lady at table next to us, kept listening in, table was close enough that my fist could have been in her face in a half a second)......but the food was good and the service was solid. They had an abundance of sushi options and the edamame was warmed to perfection. I say, go here.....you won't be wowed, but you won't be disappointed. Its solid. Side Note: Poor lighting ladies.....better head to the MAC counter before the big date.
(3)
Kathleen G.

I am not a connoisseur of sushi, though I do enjoy it on a fairly regular (bi-weekly) basis. We arrived at 7:30 on Saturday night and were seated downstairs immediately. After starting with a delicious miso soup (his words, not mine) we had the following rolls: Spider Sunset Summer New York Chicago The presentation was pleasant and I found the rolls to be interesting and delicious (I sampled all of them). The Summer roll had a kick to it, the Spider roll was a bit bland but the Sunset roll was fabulous!! The fish was fresh and served in large pieces within the rolls, which I appreciated. Also, no roll had any ingredients that overpowered the fish which I don't always find. I will be back
(4)
Tempe T.

This is my favorite sushi place in town-- it's where I take all my out-of-town guests. The atmosphere can't be beat: sit downstairs for platonic dinners with friends or wish-we-could-just-be-friends, or sit upstairs or out back on the patio for a really cozy romantic night out. When I go I ask for Aurora: she has GREAT wine recommendations. Order the spring roll appetizer. Cilantro, marinated mushrooms, avocado, and noodles with a yummy dipping sauce. Definitely get the turtle roll, I also love the dragon roll and the summer roll! I never miss the featured rolls, either: they're always incredible. I always top the meal off with the mochi. Mmmm. Kamahachi... It's been too long...
(5)
Tam H.

I went here with friends the other day for a taste of Sushi. It was pretty good. However, it seems as though the sushi rolls are a little bit on the small side. The atmosphere was lovely and the waitress was very attentive to our needs. I indulged in the Chicken Katsu and the New York Rolls. Pretty good. I am convinced that if a person can't make Katsu then they should not be a Japanese restaurant. I will visit again to hopefully try the other parts of the menu. The price was a bit much. The atmosphere is great and they can obviously handle big groups of 5 or more.
(3)
Patricia S.

3.5 stars (rounded to 4) because everything was good to great, but nothing wow'ed me. The service is definitely on point. The waitstaff isn't overly friendly, but they're definitely attentive and are intuitive as to when you're finished your plate and when to bring the next thing. They serve great sushi. We got the lobster specialty roll - lobster, crab, cilantro, mango all in a roll, yum! My chirashi bowl would have been fantastic, but the rice had a bit too much vinegar. The appetizer was way too greasy with flavorless sauce. Also, I agree with everyone below. Go upstairs for a more intimate environment.
(4)
Chris C.

I lived in south Florida for 10 years, and you could go to any hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant on any corner and get solid, fresh sushi. Here in Chicago? Not so much. After searching around and trying almost every place mentioned in every magazine and food rating site/book, I finally found Kamehachi. Long story short: The sushi is very good here. It isn't cheap, but it's not absurdly expensive like some of the other allegedly "top-notch" sushi offerings in Chicago (eh hem, Japonais). The fish is always fresh and they have some very nice "special" rolls. They also have a rotating list of daily specials - usually exotic, original, interesting rolls. The summer roll is excellent and has a great kick to it, and the standard rolls are great. Of note: I keep going to sushi places in Chicago that are performing botched surgery on the standard "spicy tuna roll". Thankfully, Kamehachi does NOT do this. They serve it correctly. I do not know why these places think you are supposed to chiffonade the sushi, mutilate it, and integrate it with the spicy mayonnaise sauce. Places do this and it is like a bizarro tuna tartare, but done wrong. But like I said, Kamehachi does not do this. They give you a nice big chunk of fresh tuna and put a little spicy sauce in the roll. Thank you, Kamehachi! Lastly, Kamehachi is kind of like two restaurants in one. The downstairs is the more "traditional" looking sushi restaurant (equipped with the sushi bar and sushi chefs visible). The upstairs is a more "Japonais"-y type lounge. It is darker, sexier, and "cooler". So, depending on what kind of mood you are trying to set, plan accordingly and request which room you want. In the summer months, they also have a really nice little patio in the back that is covered and has a cool little waterfall-type thing. Kamehachi is solid and unpretentious. Check it out.
(5)
stephanie i.

All I have to say is when it's late (and I mean late 12:30 am) and you're looking for someone to deliver sushi...Kamehachi came through for me. Back in July I was in Chicago. It was a late night (working) and before I knew it, all the restaurants had closed. I called around to a number of restaurants and then I finally came across Kamehachi. They delivered to my hotel. The food was pretty good. Not great, but at that hour, I am not one to complain. Those of you who tend to get late night munchies should bookmark this joint for sure.
(4)
Max P.

I like their Spicy Edamame a lot. I would probably go here just for that but their sushi is pretty good if you know what to order. The Dragon Roll is the best I have had their. They are really expensive though. There are better places in Chicago that are cheaper for Sushi. But this place is definitely not a bad date night choice.
(3)
Tom L.

Great dinner again at Kamehachi's. The manager greeted us at the door as my daughter was in a wheelchair. The food was great, the service wonderful. Thanks for another wonderful dinner...
(4)
Alex O.

After hearing about the rave reviews and Check, Please recommendation, my gal and I finally got around to making reservations for this place. I was a bit thrown off once we entered the restaurant since we were the only ones there, save for a couple that was just leaving. There was a small main room with many doors leading to a private room and another to the restrooms. Anyway, on to the food. I ordered the sashimi appetizer and beef teriyaki dinner and my lady ordered the chicken teriyaki combination dinner and we both shared a dragon roll plate. The sashimi was good and fresh, but I wasn't impressed with the dragon roll. I ordered the steak to be cooked medium rare. It was cooked to my specification, but there was just something so-so about it. Overall, I just wasn't impressed with the food and overpriced beer. It might be fun for a large group to go to for a quick sushi fix, but I would not go back.
(3)
Lola L.

Craving for some serious sushi and this was the closest we could find. I've always been apprehensive about eating sushi in Chicago being worried about freshness of the fish. For appetizers we had the asparagus beef rolls (beef rolled with asparagus and scallions), kaki fry (deep fried oysters) this was little too greasy even for something fried, veggie and shrimp tempura. People know when I crave sushi, I CRAVE it but I like to try new combinations. So we seriously ordered one of every maki-mono roll. Again thoughts of the freshness of the fish came to mind but when the rolls were brought out and I snagged a piece of each, the fish was buttery soft! Some of the must try is the Chicago Crazy Roll (tuna, salmon, crab, yellowtail, cucumber, and masago) and the green turtle roll (eel, Cucumber, tempura pieces and Avocado with eel sauce). For the dessert, they had ice cream mochi and tiramisu?! I know there's a prominent Italian heritage in Chicago, ok sure. The mochi ice cream was good but of course it was the frozen kind. The tiramisu actually tasted pretty good. The service was friendly and efficient. The rolls range from $5 to $12 and appetizers are $6-10. This place is like tow halves, the downstairs has the more traditional Japanese feel while upstairs is more like a modern lounge. This is a sushi bar if you decide not to sit at a table.
(4)
Rachelle B.

I thought the martini glasses they used was way to small for a price of $11. However, if you feel like a martini try the ZEN MARTINI. It has a clean and sweet taste. I order the Sunset California Roll, and Spider Roll. I've had better Spider rolls for the price i paid for. The place decor was pretty nice, try getting the garden seats. The garden area is enclosed or opened depending on the weather. Small water fall, and great fans as a back drop. I'd only go back if I had to go for a special occasion. : ).
(2)
Noah L.

Cool new venue. Food was lackluster.
(2)
molly w.

Went there recently with a Groupon. I have been here a few other times in the past, and the only reason I went back was because of the great discount. Overall, it's overpriced for what you get. The rolls were some of the tiniest that I have ever seen, flavor was fine. Nothing special. Fortunately the appetizers filled us up first, we got edamame and the spinach thingy with sesame/peanut sauce, both of those were great, but not great enough to go back for. The service was so-so, and the upstairs bathroom was so gross, it belonged in a dive bar not an "upscale" restaurant. I'd return if I had another coupon, but not for full price.
(2)
Beth M.

The upstairs seating area at Kamehachi is much better than the cafeteria-like ground level. The lighting is dim, making it more suited for late-night maki and lychee martinis. I love the decor. There is a Japanese wooden roof structure - I can't think of the proper name - when you get to the top of the stairs with big sake kegs on top and paper lanterns hanging from it. Kimonos, paintings and decoratively-cut wood panels line the walls. The background music is a little schizo though, wandering from dance/house classics to current pop and R&B to soft loungey tunes. Several solid veggie roll options. I had most recently natto (fermented soybean), AAC (asparagus/avocado/cucumber), ume shiso (plum paste) and shiitake/avocado rolls. Not everywhere has the natto, and this natto maki melted in my mouth. Mmm... The ume shiso maki tasted quite balanced as well. Service was attentive; the server would slyly peek around the corner to check on the state of our drinks and plates rather than interrupt us all the time. The bar area in the back of the top floor is fun for being a little rambunctious with friends, at least when it's not too busy with other people. You can also rent out a small screened-off private room. I thought the prices were very reasonable, at least for the vegan rolls. Someday I'll have to try some of their entrees.
(4)
Lindsey M.

Sushi makes me happy. I love eating it and I am even a little addicted. I love trying all the different restaurants when I am ordering delivery. I have ordered from this restaurant before and I was happy with the food becuase the quality was good. Not wanting to take a gamble last night I ordered even though the prices were higher then I wanted to pay. For the price the sushi is just ok. I enjoyed the flavor and the food was fresh and delivered very fast, but the price made it not as satisfactory. I wouldn't order from them again.
(2)
Brian H.

FOOD POISONING! BE CAREFUL/DO NOT GO! My girlfriend and I received food poisoning from Kamehachi in Old Town. She ate the Chicken Teriyaki (with a house salad) that I had a bit of, and I had a Tuna D'Lux D'Lux roll with miso soup and spicy edamame. We didn't do anything else the entire night. The next day we woke up and both felt like we had been hit by a truck. She was violently vomiting, severely dehydrated (her brother, a physician, gave her an IV), feverish, and dizzy. If it wasn't for her being a nurse and her brother being a physician, we would have taken her to the ER. I had similar, but not as severe, side effects from the food. My guess is it was the chicken teriyaki. When I spoke with the manager, Lateef, he told me to have her brother, the doctor, call him that night and explain the symptoms. When he called 10-15 minutes later, Lateef had left. The doctor explained that this must have been food poisoning and all the symptoms that were related all led him to believe that it came from Kamehachi. I called in today and Lateef explained that he needs to obtain a stool sample before they can do anything about it (they also wouldn't contact the doctor and said he would have to contact them if anything was to be done). The service, while there, was good, decor was great, but the management and food are far below average. Will be reporting them elsewhere as well. AGAIN, BE WARNED! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SEVERE IF SHE WASN'T IN THE CARE OF A DOCTOR AT HOME!!
(1)
Anjali S.

I'm a regular here and embarrassed at not having done my duty to this place. It deserves at least 5 stars. You can always expect consistency. The food is always consistently between good and excellent - no matter what you order. I've ordered the regular items and the special menu items and most of the time lick the last bits off my plate (metaphorically speaking). And the 'namesake' is the best I've tasted. I don't know who their fish dealer is, but the namesake melts like butter every time you put it in your mouth - soft, smooth, totally creamy. EVERY TIME. I've eaten sushi in several big cities in america at posh restaurants, and small holes and in Chicago, but this place is my home. I'll always keep coming back. And happily - not because there's no competition. Shame on you for still reading this, you should be calling them right now :) The service staff are always friendly, helpful and courteous. I'm a down-to-earth kind of person and have no patience for snootiness. Example of good servicemanship: One time we ordered for delivery, there were 2 pieces namesake missing from our order. I called them soon as I'd realized (the delivery man had left by then) and asked them what they could do. I realized it was a saturday night, that they were must be busy on deliveries and that they probably wouldn't have time to redeliver, so I suggested they could give me a discount for the 2 namesakes the next time I visited. Instead the manager immediately apologized, said the namesakes would be on their way to me right away, thanked me for being so considerate to pardon their error. 15 minutes later, the delivery man rang my doorbell, apologized, refused a (second) tip and gave me the namesake and left. If that isn't excellent service, I don't know what is. That's why I'll keep going back. You get (more than) what you pay for in this place. For my husband and me, its a refuge. Whenever, we're out of options, there's always old town kamehachi to the rescue.
(5)
Darjeeling T.

Honestly, some of the best sushi I've ever had. I'm sorry they had to close down their location on Ontario, but their Old Town location is excellent. Great, fresh sushi, totally delicious appetizers, and friendly (but not ingratiating) service. One of my favorites.
(5)
ryan m.

Great, authentic, tasty Japanese food in Streeterville. The sushi was hearty and the sukiyaki was legit. Our server happily obliged my request for a raw egg to dip my sukiyaki. Highly recommended for Japanese food downtown. Right up there with Itto Sushi.
(4)
Mike M.

I dont know why all the kamehatchi hate. The sushi has always been fresh and good, the service is at times a little slow, but the atmosphere is very nice to grab a bottle of wine and relax with the lady. But the one thing that sets it apart from the rest of the crowd is that its OPEN TILL 2AM EVERYDAY (except sunday) I dont think i have ever been here before 10. My girlfriend and I, both being in the service industry do not usually get out of work until 10 or 11pm and this is our go to spot for some late night sushi. IMO there is nothing better than sushi and a bottle of wine at 12:30am on a Tuesday.
(4)
Mike L.

A solid Japanese restaurant. I have only eaten the sushi and it is solid and of good quality. The place itself is in a nice location and the setting can be intimate for a fun date. I agree that the price is a little high for the portion that you get but it is well done so just go for lunch on a Saturday and it will make for a good day.
(4)
Rebekah B.

Gosh, my experience at Kamehachi was mediocre at best. I know I used to like it. Used to think it was the tops of sushi in Chicago, and I'm not a sucker for a fancy sushi joint either. Things were pricier than they should be for sure. Small plate of veggie tempura, $13.95? Weird. And eh. The sushi itself was just average. I could go to a million cheaper places for average. I don't think I"ll go back.
(2)
Jonathan A.

The Bento Box is a ridiculously great deal for lunch. And they deliver. And it's always tasty. Each time it comes with a different surprise vegetable or side, and I love trying to guess what it is. I could order other things, but why? The bento box has teriyaki chix, beef or salmon, veg tempura, a california roll, miso soup, a surprise side and that's about all I need.
(4)
Crystal P.

I fell in love with spicy scallop rolls here! I like the up stairs in this place. It was a little too dark though. I came with a few friends and just had a few rolls before we went out. The service was fast and the fish was fresh and the prices are great! a+ for them.
(4)
Phil Y.

My first impression of this place was... "I've found a winner!" Delivery was fast, food looked great, and all the reviews looked positive. I ordered a Combination Dinner Bento, and a Spicy Tuna Roll. The spicy tuna roll was great. Nothing wrong here.. In fact, i'd probably order this again in the future. The problem was in the Combination dinner. I ordered it with the Salmon option. The bento contained miso soup, side of rice, tempura combination w/ dipping sauce, california roll, some pickled sides, and the salmon. Everything was fine, except! the salmon. The salmon was completely raw in the middle, only the outside was lightly cooked. It had a nice grill taste on the outside, but the inside was just all raw. I don't have a problem with raw fish, just salmon in a bento should be fully cooked. Since it was undercooked, it felt like I was eating mush. I mean I appreciate the fast timing and professional approach to the delivery, but please, PLEASE just finish cooking the food. I don't really care if you come a little late. Just the food is what I want to enjoy after a long day...
(2)
Sarah R.

I love it here. I've sat on the back patio once and the downstairs sushi bar once. But the upstairs is where it's at. This place is sexy. And they serve full menu till 2 am. I love the lychee martinis, i love the spinach with peanut sauce, i love the oyster shooters, i love the green turtle roll. I love how the music they plays is different every time I go in. Sometimes its heavy metal, sometimes its r&b, sometimes it's rock, sometimes it's classical. Kamehachi is my happy place. This is my ultimate feast: miso soup, gomae, soft shell crab, kaki fry, maybe some oyster shooters, green turtle roll, spicy tuna hand roll, summer roll (no cilantro, i hate it), whatever special roll they have, and then the mochi balls. And lychee martinis and sake. All shared, of course, foods no fun if you can't share it. I've been coming here for years, and it has never disappointed me.
(5)
Chayla B.

Yeah, I don't have a whole lot to say. Sushi is good for cheap, but mediocre. Salads are wicked expensive. I got a kani su salad, minus the seaweed last night. So cucumbers and crab (likely imitation, though I'm not sure). $11! Serious! It's my own fault for not reading the menu, but come on. I've never had a kani salad cost that much. it's a side salad, for cryin' out loud. The sushit wasn't bad. The first I went it was better, I thought. Last night wasn't that great. If last night had been my first experience, I wouldn't have gone back a second time. However, my first experience wasn't bad, but my second was pretty blah, so I won't be back. Service is was really got me. They weren't that busy, but while we were greeted promptly, it took about 20 minutes to get and pay our bill. I had been finished for some time before our server came back. After we asked for our bill it took about 10 minutes to receive it, then 10 minutes after she took it. I was tired and just wanted to leave. Nothing worse than being ready to go and unable to leave. It's not the worst experience sushi experience I've had but not even close to the best. I will likely not be back.
(2)
Shannon B.

I have never been to the restaurant myself, but when we are jonezing for Japanese food this is where we dial. I have to say I am impressed. The Tonkatsu isn't the tough fatty cut of meat you normally get and the sauce is great. I was surprised by the Teriyaki Beef, it is thick cuts of steak rather than the thin slices I'm used to (and fairly rare, so if you are not a fan of blood make sure to ask for it cooked as you like). The Tempura is nice and not too oily and the Miso soup is yummy. All in all its a good meal. On the delivery front, we use OrderNetwork and it always gets here on time and just as we ordered it.
(4)
L T.

Came in with my boyfriend and roommate. It was my boyfriend and I's first time at their new location and we were really impressed with the interior. Sleek and chic. Our server was very great. She was attentive and personable, always smiling. For food, we ordered the turtle roll, spicy scallop, and one of their special rolls (that I can't seem to remember the name of). All the rolls were AMAZING. super fresh and perfect to the taste. I didn't even need soy sauce or wasabi. We also ordered teriyaki salmon, tonkatsu and tempura udon. There just is not a single thing that I can complain about to be honest... I usually never order teriyaki anything because other restaurants drench the teriyaki sauce on and it always over-powering. However, Kamehachi's teriyaki was very light and perfect. The salmon was fried and the skin was so crispy and yummy! Tonkatsu was delish! Really like that the sauce was on the side. I've always loved the udon here.. Probably my favorite restaurant for it. We weren't even going to get dessert, but I just couldn't say no to mochi. The waitress informed us that the blueberry was really good. So we ordered the blueberry mochi, green tea mochi and the goma with black sesame pudding. OH MY GOODNESS! they were all SO good! blueberry definitely was fantastic like she said! I can't toot this restaurant's horn enough!!! Amazing quality food, amazing service. Definitely will come back and def will refer.
(4)
Kelly G.

Tuna was melt in your mouth fresh. I had sashimi swordfish (my first time eating raw swordfish!) and it was a huge, tasty slice of lemony bright flavor. All the rolls were great, but I was slightly disappointed in the selection - nothing felt creative or like it was pushing boundaries. But they all highlight the flavor of the FRESH fish served here. I'd come back.
(4)
Oscar the Death Cat B.

Probably my favorite of all the Kamehachi locations. Over the summer I ducked into their pleasant Japanese garden patio to escape the craziness of the Wells St. art fest (I understand that they enclose the patio over the non-summer months) and more recently tried their upstairs dining space - nice, but I'd recommend bringing a flash light or two if you want to eat up there for dinner, the lighting was ridiculously dim and everyone at our table was almost literally fighting over a single spot of light as we were trying to read our menus. I can understand why the menu prices can be such a turn-off, some of the pieces and rolls that we tried were not much better than you'd get at a hole-in-the-wall sushi place at a fraction of the cost. Some selections however, such as the toro, were outstanding (and at $10 a piece, they BETTER be outstanding!!) Good thing we had a Groupon to soften the blow on the final bill. What I really like about Kamehachi is their dessert selections. If you are in the mood for something more substantial than the standard sushi joint selection of mochi & green tea ice creams, you can indulge in something really rich like cheesecake or my favorite, the chocolate cube (three layers of chocolate mousse with a chocolate coating - yum!!)
(4)
Jasmine P.

Kamehachi has various locations throughout Chicagoland. Though the Streeterville location was closest to me, I visited this one in Old Town. We opted to drive though it wouldn't have been an expensive cab fare. We found that parking was quite easy. My dinnermate and I got lost at first and didn't realize the restaurant was upstairs. Once inside, it was pretty dark and decorated with the usual Asian-influence. Besides the late night hours, there was nothing that really made this Kamehachi location stand out in comparison to other sushi restaurants. Service was great! But then again there weren't many other people there on that late Wednesday night. I wanted sushi and they fulfilled my need quite timely, so my review of this place is right down the middle. Three stars.
(3)
Colleen C.

I LOVE this place. It was where my sushi virginity was taken, siiiiighhhhh. Who knew it would be so so good? I had no idea. This is a great place for a date. They have late-night sushi, Old Town has a lot to do around it (movies, 2nd city, et al)...great corner spot, valet, AWESOME sushi...great wine selection. Our server was great, we had a romantic corner table and throughly enjoyed our experience. A little pricier than the mom/pop joints...but the ambience is well worth it. Definitely worth a stop in.
(4)
Kim E.

As a sushi & martini connoisseur I am a bigger fan of the drinkey drinks here. The sushi isn't bad but I do say it to be a bit overpriced for the portion sizes. You are paying for location location location & the name. Now.... if you fancy trendy scene, snazzy drink concoctions, outdoor patios or sushi bars.... I would highly recommend this place. It's a definite one time MUST. After all, their other locations.. in case you wanted to hop a plane are listed on the front sign for your viewing pleasure: Tokyo & NYC. PLUSES: Diversity. The one thing they made sure of was to give you about five different seating places to choose from: see there are 2 floors! The downstairs is more formal dinner style but crowdy, the back outdoor patio (downstairs still) which is quite lovely, the upstairs which is more intimate & dim with a sushi bar to the side or the second story bar towards the back - very romantic, quaint & semi-private. Even for non-sushi lovers... you must head to the upstairs bar... to people watch - it's a lovely scene - especially on the weekends!
(4)
Stephen F.

I was led to believe Kamehachi was one of the top sushi restaurants in Chicago, and would be accepted even in cities that actually feature large bodies of salt water. My meal was hugely disappointing, and wouldn't have been good even at one of the hole-on-the-wall spots around town I usually turn up my nose at. For three of us, we asked for the chef's recommendations, mostly sashimi and stay away from the saucier stuff. Some of the fish that came out was excellent, but about half was gamey or flavorless, and a few pieces were inedible gristle. Conclusion: Kamehachi does not in fact find better fish than the sushi hoi polloi, and therefore should be drizzling everything with wasabi mustard and olive oil like the sushi joints that have DJ nights. This experience set us back about $200 -- worth it for a good sushi meal in Chicago, but not for this meal. It's possible we hit Kamehachi on a bad night, but I'm not inclined to go back and test this theory.
(2)
Jonathan H.

Giant Chunks of Tuna! Any restaurant that has that on the menu (that's not the name of it, but I wanted to make a statement.) is aces in my book. I eat sushi a lot and they have some of the freshest fish I've had. And the price isn't so high that I get turned off by it. Great for groups and families. I have also never had to wait really long to get a table. They are very efficient there.
(5)
Jason H.

Certainly not the best sushi I've ever had, but decent. I don't think it's quite worth the price though. I'm a huge sushi fan, have had it everywhere from San Fran to New York to Taiwan, so I've had the full range of good and bad. I'll go somewhere else in Chicago for sushi next time.
(3)
carrie g.

Ordered delivery from here only so can't comment on the restaurant ambience itself but... As other reviewers have remarked - this place has "solid" sushi. Mostly your basics, good selection of salads and apps, as well as your "go-to" rolls. I was hoping for some more exciting options, but hey, then I just need to get my butt of the couch and find exciting for that! Delivery was fast - with a $3 charge. Generally speaking I would say moderately priced - for gyoza, salad and 3 rolls it was $45. I would order again when the desperate sushi bug hits and I'm not ready to brave the outside world.
(4)
T M.

It all seems clean and everything, and every one is polite enough, so there are no real problems with Kamehachi. And they get some extra points for having the latest hours of any sushi place I can think of. It'll be better than the sushi you can get at Jewel. But overall, the sushi and other food are just kind of mediocre. I tried a bit of a noodle dish, and not only were they a weird temperature (I forget what temperature they were supposed to be served at, but whatever it was, these weren't at that temperature) and didn't taste like anything. It really was just a bunch of practically flavorless texture. The sushi I had was completely average in quality. There was nothing I didn't like about it, but then, there was nothing I liked about it either. For the price, there are other places I'd rather go where I can get a better deal or better sushi, just not at the times when I might end up here.
(3)
Lucas P.

There is something to be said about table layout in some restaurants and this is a good place to start. I came to this restaurant with my fiancÃ© for a romantic night out, and we were seated literally 2 feet away from a table of obnoxiously loud idiots, which would not bother me as much, but the other table was literally 2 feet away. The sushi was, eh, and the prices were fair. Restaurants, if you are reading, do not stack your tables on top of each other, and make sure that you figure out what your diners are at your restaurant for, their experience will be based off of that.
(3)
Isabella W.

I finally tried the Kamehachi here in Old Town. The sushi here is decent and moderately priced. They do have a large menu selection and some inventive rolls (featured in their specials menu). We got edamame (which was over-salted), but still good (can't really go wrong with boiling soybeans), and ordered the summer roll, kamehachi roll and a special roll, the old town roll. Out of the 3, the summer roll was my favorite - with yellowtail, tuna, masago, lime, CILANTRO - it was full of flavors and refreshing at the same time, with the lime and cilantro. The Old Town roll, one of the special rolls of the night, had salmon, asparagus, avocado with tuna on top and crab salad/spicy mayo. It was a mouthful, but the flavors worked nicely together, and the crab salad was a nice touch to the roll. My least fav was the Kamehachi roll - it was good, but nothing outstanding. I've been to the one in Streeterville and to the one in River North @ The Westin, and prefer the sushi at those locations over this one.
(3)
Greg L.

Yeah. Okay. I love sushi. So what! This place in my favorite in the city if I am looking for traditional sushi in a traditional atmosphere. I think it is my favorite place for a great sushi lunch if I want a quiet, relaxing, and attentive service atmosphere. If you like sashimi as much as I do, you will feel like you have gone to sushi heaven----just thinking of it makes me want to cancel our reservations for dinner tonight (Italian) and do this instead. Like butter! The sashimi will literally melt in your mouth. Oh yeah baby!
(5)
Jean Z.

This yelp suggestion really blew me away. We ordered on a Friday Night and i kid you not, the food was here within 20 minutes. Maybe just lucky, but I'm very happy I found this place! I got their special of the day roll that had asparagus, tempura shrimp and a spicy masago on top man ... so good. I had some pieces and a couple other rolls, equally as good. The only thing that disappointed me was the tofu appetizer, it was a very soft tofu and not fried as hard as I expected...I'm not one for mushy anything(ask the ladies at the original pancake house) so I ended up tossing this appetizer, but everything else was delish! I am still in shock that my food was here so fast. Still in shock, a day later, and yea probably still be in shock tomorrow
(5)
Jason C.

What struck me first about this place was how restaurant was very unassuming to the quick paced people moving by. The girlfriend and I had no idea about it until we googled the word "Japanese" for near by places to our hotel (downtown Courtyard Marriott). Our quick walk through the wind and iced rain was ended with us going down a small flight of stairs. I need to point out that I love going down stairs for a restaurant. It makes me feel like I'm going into an exclusive, or elite institution. A place that only I and a few fellow ivory tower-ist know about. I was more than pleasantly surprised to fine an elaborately decorated den that was constructed in the traditional Japanese "dojo"-esk manner. It was really quite impressive. The food too was more than commendable. The service was prompt and knowledgeable, and though the prices were on the higher end, it still proved to be worth it. Cheap sushi is often just that, cheap sushi. This is certainly a 1st tier sushi place, but I wouldn't include it in the top half of that tier, so it gets 3.99 stars.
(3)
Tara P.

Upfront I should disclose that I'm only reviewing the downstairs area, but I hear the upstairs is a different experience. The downstairs is just a standard, small, crowded sushi place. The service and food were good, not amazing but perfectly fine. The best items we had were a pear martini and a special item of baby calamari with a spicy/sweet sauce - one of the best appetizers I've ever had, anywhere, and certainly the best treatment of calamari I've had. My husband and I split five rolls and a couple of pieces - all were good, but none were all that memorable. Downstairs loses a star because the ambience is nothing special, but I'd like to give the upstairs a chance.
(3)
Luke S.

Adequate in every way. Adequate fish, adequate service, adequate decor. No better, no worse.
(3)
Chad D.

Overall, great sushi restaurant. Casual ambience, good selection of sake, and expertly crafted maki rolls. My one complaint was the lack of attention to our water levels. I think we may have gone 10 minutes with empty glasses at one point, so minus a star for that. Otherwise, I was very satisfied.
(4)
Aileen O.

Kamahachi's unassuming facade makes it seem as if it is one of Old Town's hidden jewels. But when you ask for recommendations from locals about good sushi places, this place always comes up. I decided to try this restaurant when I invited my visiting mom and aunt to meet my boyfriend over dinner. When you first walk in, the restaurant looks like any other sushi place - white walls, small tables and minimal decorations. However, when you walk upstairs, you get a completely different vibe. The lights are dimmed and black lights replace the bright white lights glaring downstairs. The ambiance is almost club-like. There's music in the background and everything just feels chic. The bad lighting, however, made it very difficult to read our menus. I felt like a 65 year old lady desperately trying to read the menu over the tiny candle on our table. The sushi was excellent - very fresh. Also, they have a large menu. For someone who can't eat avocados, I still had a lot of options to choose from. We ordered sukiyaki to share, which ended up tasting pretty good. Kamehachi tops my list of sushi places. What's even better is that it's less than half a mile from my place. I will be going back to enjoy some yummy sushi and feel cool in the upstairs eating area... Check it out!
(5)
John S.

Well, this was a first! I went over to Kamehachi for sushi while waiting to pick up the bike across the street a the "vil". Sat at the sushi bar and ordered the crab soup, green tea, a beer and all sashimi. As I was being served by the sushi chef, he dropped two of the pieces ....they fell onto the bar.....the chef apologized. I picked them up for him and placed them on the side of the dish awaiting a replacement....guess what...it never came. I figured this would make a good yelping....so, if you eat here, they may serve you dropped food!!!!. Makes you wonder what goes on in the kitchen. The fish seemed good though, thus why the three stars...but c'mon now...lets stop making customers eat off the floor! That was a first.
(3)
Allen I.

Good food. Mediocre service. Had to ask for tea 3 times and did not get a water refill despite a mostly empty restaurant.
(3)
Natalie P.

I dont know what the hype is. Service was slow. Food was not as fresh as expected. Not the best sushi I have had.
(2)
Brenda Lee J.

Ok, apparently will have to come back for the green turtle roll, since I'm a fan of all the ingredients listed. Definitely go upstairs for the lounge-like atmosphere. We had a dragon roll, a spicy tuna roll, a New York maki roll (salmon, cream cheese, scallion) and a spider roll. The spicy tuna was probably the least flavorful, but still good. The cream cheese was a bit overwhelming in the New York maki roll, although I'm a big cream cheese fan, so it was tolerable. It just took away from the taste of the fish itself. All in all, the sushi is fresh and delicious; and don't forget a little mochi for dessert!
(4)
Evann G.

agggh I loved this place so much. Sometimes I find myself waxing nostalgic about their chicken teriyaki. It's probably my favorite chicken teriyaki ever. And their maki! So good! I loved the dragon roll. I loved every roll we tried. I especially loved the seasonal roll we had over the summer, which was wrapped in cucumber and just. So. Refreshing. mmmm, Kamehachi. And it's in such a cute area, too.
(5)
Jill G.

Oh Kamehachi how I love you! Service is excellent and friendly, the food is fantastic and fresh. It is a bit pricey but for a special treat I'm all for it. One thing though, make reservations or you will end up at the sushi bar. Not that it's a bad thing, it's kind of cool. But when I get to go out with my husband for a bite to eat, I actually would like to see him. I hear they usually have reservations available on pretty short notice so don't be deterred from going here because of that. Just call ahead and see what they can do for you. And if you don't have a reservation they can put you upstairs in the sushi lounge or at the mentioned sushi bar downstairs. Also I must comment on their delivered orders. Wow! I ordered food to be delivered to my work one time (I'm out of their delivery areas) and was floored by the attention to proper packaging. It was downright upscale if there is such a thing! Not a drop of miso soup spilled, no teriyaki oopsies, and good study packaging all around.
(5)
Melissa Q.

The bf and I finally used our groupon on a Friday night. Overall, we weren't impressed. We are huge fans of Coast & Butterfly, whose sushi is amazing and is BYOB. Kamehachi was much more expensive and there was not one roll that had that "wow" factor. The best part of the meal was the steamed dumplings. While it wasn't a horrible experience, my love for cheaper & better sushi places in the city will most likely keep me from returning.
(2)
Adrienne C.

This place is the bomb-dot-com! The fact that its open so late is amazing, and the prices are reasonable too! I went here for a bachelorette weekend dinner and they were able to accomodate all of us quickly on the patio, which was our first choice. I look forward to returning! I only had maki - I can't speak to the quality of the nigiri or sashimi.
(4)
Sunkyung P.

I really have nothing to complain about this place. My date and I got here a bit late (without reservations) after a show at Second City and we got ushered upstairs and I'm glad we did. I have a soft spot for corner booths. Especially if the lighting is low and if you're with someone you have chemistry with. I live in Los Angeles and go to school in Boston but grew up in Chicago... but I have yet to find another restaurant with a sumptuous corner booth like Kamehachi does. We ordered a bunch of Maki and some Nigiri and it was all very good! The large, suspended mirrors are a fun way for people watching if you can't seem to conjure up some good conversation! I will definitely be returning to Kamehachi in search of the same corner booth!
(5)
Amy B.

Went w/ friends (we were a group of 4) before a show at Second City. Spectacular! Service was top-notch, food was great. The Green Turtle Roll was THE BEST sushi I've ever had. The decor is no-frills, but again I went for food & the service is unbeatable.
(5)
Esther Y.

I know Kamehachi is one of those places in Chicago that is a classic, but I don't love it. I can find better sushi elsewhere and I don't feel like I have to deal with the Old Town traffic etc. If you are in the neighborhood, it's a little overpriced, but the food is good and worth a try.
(3)
Allen A.

Something has to be said about the most aesthetically pleasing food I've ever seen yet refuse to eat. I've had sushi only once, and once was enough. My strong aversion to the texture and, more simply, the idea of eating something raw has deterred from being a true sushi expert, but I must say that when dining here with friends -- I eat the steak teriyaki; more about it later -- they praise presentation and delectability without fail. The way spider maki are created, for instance, is infinitely more innovative than I've seen at other similarly priced restaurants. Meanwhile, the steak teriyaki definitely compelsweekly visits. The sauce is much thicker than dishes offered by other places, and the hefty slab of meat is far and away the best offering I've found in the entire city. And let's not forget the 2nd floor lounge with its late-night hours. Nothing compares. Aurora, by the way, is also the best server in the world.
(5)
Abi L.

I got a Groupon and went to the Northbrook location, the food was just ok, then I realized that my other groupon had expired a day ago, and called to see if they would still honor it, they said no if it was even a day old they would not let me use it. It is unfortunate that they are not allowing me to use and because of that they have not only lost me as a customer but my family and friends. there are plenty of other sushi restaurants in the city and suburbs. One less to go to.
(1)
Brittany B.

I can't complain, but I can't really rave either. Good location, good service, reasonable prices.
(3)
Ian S.

Ate here a few times, first out of curiosity and a few other times because I had no choice. It's okay for a sushi joint, there are many around the city that are much better. Wish the service was better.
(3)
Lisa D.

My husband and I met up with another couple here last night--I hadn't been here in about five years, but it was just as I remembered it! I only made reservations on Friday morning, but we had no problem getting a table at 8:30. In fact, we got a rockstar booth on the second floor--probably the best table I've had there! I had the Kabocha soup, a seasonal Japanese pumpkin soup, which was CRAZY good! My kappa maki rolls were standard, but my friends who ordered the tuna roll, spicy tuna, etc weren't wowed. I'm giving it 4 stars for the table and the soup, but I'm guessing that since we were at a sushi place and they felt theirs was sub-par, they'd give it 2.5.
(4)
Sarah L.

I can't say I have any major complaints about kamehachi... it's just "meh" in terms of sushi. The atmosphere is very nice. it's a great choice for a good night out for a date or a birthday dinner. However, it is overpriced. I mean, it's not like it's outrageous but it is a little more than other sushi places in the area and it's just not that great. I find myself only going here for those special occasion type events when someone else picks it, but when it's my choice for sushi in old town... I go elsewhere.
(3)
D L.

This place is reallllly par, it's not really worth a trip... unless you're in Old town and crave sushi at that very minute (or you have one of those groupon like I did) I had the Kaki fry, it has 2 big pieces and 4 small pieces. Taste was ok, but out of the Kaki fry I had elsewhere, they use the big oysters, I felt the 4 small pieces here are cheated... I had an assorted orders of sushi and roll... It's really par. The tempura shrimp in the tempura shrimp roll is thickly breaded and like it's been made 2 days ago. Do not eat anything scallop. I had the scallop nigiri and the spicy scallop roll. It's totally not fresh and does not have the sweet taste that scallop should have. Even the spicy scallop roll do not have any taste, I don't know how they should be called spicy? If you really have to go, here's a hint. If you want a darker and more romantic atmosphere, ask for 2nd floor. 1st floor is brighter. I think they have a patio, but I didn't venture in..
(3)
Dan C.

Been here once and will not return. We came here at around 2:30 pm on a Tuesday, certainly not prime time, but still... $10 Martini that was drinkable, nothing special, though slightly watery. Fried oyster appetizer. This was OK although served with dijon mustard and sweet/sour sauce, which makes you feel as though you're eating spring rolls (not to mention there was no meaningful flavor synergy). Then sushi: spicy tuna maki, new york maki, and sunset maki. First of all, the wasabi they gave us was seriously weak. The sushi itself was simply underachieving in every aspect. The seaweed was dry, the rice was too starchy and layered way too thickly around the rolls (this should be obvious even from the couple pictures posted here on yelp), and the added condiments such as spiced aioli and roe were simply flavorless. The fish was fresh enough, but everything else was supermarket quality. Service was also bad. Maybe since the place was empty the servers were taking things easy, but our sushi arrived on the table several minutes before the appetizer, and we had to ask for the check twice. They also almost took down the wrong order but when she was reading through everything at the end we noticed the mistake. Maki rolls at sushi samba (where I usually go) are only like a dollar/roll more expensive than they are here, and they're made 100 times better. Cocktails at sushi samba are $1 more and also 100 times better. Should have just stuck with the tried and true.
(1)
Kevin C.

First visit with my girlfriend on 2009/04/04 for dinner. We ordered the softshell crab, kamehachi sushi set B, rainbow roll, 1 piece of Uni and 1 piece of blue marlin (special). Lets start with the pros: 1) Service was good, our waitress checked on us multiple times despite the whole restaurant was full and she was really busy. 2) Decoration was cute. 3) Fresh ingredients. Cons: 1) The food is definitely below average. The roll is poorly made and the sushi has irregularly cut fish. 2) The sushi rice is warm. Way too warm. They are suppose to be at room temperature ! I have traveled and eaten sushi in japan at least 20 times and I never had warm sushi rice. 3) The miso soup is so salty, it must have been sitting there for the whole day before they served that. 4) Pricey ! Bottom line: For the price and food, I would not recommend this restaurant at all. It is overpriced, poorly made and I am very disappointed.
(2)
Jenny N.

Ok, to start out, this is a 3 star restaurant in terms of food. Their sushi was pretty ordinary and nothing out of this world like some other places around Chicago. I have to say that they add more rice than is really necessary for delicious sushi. All of their basic rolls were nothing to write home about, which may be standard for "basic rolls", but I've been to some places that really take pride in all of their sushi. They did have a special for the weekend called a Treasure Roll which was pretty extraordinary , except for the $17 price tag that came along with it. The only reason I'm giving them 4 stars is because of the adorable outdoor patio in the back. Great atmosphere in the summer. Definitely can find better sushi in Chicago though. Nothing out of this world.
(4)
Gerardo C.

This is by far one of my favorite sushi bars in the city. They offer a great selection of rolls and other Japanese dishes. Other than the sushi, I recommend trying out the Sukiyaki, a dish consisting of thinly sliced beef simmered in a skillet with vegetables, noodles and other ingredients, guaranteed to re-energize you after a long night out. Of course, you cannot leave until you try the sake, I recommend a bottle of Tozai. Overall, highly recommended and they are open late.
(5)
Josette J.

Let's start off with the bad to explain the 2 star rating. Bad: - Dragon roll: I always get a dragon roll to evaluate how good a sushi joint is, and I'm sad to say that Kamehachi's dragon roll isn't up to snuff. The roll was so tiny I probably could have fit the whole thing in my mouth had I tried, and it was flavorless - how did they manage to make my favorite roll *ever* flavorless?! To add insult to injury, the roll cost $12.95. Disaster. - Sukiyaki (thin slices of beef simmering in broth with napa cabbage, tofu, onions, mushrooms and clear): It just didn't taste great. Tofu had no texture and tasted like it had been soaking in tap water all day. Mushrooms tasted gross. Just a mess. - Service: The waitress was a bit air-headed. I think she may have had the whole upstairs dining area to cover, though, so I forgive her, but it cannot be denied that it was a bit silly of her to serve the dinner entrees and not ensure that we had forks and knives - heck, we didn't even have chopsticks! Good: - Miso soup: It's hard to mess up, but I've had worse elsewhere. - Asian Lamb Chops (grilled Frend-cut lamb chops, marinated in garlic-sesame soy sauce): Chops were marinated well and perfectly grilled to medium. It wouldn't have hurt if the portion had been bigger, though. - Upstairs dining: The upstairs lounge-themed dining area is very cute, cozy and romantic. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. I don't understand the 4+ star ratings from other reviewers, though. Perhaps, it's just a sad case of people settling for mediocre food because it's close to their homes.
(2)
David N.

I came here with a group of friends to celebrate a friends birthday. I have been to this place a total of about 3 times. I do have to say it is pretty good. I give the wait staff a total of 5 stars, they are very friendly and attentive. The food is good, but I would not say it is one of the best sushi places I have been. The spring roll is very good and I highly recommend that. I did order an avocado roll, which tasted fine...but very expensive. I do like the choices they have for vegetarians, and I think next time I would like to try some of the vegetarian noodle dishes they have. A friend of mine had ordered a Japanese cold green tea noodle dish, and that looked pretty awesome.
(3)
Lindsay D.

Ive always been kinda off and on about this place, but my dinner last Saturday, well Kamehachi totally redeemed itself! We got the special rolls: the Tropical and Cucumber one, the spicy tuna roll and my fave: a piece of Ikura. The special rolls really knocked it out of the park. They also used very soft rice and not the kind you may find at other sushi places where the rice has kind of hardened a bit. Next time Im there, Im headed straight for the specials, you cant go wrong!
(4)
Patti B.

Thanks to Leang E. for the tip about heading upstairs! The dim lighting and cozy tables made for an intimate experience even though all the tables were quite close together. We started off with our usual favorite, agedashi tofu, which sadly was not at all crispy this time, and the gyoza, which someone else recommended and I'm glad they did. For the entree, I decided to try a non-sushi dish this time since that's all we ordered when we visited the other location the first time. I was definitely happy with my yaki udon but my boyfriend didn't like the sushi special he picked. The summer roll wasn't bad though. We opted for dessert since the other location had a yummy tiramisu - no tiramisu here, but we did enjoy a chocolate mousse cube instead. The peach limeade was not as yummy as the green tea martini, but hey, you can't always make right choices! Overall, I'd give this place 3.5 stars and suggest going to the other location.
(3)
Amanda O.

You can enjoy pretty good sushi at Kamehachi. It's not a bad atmosphere either. I would suggest sitting upstairs though. The downstairs atmosphere is more like a sushi cafe. It's very bright, and the table are packed together closely. The food is good though. I would still go back, but it wouldn't be at the top of my list for sushi places.
(3)
Doris D.

OK, now I'm just on a rant and rave about every place I have been to the past 10 years in Chicago...thanks Yelp! So I came here about a year ago with an ex boyfriend...a strange character all his own, but anyway. Though it didn't take long for me to figure out that I had no interest in him, I definitely knew I had a serious interest in this place! The sake was great. The tempura shrimp and chicken terriyaki were absolutely delicious. The only other place that can possibly compete with the food in that area is Sushi Samba. Just try this place out with someone you like...!
(5)
Kimberly C.

45 yelpers before me can tell you that the sushi here is fantastic, so I won't waste your time telling you about my mostly identical experience. What I'm really going to do is share a little secret... come on in a little closer. That's it... ok, listen up... If you are looking for a fancy drink on an off night or waiting for your table on a Friday night, I HIGHLY recommend that you head to the upstairs bar. There you will find a nice looking gentleman behind the bar named Jeremy. Say hello, tell him the flavors you like and then ask him to make you "something." Prepare to be amazed by what you get. I gave Jeremy the explicit direction of "not sweet" and was graced with quite a fine cucumber-ginger saketini that he shook up on the spot. It was excellent. It wasn't the cheapest drink I have ever had, but I will certainly make my way there if I am looking for "something" and have no idea what the hell that is.
(5)
Eric B.

I've been here twice. The service is pretty good and the menu is extensive. I especially enjoyed the cold unfiltered Saki. It was the perfect setup to a relaxing and enjoyable evening both side. The first time I went, I felt the sushi was pretty average so I decided to try it again. Again, the same feeling. I'm not sure where sushi comes from in the midwest, and maybe that is the problem but I felt that the sushi overall was rather bland. The rice was especially good though and I give that high marks. I might go back again as I have friends in old town, but I won't make any special trips.
(3)
Norman H.

Average sushi but reasonably priced with great service. Green turtle roll was the best.
(3)
Annie S.

I have only been here once and it was a long time ago, so that's why I am giving it 4 stars. My friend and I went on a Saturday night and sat upstairs. The upstairs is more clubby and has a lounge vibe. The atmosphere is great and it's a fun place to go with friends. The sushi was great and fresh. The prices are pretty standard and the service was fast and kind. If you want a nice date place, go here. If you want something simple, go down the block to Cafe Sushi!
(4)
Jeff K.

I liked the food, went with a group of 8 and we all tried a few different sushi's and overall was impressed with all of them. I would suggest the green turtle, spicy tuna deluxe, deluxe, fuji role, chicago crazy and a few others. The only reason why I would not give it 5 stars was that i was semi expensive. It was not insane but on the higher side. Overall very good food
(4)
Tracy K.

Being in the area and hungry for sushi, I stopped in, by myself, for a late lunch. The host seemed confused by my midday presence. Maybe he thought I was lost? him: Can I help you? me: Yes, I'd like to eat lunch, please. him: Just you? me: Yes, just me. Making an already semi-awkward experience just a little weirder, I was their only diner. So I got to eat with an audience. Yay. Weirdness aside, my food (AAC maki and futomaki) were good and my waiter was extremely attentive.. probably because I was the only person there. I doubt I'll come back here, but mostly because I'm rarely in the area.
(3)
Nycole H.

Some friends and I went to Kamehachi Friday night for dinner, four of us. We got seats up stairs, it was a very tight space but it made sharing everything really easy without having to totally reach across people and across the table. We had several different rolls which I horribly can't remember. We had the spicy edamame which was just delicious, it tasted more garlicy then spicy to me which is good I can't do spicy. We all had the super white tuna and it was beyond good, I love super white tuna and I regret eating that first that would have been a great finish!! This was my first attempt to drink sake, and it was very good. It was kind of sweet which is a must for me. I really enjoyed it. Even though the sushi rolls were good, I still think my favorite Blu Coral comes out on top. The rolls at Kamehachi didn't have the really unique distinctive tastes. And one of my rolls was really overpowered by one fish when you should have gotten a taste of all of them.
(4)
Christine S.

My new Sushi Place! Been exploring the restuarants in the Gold Coast and Old Town as of late and this is my favorite place for Sushi. Fresh, reasonably priced and great drinks. Try and get a table upstairs if you can.
(5)
Kristy N.

Special Salmon roll was amazing and our server was awesome. The ChickenTeriyaki was huge, easily enough for two people. I'll be back!
(4)
Billy C.

This is the only Kamehachi restaurant I go to when I am Chicago. Although I haven't been there in over 2 years, on my most recent visit I still enjoyed their food, decor and atmosphere. I prefer dining upstairs (club like). I have dined a few times downstairs and it just wasn't the same. Dishes to try: 1. Absolutely the Oyster shooters 2. Kani Su (Real king crab) 3. Teriyaki Steak (NY Strip, medium rare) IT IS THAT GOOD! 4. Agedashi Tofu Sushi, Sashimi and Rolls are good but nothing special. Fish and Seafood ingredients are fresh. Felt good just like old times.
(5)
Brian M.

Went here with a large party 8+ before attending a second city show, we made reservations so we were able to get a seat, but the layout and size of the restaurant are definitely a little awkward. The sushi wasn't great, but definitely didn't blow me away, not like Coast or Japanais, but still pretty good. The turtle roll is the one I remember that stands out and it was delicious.
(3)
Daniil V.

You Should: Go if Nearby Sizzle: Solid sushi, slow service Juice: Good for groups - round up friends and get a private room
(3)
K. T.

This place doesn't look much on the outside, but once you're inside it's like a sigh of relief. Beautiful decor, friendly people and very fast service! The food was just perfect. I can't wait to go back before we leave Chicago!
(5)
Devon B.

I LOVE this restaurant! Super fresh sushi. Some of the best in the city. Super kind staff. I always come here for sushi. I've tried several other places but the consistency here is unmatched. Love the specials & sake options as well. Going tomorrow & can't wait!
(4)
Moise K.

This was my 2nd time ever having sushi and this time I took an expert with me. She ordered the Seaweed salad( Love it) ,Edamome (the green soy beans), dragon roll, spicy tuna roll, and Hamachi roll and I have No complaints. Wow... We had No reservation for a Saturday dinner and were seated within only 5 min. The staff was very friendly and professional! Above all, the food is great. ***Highly recommended***
(4)
Andy S.

I am a big fan of Japanese food. I love Rice balls (or Musubi), Katsu Don, and Sushi. This place managed to sort screw up on the Katsu Don. The meat was sort of Stale. Which, reminded of of Thai Spoon's leathery Chicken. The parking is atrocious, the service is ok. Nothing really fantastic about it. And Katsu Don took about 20-30 minutes to get ready.. which, shouldn't really be so... for Katsu Don. The prices are just too Expensive. It doesn't justify eating here. Try your luck at Sunshine Cafe in Andersonville. Much better service, cozier place, and great selection.. at a decent price. Oh, and there's decent parking spaces.
(2)
Elena A.

This is one of my favorite places to get sushi in the Chicago-area. Consistently delicious, the upstairs is a pretty comfortable place for small parties (5 or so) and the tatami room is really nice. I've always had excellent service while here (Cat is AWESOME), the drinks are good, and i love the food. The upstairs is decorated really nicely, but a bit dim - very nice date atmosphere though. My favorite roll is the green turtle roll - they're also very accommodating if you want to change things in the roll.
(4)
paul r.

Good food awesome decor.
(4)
Robin W.

I love this place...latest hours, great place for a date, perfect sushi, spring rolls and miso! Always opt to go upstairs, its more loungey.
(5)
Wing Yan C.

Um.. no! Just no.. it is not a good Japanese restaurant at all. I waited at least 20 mins for my food, I guessed there was a party somewhere. I ordered some sushi and sashimi but they don't have the fish taste at all!! Not fresh! I didn't tried their rolls maybe they r good.. but I would not go back.period.
(2)

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Address : 1531 N Wells St
Chicago, IL, 60610
Phone (312) 664-3663
Website https://kamehachi.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 12

Specialities

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

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Kamehachi

1531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL, 60610

Kamehachi Menu

Ko Guchi / Small Bites

Ko Guchi / Small Bites - Tokyo Flight

Oo Guchi / Big Bites

Tori Wake Mono / Sharing Items

Tori Wake Mono / Sharing Items - Kamehachi Skewers

Sushi Bar

Sushi Bar - Donburi-mono / Rice Bowls

Sushi Bar - Moriawase / Combinations

Nigiri & Sashimi / A La Carte

Maki-mono / Sushi Rolls

Maki-mono / Sushi Rolls - Kamehachi Signature Maki

Yasai Bu / Vegetarian Offerings - Yasai Maki Mono / Vegetable Rolls

Yasai Bu / Vegetarian Offerings - Yasai Nigiri / Vegetable Nigiri

Tsuke Awase / Side Dishes

Healthy Meal suggestions for Kamehachi

Ko Guchi / Small Bites

Ko Guchi / Small Bites - Tokyo Flight

Oo Guchi / Big Bites

Tori Wake Mono / Sharing Items

Tori Wake Mono / Sharing Items - Kamehachi Skewers

Sushi Bar

Sushi Bar - Donburi-mono / Rice Bowls

Sushi Bar - Moriawase / Combinations

Nigiri & Sashimi / A La Carte

Maki-mono / Sushi Rolls

Maki-mono / Sushi Rolls - Kamehachi Signature Maki

Yasai Bu / Vegetarian Offerings - Yasai Maki Mono / Vegetable Rolls

Yasai Bu / Vegetarian Offerings - Yasai Nigiri / Vegetable Nigiri

Tsuke Awase / Side Dishes

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