Recent visit was on a Saturday night at 6:00 PM, during restaurant week. Unfortunately, the restaurant week menu only applied to lunch and not to dinner. Never the less, note that there is valet parking for $14 just outside the restaurant and that the establishment is not wheel chair accessible. There are a four steps up to the main dining area and the rest rooms are down a steep flight of stairs. There is also a banquet room on the 2nd floor for events. Please note that if you are using a wheel chair or crutches, this would not be a pleasant climb up or down the stairs for you. With that said, when you walk in you are greeted with a beautifully decorated open space. To your immediate right, the bar area is a gorgeously decked out with sofa, tall tables, and almost floor to ceiling windows. A noteworthy mention, the bartender/ mixolgist Nahm is phenomenal at blending a drink to your liking. Get to know the man. Let the man get to know you. You will be pleased with his craft and get an amazing drink that will leave you dreaming about it for your next outing. And always, tip your bartender well. Moving along to the dining experience... the staff here are friendly, knowledgeable of the menus, and efficient. The only issue I had was that with service was that there was an up-charge with an item, which was not mentioned during the ordering process. Granted it was worth every penny, it would have been nice to not have a sticker shock at the end of the meal. Must try items: Sunda Hand Roll, Signature Crispy Rice w/ spicy tuna and sliced jalapeño on top Pork belly skewers,and Kale & seaweed salad. Each dish was delicately paired with their respective ingredients, giving you the experience of the 5 senses(touch, taste, sight, smell, & hear). Delicious, but could pass on the next try: Seared Crab-Crusted Ahi Tuna sashimi. The combination sounds amazing on the menu, but realistically, the creamy, yet crusty crab didn't work with the raw tuna. The Spicy "Tail of two tunas", also tasty, but not a fan of deep fried shallots. Maybe there will be a revisit just without the fried shallots, maybe not. Pass: The Lucky Scallop, which was the special roll for the night. On paper it sounded great. You have tempura unagi, avocado & cream cheese, topped with seared scallops, tobiko, and mayo. The scallops were small, and not seared to perfection. In the end, it was just too rich with the dairy, the deep fried, and the extra drizzle of whipped delicious fat. The meal was very filling. We would have passed on dessert, but there was a seasonal sorbet that caught our eye. Mango. Yum. It was the right end to a beautiful meal.
(4)
Shalizeh D.
We found Sunda on yelp and found reservations on opentable. The restaurant was packed at !0:15 on a Saturday night. Bachelorette parties, dates, girls nights. Sunda was the place to be. The food was excellent but spicy. Plates were meant to be shared. We had spicy tuna, curry, and spicy mushrooms. 3 plates splint among two and we were really full. Again - when the waiter says its spicy he is not kidding. The drink specials they had were also really refreshing. I had the lychee martini and really enjoyed it.
(4)
Sallyann Z.
Sigh, I wanted so much to love Sunda... I've had this restaurant on my list of places to try since I've moved here. The New Asian menu has my name written allll over it. Perhaps, I built up too high of expectations. But, there comes a day when you get overwhelmed by the plethora of options and you happen to order all the wrong things. My visit to Sunda was that day :( Before, I jump into the food, I want to note that service was impressive. Our waiter was funny and attentive. He gave thoughtful recommendations and even brought a free slice of cake with a side of birthday singing (we mentioned it was my roommate's birthday). Also, the venue was colorful and fun, albeit a little crammed as some of the tables were too close to each other. Now on to the food, I did vigorous stalking on Yelp to prepare my order for the night (Yes, I'm one of those people). Thankfully, one of my other roommates wanted to share food and let me do all the ordering so I was able to get a bit greedy with my selection: 1. First, the four of us ordered a round of cocktails to start the night off right. I ordered the Lychee Wasabi Cocktail. I consider myself adventurous when it comes to trying daring flavors, but the wasabi flavoring was way too overpowering and refused to let the Lychee shine. For a drink with a description that says "hint of wasabi," I was certainly let down. Not off to a good start, especially at the ~$15/drink cost... But my roommates loved their Strawberry Fields and Blackberry Limeade drinks! 2. The whole table shared the Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad. Wow! My favorite of the night - hands down. The minced shrimp, fish sauce-based vinigrette was killer. We probably would've licked the plate for any remaining brussel sprout, red cabbage, carrot or fried shallot crumb if it was socially acceptable. These are beyond any other brussel sprout dish I've ever had, even Uchi (Houston). 3. Oxtail Dumplings. Saw this a lot on the Yelp Reviews and it was good, but not great. Personally, I thought the filling was kind of heavy and seemed to be an odd combination. 4. Garlic Crab Noodle. The biggest disappointment of the night! This is asian-italian gone wrong. I love garlic, but it did NOT do it for me in this dish. It got kind of mushy and felt so, so heavy. I couldn't relish all the chunks of crab because it got lost in the other extreme flavors. 5. Red Dragon: shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, unagi, jalapeño, avocado, tempura crispies, unagi sauce. Tasty! This was a good roll and had nice crunch and spice from the jalapeño. My other roommate had some sashimi and did not get her bang for the buck. In fact, this phrase applies to the overall experience. Sunda is quite the pricey establishment and, while I know this happened to be an off-ordering night for me, I'm not sure that I'd come back to give it another try.
(3)
Rin N.
Came here for brunch twice and both were pretty good. Between three, we ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice, seared wagyu tatare crispy rice, pork belly steamed buns, and flake pork adobo fried rice. The crispy rice came together very well though some of the rice pieces were a tad bit to crispy and made it incredible hard to chew. The pork buns were good and very filling. The fried rice tasted very good. The egg was a nice touch but it was a little too oily for my liking. It definitely was a struggle for us to finish it.
(4)
Armando M.
Great atmosphere, excellent service and wonderful food. The tuna jalapeno roll was great but has a subtle flavor so have it first or it will get over powered by the other dishes. The Firecracker roll was also delicious. Great experience and the manager, Scott, was a gracious host.
(5)
Naomi L.
Long overdue. They do it right and accommodated, our large group negative last minute. Thanks to Nicole one of the owners my guests are still talking about this experience Yum to the Yum
(5)
Nadia S.
Love their brunch here! From the bloody mary cart to the tempura french toast... yum! They also have my fave dish- the rock shrimp tempura- on their brunch menu too and that is always great! And their bibimbap is DELICIOUS! Sunda's def one of my go-to's in Chicago
(5)
Nan M.
Just yuck. Duck mushy had nothing but mushrooms in it. 100 dB's in the room. Skip it!
(2)
Chris N.
Over rated...I sat at the bar by myself. After all my orders I felt like they were rushing me out of the restaurant. Bartender suggested 2 plates : rainbow roll and firecracker roll. The rainbow roll was whatever...but the firecracker was really good!! Drinks very expensive. By myself bill plus tax and tip cost about $75 which included 2 plates and 2 beers.
(3)
Nemcikova C.
Fucking fuck yeah! Best sushi IN THE CITY!!!!! Lindsey best server in the city. They treated me sooooo well on my bday!!!! Blackberry Lemonaid was sooooo good! Crazy rice amaaazing! Black cod was so tasty not like fish like freaking butter!!!! Will absolutely return! They KNOW how to treat clients!!!!!
(5)
Courtney N.
The food at Sunda was excellent, but the hostile service here made me wish I could get up and leave no fewer than five times. If I had not been there for a birthday party, I would not have spent a dime. The hostess went out of her way to make us feel like peasants upon our arrival. I lived in NYC for eight years and never encountered this much attitude in a restaurant. It was a surprise party for which we had arranged for the chef's table. We told this to the hostess, who told us that it didn't matter and that more of our party would have to be there for us to be seated. She suggested we surprise her at the (crowded) bar and then be seated. We stood at the bar, next to our large, clean, empty, reserved table (not, unfortunately, the chef's table). At the bar, my friend and I each ordered a $22 glass of champagne after waiting ten minutes to get the bartender's attention. Once we did, he had a bar back pour and serve it. I wanted to close out, but could not get the bartender's attention again. I waved my card at him desperately, then put it away and drank my champagne. One minute later, my male acquaintance who had arrived ordered a drink and the bartender asked him if he would like to pay for our champagne. I shouted (because it was very loud and the bar was too wide for any normal volume call to reach the man) that I would pay. Ten minutes later, I closed my tab. Our server walked away while I was ordering and finally took my and my friend's orders after most of my party had already eaten. My friends and I tried waving him down, but he would nod at us and then walk away and not return. At one point, he brought my friend an expensive drink that she did not order but did not stop long enough for us to say we needed food. I definitely would have stormed out in a normal situation if the waiter was rudely ignoring me and bringing random drinks without stopping, but this was a birthday. The food, once finally ordered, took a lot of time to come out, and we wondered if our server had forgotten to place the order for us. Everyone had completely finished their meals by the time ours arrived. The trend here of making people wait without acknowledging their presence or looking them in the eye really bothered me. There were actually more fiascos, but this review is long enough. Food aside, it was the worst dining experience I've ever had, including the time that I got food poisoning from a movie theater pizza. I never thought that poor service could completely ruin a delicious meal for me, but in this case, I would gladly have traded it for a stop at Portillo's or, better yet, waited two hours at the Michelin-starred restaurant down the block from my apartment. The service will likely put this place out of business if it continues to be this abysmal. I entered happy and left with a burning hatred for, and a borderline enmity with, most of employees there after being treated like I was invisible and somehow not worthy of eating there for hours.
(2)
Eric G.
Must get the Lobster roll with bacon! Also. Loud. Very.
(4)
Lisa H.
This place is a prime example of how everything deserves a second chance. I came here for dinner and drinks my first time over a year ago. We ordered a bunch of things, but i found everything to be standard and main draw back, over-priced. You can be over-priced, but you better be damn good to charge 1.5-2 times more than other places. Place is super trendy and really rowdy, which is kind of a turnoff for me. Decor and atmosphere wise, it's just another contemporary Asian fusion restaurant. Good looking, hip crowd. I came here for the second time a week ago. We ordered 10 dishes and a bunch of drinks. This time, everything tasted MUCH better and were more memorable. I don't think they changed chefs, so not sure what happened the first time. Drinks here are extremely pricey, on avg $15/cocktail, containing minimal alcohol, which annoys me. They sure are tasty though, so if you're a lightweight, these are perfect. Pity, i'm not. Drinks: Peared Sake and Grass Tiger (spicy kick to it), both were SO incredibly tasty. Food standouts: Crispy Brussel Sprouts. I know brussel sprouts are now offered at every trendy restaurant, BUT THESE, holy guacamole, are the most delicious, burst of flavor, makes me only want more with every bite. Miso Bronzed Black Cod: IMO, best dish they have. It's $35, but you will be blown away. GET THIS!!! You will be glad you did. Meat is silky and just melts in your mouth. I could daydream about this all day. Other memorable dishes were the Malay-Style Chilean Seabass, but i'm not a huge fan of the curry sauce mixed with my chilean seabass. Curry is too bold, and sorta overshadows the taste of the fish. Pork Adobo Fried Rice was scrumptious, a tad oily and heavy, but great portion for the price! Panang Chicken Curry, loved the spices used and the milky broth. Kinda spicy though. Service was exceptional given how busy they are. Our server checked up on us numerous times, filled our waters promptly, and was easy to get a hold of. Presentation was spot on, too, for drinks and food, even for the apps. Warning: Cocktails are way over-priced for the lack of liquor used.
(4)
Dragana M.
Very nice place,food is really good a little bit crowded on weekends but I love this place on Sunday night.They have very good Brussels sprouts salads!Serves was very nice too!
(4)
Rachel N.
My husband brought me to Sunda for my birthday last month. It was a great place to be for a celebration dinner. Our reservation was at 5:45PM which was perfect because we were going to the Book of Mormon immediately afterward. This was also great because when we first arrived it wasn't as packed or as loud as it was when we were leaving. Maybe I'm a fuddy-duddy but I like being able to hear people at my table without yelling! We ordered the appetizer of spicy edamame. I like spicy food but this was a little bit spicier than I would've liked. The chili's were getting stuck in my throat and making me choke a little. We also got the tiger shrimp tempura which was amazing. It was warm and creamy, and the shrimp with the candied walnuts was perfect. It was a great starter dish and I would definitely recommend getting it. We also got the crunchy pig, hidden lobster roll and the baked snow crab handroll. My husband also got some nigiri. All of the sushi was fresh and tasty. The crunchy pig, hidden lobster was surprising, but in a good way. It had bacon bits on top! I also had a strawberry fields drink, which was just ok. There were some things I would've changed about the experience (some of the servers) and some things that would make us come back (the food). Right after we were initially seated, we were right next to two really drunk men. One of the men knocked his wine glass over onto the floor, and red wine spilled all over me and glass was everywhere. Some of the service people thought that I had spilled the glass, and the gentleman that came with a broom to clean it up was very rude. He kept asking me to get up but there was glass all over the floor, on my chair, in my hair, etc. We ended up switching tables which was a pain for the staff, but we didn't want to sit next to drunks all night. The night certainly wasn't ruined by this, but this server was a bit ruder than he should've been (especially misplaced rudeness). One server came over with two glasses of sake to make up for it (big points for her). All in all it was a good night, great food, and would recommend for a sushi night out.
(4)
Emily P.
I'm so happy to have finally tried this place! I enjoyed dinner here on Valentine's Day (as part of a double date). We were promptly seated, most of the food & drinks were delicious, and service was great. FOOD + DRINKS -Signature crispy rice with wearer wagyu tartare: (5/5) DELICIOUS. This dish is one of the main reasons I will be returning to Sunda. My mouth is watering as I am thinking about it. The wagyu tartare melts in your mouth and an explosion of deliciousness awaits! -Lemongrass beef lollipops: (3/5) I think the restaurant makes a lot of these and has them laying around until they're ordered. We received these within 5 minutes of ordering them. They were room temperature and quite dry. They might've tasted better fresh. -Panang Chicken: (3/5) good, but overpriced. I don't think this dish was worth $15... even though it was presented in a cute coconut. The Panang Curry at Tub Tim Thai is $10 and just as tasty. -Adobo-braised pork belly: (3/5) This was the last dish I tried so I was quite stuffed. It was good, but again...overpriced at $28. -Unagi/foie nigiri: (2.5/5) honestly, it tasted like a slightly creamier shrimp tempura. Again, overpriced at $18 -Escolar "the Great White" Nigiri: (5/5) My second favorite dish of the night. You can smell the truffle as it enters your mouth. The crunchy potato chip is a great contrast with the escolar. -Blackberry Limeade: (4/5) mostly tart and slightly sweet. Lots of fresh muddled blackberries. Prepare to chew on a few blackberry seeds as you sip this refreshing drink. -Lychee Luxury Drop: (4.5/5) Clean, slightly sweet. I really liked this (no surprise since I like lychee). **I can't wait to go back and try their other dishes & drinks! SERVICE: (4.5/5) Rachel was friendly, helpful and attentive. We were never left feeling like we waited long before we got helped, yet we weren't bombarded the whole night. Our water glasses were kept filled and finished plates were removed promptly. Rachel recommended the Blackberry Limeade when I was looking for a cocktail.
(4)
Steve A.
I had high expectations for Sunda, and they were met in some areas, but not all. The best item we sampled was the Crispy Brussels Sprouts, a superb house specialty; thin slices of broccoli are almost toasted, then tossed with red cabbage, carrots, chilies, fried shallots, and minced shrimp and served with nuoc cham (a rice wine vinegar dressing). I couldn't stop eating this! Tiger Shrimp Tempura was interesting in that it was served with candied walnuts, but the creamy honey aioli was really slathered on and made it very rich. "Grilled Spare Ribs" are actually Korean style kalbi ribs, not my favorite. Sushi was less inspiring. We tried several house special rolls, and none was greater than the sum of its parts. Spicy Salmon Shiso was particularly odd, with very finely ground salmon tartare and a dollop of sriracha on top of a thin slice of jicama and a shiso leaf. The ingredients were fine when picked apart, but the combination was a bit of a mess. The wine and beer list in interesting, with many selections, including some excellent Champagnes, available by the glass. The space is stylish and vibrant, and the service was efficient, if not inspired.
(3)
Ken R.
Gorgeous. Loud. Expensive. Inflexible. Slow. But gorgeous nonetheless. After 30 minutes we left having only been served a beer.
(1)
Ronell W.
Great service, awesome food. You can't go wrong with any of the pork dishes and the Seoul Fried Chicken is amazing. For dessert, get the Ridiculous. You won't regret it.
(5)
Michelle T.
I came here on June 21st for an early dinner with my boyfriend. It was my second time coming here and his first. We started off with a few drinks; Lychee Luxury Drop cocktail and a Goose Island beer on tap and appetizers; Ichimi Watarigani and Spicy edamame, all of which were delicious. We then ordered The Number Ten signature sushi roll which was to die for! It was deep fried and came in 8 pieces, probably the best roll I have ever had. For our entrees I got the Char Siu BBQ Ribs and my boyfriend got the Panang Chicken. His came served in an actual coconut that you can eat and mine was enough for 4 people. This would've given Fred Flinstone a run for his money. I would say we were very satisfied with our meals. The quality and service were top knotch! Thank you for the wonderful experience Sunda!
(5)
Lyna L.
I rate 3-star as a disappointed first time guest . Foods are small portions, overpriced. Place was noisy, over-booked, it is just wrong for a romantic setting. The "pho" is unacceptable. They should change this dish's name to some thing else, for their overdoing the taste, the flavor, the way we eat pho.
(2)
Aditi G.
This is the most delicious and mouthwatering food I've ever had! My friend who was visiting from Germany and I went and this was one of her favorite meals ever! She is obsessed with sushi and has had it all over the world and this definitely stacked up with all the other places she's tried! We both started with the mushroom miso soup and I don't think I've ever had a more fresh or flavorful miso soup! Such a delicious starter! Then we got the shiitake and edamame dumplings which = WIN! We also got a firecracker roll, salmon roll and some sort of salmon and vegetable wrapped deliciousness that I now cannot remember the name of! It was so good! IDOS aka I dream of Sunda!
(5)
Sam M.
Noisy, expensive and very average fare. Dont know that the fuss was all about. The "sizzling" noodle dishes that were served on the wrought iron platters were lukewarm to cold! And this is when I asked the waiter to help me with popular choices. I'll skip it next time. Chicago has way too many better options.
(2)
Jen B.
I'm still in a food coma as I am writing this review for Sunda, so my review may be slightly biased. Two of my friends and I decided to have dinner at Sunda earlier tonight, and we were the first patrons for dinner service. We arrived five minutes before their opening time of 5 p.m., and the hostess allowed us to sit at the bar until the tables had been set. I watched as the servers set the tables with great care: plates, cutlery, chopsticks, glasses, and a black napkin. Another hostess then came and escorted us to our table. Our server came and asked if we wanted bottled or tap water, and we chose tap water. Water service was excellent as our glasses were consistently refreshed. We had heard about the happy hour specials, and that had enticed us to come to Sunda instead of Roka across the street. However, the happy hour specials on the Sunda Social menu available online are only available in the bar or adjacent lounge. Our server brought us the social menu, and it wasn't as impressive as the dinner menu. We opted to stay at our table, and ordered three menu items: crispy brussels sprouts salad, summer garden cut roll, and chili albacore sashimi. The sashimi was my fourth "raw" meal in four days, starting with the raw bar at the Hubbard Inn. Knock on wood, I've been in good health, but I'm always a little bit hesitant when it comes to raw seafood and meat. The items were prepared well, and came in good portion sizes for three people to have a three-course "tasting menu." Sashimi with 8 slices of albacore, 3 cups of salad, and 4 pieces of the roll. The salad lived up to its hype: It's almost like eating fried veggies! There's just a bit of a char to the brussel sprouts, and the dressing comes on the side, so you can dress your salad as much or as little as you would like. Our server offered to mix the salad and dressing for us, but I just jumped in and poured the cup over the salad and my friend and I blended the salad with the two serving spoons. We opted against dessert, but there is a new smore-inspired dessert that is served in a mason jar. I recommend Sunda for casual get-togethers with friends, family, and co-workers. Its loud, as many other Yelpers have indicated, so perhaps not the best venue for date nights or to hold a conversation.
(4)
Andy R.
Lil pricey but food was tremendous . Drinks were great.the only negative was the Ginger braised long rib was too fatty not enough meat . Overall lovely ambience and friendly tender at the bar
(4)
Norm J.
Sunda has been one of my favorite places to dine at for over 3 years. The food and service are always on the spot. I've been here for lunch and dinner and I have never been disappointed with my selections. The only downside with Sunda is how loud this place gets. I don't know why restaurants in River North feel the need to either have bad to no lighting, loud music and/or tables so close together you can hear your neighbor chewing his/her food. I must give a shout out to Kimberly who is a server at Sunda and is awesome! She always gives good drink and food suggestions, has a great personality and each time I've sat in her section I've had amazing service. If you come to Sunda, I recommend you try: - Lemongrass Beef Lollipops - Miso Cauliflower - Seared Crab-Crusted Ahi Tuni Sashimi - Grilled Spare Ribs - Pancit Canton - Crispy Duck Fried Rice - Miso-Bronzed Black Cod
Great food! I got the brussel sprout salad as an appetizer and it is as amazing as everyone says it is. Then I got the barbequed octopus. Everything was delicious, and the portions were a good size. Great service, as well. My only complaint was that it was very noisy. I went on a Tuesday and it was packed, so it is definitely a popular place.
(5)
Megan S.
Different than expected. A coworker raved about this place so we braved the cold to go. The ambiance is awesome but the little non-traditional for us. It was rather expensive for the quantity of food. The service was great and who doesn't love Apple pay via open table (app). All in all I enjoyed it but I don't know if we'll be back.
(3)
Erica W.
This place is clean and spacious. But feels pretentious at the same time. It is in a touristy area and it's a fusion place. Don't expect much.
(2)
Katherine G.
I was thrilled to try the Adobo fried rice and the oxtail dumplings and they did not disappoint. We also ordered a hamachi dish as well as a sushi roll. They were good as well. The ambiance was nice. The service was good. We were sat pretty quickly even without dinner reservations. The prices are on the high side but I think they are on point with what you're getting. Dee Snyder was dining there the night we went so that's pretty cool too.
(5)
Ha T.
Quiet affordable if you go for the Bento box and 1 chef specialty roll. I chose spicy tuna and expected the typical marinated in chilly power/sauce tuna. IT WAS NOT! Spicy Tuna came out as tuna and chilly. So it has the natural spiciness, not the spike and rough spiciness of chilly powder. Each slice was put in top a tiny slice of lemon which is a game changer for the taste. For 8.88$/roll, this is the best it can be. For the Bento we went for the ribs which also tasted awesome.
(4)
Cannie W.
We were a group of 4 and ordered several dishes from different sections of the menus. We loved the fried brussel sprouts, the stuffed avocado and our main courses the duck fried rice, crazy noodles and the pork belly. They were delicious and worth the money. I am not sure if i was a fan of that $18 dollar unagi sahimi that was only 4 small pieces and I noticed on other people's tables that the sushi rolls were quite smaller than expected, if that is only drawback I may mention. Prices are rather steeper on the Japanese food section.
(4)
B T.
This place is legit! If your a Bloody Mary fan then you must try the Sumo Mary! I rolled up and got a nice surprise. It's a drink and a meal. You'll be full and have a great drink. Service and atmosphere is awesome.
(5)
David R.
I came here 5 years ago and the food was great. So I came back here. Lemongrass lollipop, pho, lobster and wagyu rolls. Duck fried rice, everything was awesome. Definitely will come back to explore the rest of the menu.
(5)
Todd M.
Sour grapes. Can't begin to imagine what could have happened to the people who gave bad reviews. Maybe just an off night? Not one complaint. It was attentive w/o being overbearing, sincerely friendly. And as if it needed anymore of a glowing recommendation, the some of the cast of Chicago Fire & Chicago PD were here tonight. Great food & hip, happening environment.
(5)
Tristin H.
Went for the first time last weekend. What took me so long? Excellent, from the service to the atmosphere (though a bit loud) and the food. We shared a few plates, with our favorite being the Rock Shrimp Tempura and the Lobster & Wagyu roll. I'd easily go back just for either of those alone. We had to pick from about 10 items that we wanted, so there's definitely plenty to choose from, including several non sushi/seafood options if that's not your thing.
(5)
P L.
I was visiting Chicago and my friend took me here for brunch. Ordered the tom kha gai and tocino on crispy rice patty, and loved both. Only 4 stars because I'm not into a live DJ and lounge-y lighting for brunch.
(4)
Liz S.
After a crappy dinner at Vinyl, a friend and I decided to sneak out to Sunda! She had been there before and has been talking up a storm about it so I had to give it a try! I just loved the overall ambiance (dim lighting but just enough to know what you were eating, medium volume music, where I could still hear my friend talking). The waiter was knowledgeable and knew what to suggest food and drink wise. Since our tummies were still a little upset from Vinyl (review to follow)--we went light with the Crisp Rice with Wagyu Beef, Shrimp Tempura with Pecans and Baked Snow Crab Handroll. Everything was so delicate and delicious and and and and sooooo good. I can't wait to go back with a full appetite. I know I can put a hurting on some more!
(5)
Alix R.
I had a birthday lunch here with a friend last week. The place is classy and well decorated. The staff is professional and attentive. The food was good, but the seared kobe sushi that the waiter recommended was just ok, a little greasy. The rest of the sushi was pretty good and very fresh. We also had an eggroll thing that tasted an awful lot like the appetizer at Rockit Bar and Grill. Methinks they definitely creatively alter some of the recipes to suit both restaurants. The waiter did offer us a free dessert for my birthday and let me say, the "Ridiculous" was, in fact, just that.
(3)
Scotty L.
Brilliant. Excellent service- timely, personable. Food is excellent- Gorgeous space. There are a handful of places that really bring quality to the table- pardon the pun, and sunda does it in the most personal, professional way. The manager, Brett, check on our experience numerous times, and jimmy, our waiter was completely attentive and anticipated all of our needs. I was really appreciative of the dedication to the folks in our party who had dietary restrictions- in most restaurants it feels like baggage- but here it was nothing but hospitality!
(5)
I P.
Awesome food! Totally unexpected. You have to get the brussel sprout salad. I never order salads usually when I'm out to dinner but this was so tasty. It almost reminded me of the food at Buddakan in NYC but obviously not as fancy. I also enjoyed the shrimp appetizer but it could have had some more spice to the sauce for extra flavor.
(4)
Melissa C.
I love Asian Fusion and I LOVE Sunda. Great food, and great service. It's always busy so reservations are highly recommended. Everything we ordered was terrific, and we were lucky that they sent out some additional sushi rolls that were out of this world!
(5)
Prince M.
Hand's down THE BEST RESTAURANT in Chicago. They nail it at everything.. Customer service, Food, Presentation, Atmosphere. There is a reason you see so many of Chicago''s elite and visiting celebrities enjoying this establishment. They take fine dining to a new level with their unique dishes and incredible service. Anytime I have friends or family come in from out of town this is where I take my guests to impress them. If I could give Sunda 7 stars I would.
(5)
Evelyn C.
Food was decent. Just that. Service was absent. Too much money for too little. There are other places to get a tocino breakfast.
(2)
Julie M.
I like this place so much, I've been here about 4 times in the past 6 months. Everything looks so good, but I pretty much stick to the same things each time: the signature spicy tuna with the crispy rice, the jalapeno yellowtail, the summer roll, and the roll with the lobster, kobe sashimi and foie gras (how can you go wrong, really??). I've gotten the miso crusted cod before and that was perfect! Ahhhh, so yummy! The drinks are unique. The place is huge. It seems like they have a little less than half the restaurant for reservations while the rest of the areas (sushi bar, communal tables, lounge area) are first come, first served.
(4)
Erika A.
All I can.say is everytime I go.here I am very happy very full and very tipsy. Everything is delicious here. The service always exceeds expectations! I never remember what I order because our server always makes amazing suggestions. They also have a great beer selection and they give great suggestions about that too! I l especially love the soy paper rolls and hitachino beer! A big plus is that it looks awesome in there! Will.continue to go.back. I will add it has a higher price tag so its not a place I go to often but I make it count!
(5)
Tony B.
Had 3 very enjoyable experiences there one for dinner two for apps/cocktails. Like the decor and food was very good, I am not single but I would recommend to upscale professional guys there seem to be many groups of women there, not a pickup atmosphere but great place to meet in a cool atmosphere.
(5)
Gina M.
Hands down the best sushi in Chicago. Yes it is expensive but I feel like you get what you pay for here. The entrees are delicious as well. Great service, great atmosphere, and a great time. I can't wait for another special occasion so I can return.
(5)
Tiffany H.
Sunda is one of my favorite Sushi spots in Chicago. The food is phenomenal. The Rock Shrimp, Brussel Sprout Salad and Spicy Tail of Two Tunas are must haves. They have always been very accommodating of my reservations requests. Aeron Lancero is great to work with. I would highly recommend Sunda for a fun night out!
(5)
Eliot G.
Been here for Sunday brunch a few times. Absolutely love it! Incredible bang for you buck. It is a high end restaurant, excellent ingredients, creative and unique dishes. Tempura french toast, pork belly with poached eggs are awesome. Super large portions as well. Solid bloody marry bar. With entrees only $10-$14 you can't beat it! Highly recommend.
(5)
Christy A.
5 star sushi joint...I almost can't say much more because it can only be justified by an actual experience but I'll elaborate for the purposes of this review and because YOU ARE WORTH IT! 1. Valet park (it's not worth fighting with traffic unless you want to park and walk a bit) 2. The decor once you enter is beautiful (totally upscale) 3. Have them hang your outerwear (you don't want that coat clashing with your outfit anyway) 4. Have a drink at the bar because you'll be waiting for a seat unless you've made reservations. Even still, have a drink at the bar it's awesome. 5. There's not a bad seat in the house (ambiance is EVERYTHING) 6. The Prawns are to die for (start off with 2 orders) 7. The sushi is beautiful, fish is delicious, rice is fluffy and desserts are mouthwatering. 8. Service is sharp 9. Ladies room is downstairs (don't be afraid, may appear dark & off-putting) it's very clean. 10.Bill adds up be prepared to blow the budget (YOU ARE WORTH IT!)
(5)
Maggie H.
The food tastes fine, although it's not super creative Asian fusion per se. A lot of the dishes are a direct copy of something from an Asian cuisine, renamed fancily, and served in smaller tapa sized portions. On food and atmosphere alone I would say it's a four, but have you seen the prices here?? $20 for fried rice?? Give me a break. For the amount you will spend here you can get a much better/more satisfying meal elsewhere. I will sum it up by saying this place is kind of like the hipster tapas version PF Chang perhaps - tastes fine, but not worth it if you've had good, authentic Asian food. If you're not very familiar with Asian cuisine and don't frequent authentic Asian restaurants though, this is probably not a bad place to check out.
(3)
David B.
Went for lunch, it was good, the sushi rolls were good, the octopus tacos were not very good
(3)
Joey M.
Came to Sunda for a "business meeting" and mostly just had the sushi. I also tried the oxtail miso soup and the spicy edamame. All great choices. I like the decor. It was a tad bit loud and maybe a bit trendy/hip for my taste but over all it was great and I would highly recommend Sunda if you are taking someone on a date. I wouldn't recommend it for a business meeting, however. Go to a quieter place. :)
(4)
Zeid S.
Not worth the hype. We were also misled by the waiter who told us that everything is to share. Definitely not to share, as the entrees are made for a single person. The sushi rolls are overpriced and just average. I had the long rib, it was ok. It lacks having a side. I wasn't impressed. The place looks really nice though.
(3)
Kate S.
Mind blown. Best sushi in Chicago. And amazing service too!! Seriously... My new jam.
(5)
Stephanie S.
Can someone please give me the recipe for rock shrimp? Please??? While this place is a bit pricey, I think the definition of a great restaurant is a place that makes you think and crave the food long after you've eaten there. The rock shrimp, brussels sprout salad, and spicy tuna are all phenomenal. I crave it every day.
(5)
Tamara P.
We've been trying to get to Sunda for more than a year and finally had dinner there on a whim. We had highs & lows to our experience, but overall - definitely a tally in the win column and we'll be back. Here's how our 3 hour Sunda tour went (yes, almost 3 hours on a Monday night! Yikes!). We had reservations for 8:30 pm and arrived with a minute to spare. We were asked to have a seat at the bar while they prepared the table. We seized the opportunity to try a couple of martinis. My husband ordered 'The Jaded Heart' (no pun intended!) and I the Lychee Luxury Drop. We both LOVED the green chartreuse flavor in his martini and mine was sweet & refreshing. After about 15 min, the hostess came to let us know that our table was almost ready. Five minutes later, she revisited to let us know we could either eat at the bar where we were or take a table in the lounge. We were most interested in taking in the ambiance of the dining room (thus the reservation!) so we asked if we could wait for a table. Again, she returned just after 9 and tried to sell us on eating at the bar, but we preferred to wait. Miraculously, around 9:10 pm, we were shown to a table (which rocked like the Titanic on its last eve). Our waiter did try to place some shims under the table, which helped a bit; he also offered to move us to another table, but warned us it might be a while until one would be available. We politely declined :) Onto the food! We started with the Dynamite Oysters and the Oxtail Pot Stickers. Both were delish, but the Dynamite Oysters are extra special and I highly recommend them. As for their Signature Sushi, our two must haves next time are the Lobster & Wagyu and the Baked Snow Crab Handrolls. Both were absolutely amazing. I wouldn't waste the tummy space on the basil shrimp sushi. It was just ok, nothing special. And I highly recommend avoiding the calories of the Crunchy Pig, Hidden Lobster. It was mushy & sloppy & not much by way of fresh, distinct flavor. The firecracker was a win too, but didn't rate as highly as the coveted Lobster & Wagyu or the Snow Crab hand rolls. For dessert, we shared the Creme Brulee special, which was really wonderful and had a number of contrasting textures & flavors from the jack fruit & red beans to purple yam ice cream down to the creamy creme brulee base. Definitely a winner & worth the calories! Overall, our server was very nice and made some great recommendations, but the timing of the different dishes was painful! We ordered everything up front, but there were times we waited 15 - 20 minutes in between sushi dishes to arrive. Each dish came separate, which was great and allowed us to experience each individually, but the wait time in between dishes was undesirable (the Sunda team could take a lesson or three from the Girl & The Goat on timing; now there's a place that has it down!). So the timing was a bit disappointing and caused us to be there upwards of 3 hours. We weren't expecting a quick dinner, but would much prefer to be around the 1.5 - 2 hour mark on a Monday night. Also, although our waiter was very professional, some of the other staff were not. While we were eating, several times we had wait staff reach across our plates/table while we were in the midst of dishing out sushi / eating. Once I was mid bite and someone's arm came across mine. Wow! We really enjoy sake, but don't know enough about it to order a great bottle and most often ask for a recommendation. Our waiter highly recommended the Tyku Black. It was very mild and uninspiring. That was a $75 miss for us. Next time, I'll order another cocktail or two and skip the saki since their martinis were so delish! So bummed I forgot to try the Bacon Old Fashioned, but something to look forward to on our next Sunda tour! Despite the length of time of our experience and the misses on some of the dishes, there were some amazing dishes and cocktails that we'll have to experience again. We'll be back!!
(4)
Carol M.
Went there with a group of 7 and sat in the back of the restaurant, which was sectioned off by large glass, at a large table. The front of the restaurant was crowded, noisy, trendy, tables close to each other. Very fun looking and happening type of place. We shared so many dishes that I can't remember them all. The rock shrimp tempura was yummy! Would recommend and would go again.
(5)
Abdulla M.
If you're young and you appreciate good asian fusion you should definitely come here! the only bad thing about this restaurant is trying to find a reservation! Their food is excellent and their sushi is also quite good! Very hip and young crowd! servers are generally nice.
(4)
Tracy B.
Our server was Ben. He was FANTASTIC. Very knowledgeable with the menu & all the different items we were interested in. We started with an appetizer & then ordered four maki rolls, the golden child, caterpillar, dragon, & rainbow roll. All were VERY delicious & FRESH. I would consider this one of my favorite sushi places to go. I haven't tried the other items on the menu, but I absolutely LOVE their sushi. The service was wonderful & I left feeling very satisfied.
(5)
Paul K.
Ate there tonight with another couple. More style over substance. The space is beautiful. However, it is very loud. We sat in the corner and could barely hear each other. The food was ok. The noodle dish was ok. The beef shank was bad. The service was very bad. We had to wait a long time to be seated. The meal was slow. Just not what you would expect for the price. You can find just as trendy places elsewhere. You can get just as good or better food most other places.
(2)
Antoinette B.
Atmosphere - fabulous, trendy with a modern vibe. Service - no complaints. Food was amazing and inventive! The favorites of the night were the oxtail potstickers, beef lollipops, and the crispy pata. My girlfriends and I ordered dishes and ate family style so we could try multiple items on the menu. Sushi was fresh, but not the best in the city - would definitely come back here again but to try more of their entrees. Cocktails...my gf absolutely LOVED the Kung Pao Mango. Had a sip of it and it was very fresh tasting.
(4)
Ange L.
So I went to Sunda a couple of weeks ago on a Tuesday night with my girlfriends. We didn't have reservations, but we were able to grab 3 seats at the bar. The bar tender was very nice and provided good service. Let me say that the food was great! We ordered a variety of dishes and every single one was delicious. The ambiance was quite nice as well. The only reason why I am not giving this place 5 stars is because it takes a long time to get a reservation, but, if you plan ahead of time, I'm sure the planning will be worth it. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Beng E.
Ate here for our anniversary. The rock shrimp tempura and baked dynamite roll were really good. The crispy pata was tender but we were disappointed that it didn't have the crispy skin on it. Its just 'pata'. The seven spice chicken was good. Dessert was just ok. We ordered 'Ridiculous' for dessert. We definitely will come back again but will probably stick to the dimsum and sushi items. Oh I almost forgot to mention that they have pork adobo fried rice, that was really good too but something we can make at home.
(3)
Mehgan T.
AMAZING! We went on a Monday night at 9 pm and it was packed! Great atmosphere and even better sushi. Everything we ordered was amazing. Both mine and my friend's cocktail was so good and I usually don't drink during dinner. For food, two of us shared the crab wrapped with salmon, the blue crab roll, "tale of two tunas" roll, and escolar (my favorite!). The menu is huge and they had many cooked dishes also. Wish I lived there so I could go back!
(5)
Amanda H.
This was my 3rd time at Sunda and all the other times were great, but it's restaurant week and I was so disappointed in our entrees. We got one filet and one BBQ pork. The pork was super fatty and under-cooked and the steak was practicaly raw in the middle. I was really disappointed because my boyfriend had never been there - not a great first impression. I'm bummed because I used to be a fan...
(2)
Bao L.
Went here w/ some friends on a Tuesday night. Sunda is a nicely decorated spot that seems to be great for big groups or dates. -Crispy brussels sprouts salad: one of the better brussels sprouts salads I've had. -Pork belly baos: nice steamed buns, good flavor on the pork belly. Liked this more than the duck baos -Duck baos: see above -Lemongrass beef lollipops: all of my friends liked this, but I thought it was just ok...that may be because I'm Vietnamese and have had almost every type of lemongrass flavored beef dish there is. -Chili albacore sashimi: fresh, thinly sliced, and perfect amount of heat and tanginess w/ the ponzu sauce -Lobster and wagyu: a real solid dish (then again, lobster and wagyu is always a great combo) We also got a bunch of cocktails. I had "The Remedy" - a cocktail w/ Yamazaki 12 year. I know some people may say it's criminal to drink Yamazaki as part of a cocktail and not drink it neat, but this drink was very tasty and mixed beautifully. The prices are on the higher side, but the quality of the food and drinks is on point.
(4)
Emily P.
This is the best place to enjoy sushi on the city! The service is great, the food is fantastic (seriously... Try the caterpillar sushi roll), and the atmosphere is loud but upscale. While the food is a bit on the pricier side, it is definitely worth it for a night out. They even have trained sommeliers on staff who will help you pick the best wine or sake option to pair with your meal and an excellent gluten free menu!
(5)
Ibrahim S.
The food was fantastic. The meat that was served was some of the best I have had. The hostess was very helpful and concerned. Note: Seating can be more comfortable.
(5)
Ever D.
Great food, great ambiance and great people watching.... I love the Duck hash salad and the rock shrimp appetizer. All of the food was great, from the sushi to the hot entrees, nothing disappointed me. The waitstaff were attentive and checked up on us in a timely manner. I does get VERY busy, so you definitely will need a reservation for a Friday or Saturday night, and its a great place to dine before heading out. The bar is a great place to hang while waiting for your table. It can get loud, so if your looking for a quiet place for dinner, pick a time early in the evening for your reservation and you shouldn't have a problem. I will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Lauren V.
Went for lunch at 1pm with girlfriends. Service at the front door was great. The place was clearing out, but they still sat us at a table in between other parties....not cool. Service at the table by Nicki was sloooow. This is lunch, not a dinner affair. Food is mediocre; I agree with other yelpers about there being more authentic sushi places. Nicki screwed up the bill at the end (when we finally got it); had to re-do it which took more time.....ugh. It's also a tad pricey....if I go back, a) I won't sit in Nicki's section; b) I'll make sure someone else pays!!
(2)
HockeyFan W.
Excellent food, great drinks and fun atmosphere. It is a little difficult to hear anything in there though as the tables are packed together. Both my experiences have been good and I will definitely be going back
(4)
Dawn D.
A friend and I decided to try Sunda for brunch. Excellent choice! I've been to Sunda for Dim Sum in the Dark so I was familiar with the atmosphere and the food. On to the brunch: we munched on Southeastern Chop Chop Salad, Crispy Salmon salad and tempura shrimp rolls. All divine. The greatest treat of them all was the strawberry-passionfruit mimosa. I'm not ashamed to write I had 3. Um, it was a long week.
(4)
Susan F.
What's not to love about a place where you can eat a million different dishes with your friends and not feel over-stuffed at the end? Sunda offers and extensive menu of asian-fused cuisine that most people choose to share. They do have big dishes you can eat on your own, but it's much more fun to just order a bunch of hot or cold apps and dig in. They have sushi, noodle dishes, and innovative salads that make it easy to try and share. The rock shrimp, blue crab noodle dish, crab cake sashimi are fantastic. They also have amazing mochi in a bunch of great flavors. The atmosphere is pretty happenin on most nights and there is a lot of great seating available.
(4)
Peter C.
One of the things that I liked about Sunda is the decor. The Southeast Asia region is very beautiful. However, I go to a restaurant for the food, and the food here was just okay. I love authentic Southeast Asian food and this was more Southeast Asian fusion. The price was about $90 for an appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 drinks which is average for being in downtown but not really worth the price for what you get. Our server was actually pretty rude but pehaps she was just a bad apple. Worth a try.
(3)
Vanessa D.
Neatural Review... First time to this place on a Saturday afternoon dinner time. We had been downtown walking all day. The place is nice, most people are well dressed compared to us. You never know what affect how you look can affect your service....anyways, the place wasn't packed and we got seated right away. Our server was polite but i noticed other servers were more attendant to their tables vs our server. He did a good job walking us through the menu, however checking on us wasn't the greatest. I ordered a cocktail (can't remember the name) but was very good. We ordered total of 3 different sushi styles (which all tasted good) and a order of "crazy rice" which also was very good. However we waited forever for our crazy rice. And i noticed other people who had gotten sat down after us got theirs sooner. I gave this place 3 stars, and my opinion is 3 stars because it's nice and tasted good but for the price and our personal service wasn't the best.
(3)
Tnon A.
Had a chance to go in for lunch last week. I ordered mini soft shell crabs appetizer, some uni and scallop nigiri, and lunch special steak dish. Food were great but the service was a little less than ok. Will go back again but will try not to sit at the same section where that server was.
(4)
Od B.
Food was yummy and waiter was very nice. Brussel salad is a must to try. Also pork belly screws were delicious. Very crowded and loud. Hard to talk
(4)
Emann B.
Being a bit of the Asian Persuasion, I was looking forward to finally trying Sunda especially since Billy Dec is half-Pinoy and has great Filipino references on the menu. The food was fine, but overall lacked flavor. The sushi rolls were OK, but nothing you can't get anywhere else. The restaurant is beautiful and nicely laid out, and the hosts and servers were friendly, attentive, with nice smiles. Which is why I bumped this up to three stars. Oh, the one crime: they didn't turn over the flatware. I know, I know, it's more green, save the earth, etc..., but I don't really want to see my used knife and fork placed back on the table while they switch out my plate.
(3)
David C.
Chicago is a hard place to find good sushi, but this place has it. The fish is fresh. Some rolls are creative, while others are reliable classics. The staff and management are polite and helpful (rare at a busy hot spot). It's a little loud and crowded for my taste, but that's the market voicing its loud and positive opinion.
(4)
Terrence C.
Sunda has an awesome atmosphere, and service was pretty good. I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary sushi, but I gave it a shot. I ordered this tuna roll, that came out looking like a japanese spin on a taco. I didn't have anything that tasted bad, and the hip vibe or the place makes it entertaining. I would suggest sticking to things on the menu that are traditional. Everything tasted ok, but the presentation was appeasing to the eyes, but just par on the taste buds If you want a hip place to take a date too. fine. If you want to get down on some good sushi, there are much much better spots.
(3)
Ariel L.
Quick summary: Good food (although small portions) at an expensive price. Everything I had was tasty, but nothing blew me away. I was impressed by the large and diverse menu, and good cocktail menu to boot, but the crowd was the too cool for school crowd. The place was also quite loud and i nearly had to yell to be heard at my own table. Would I go back? Probably. But i certainly will not rush back.
(3)
Jaison P.
Finally tried Sunda and I was not disappointed. Like others have said this is def a place to see and be seen. This atmosphere may not be for everyone but what a cool environment. I was surprised to see how socially oriented it felt with closely spaced tables and the long community table in the middle but chatting up randoms after a few drinks can be fun. Overall, I had a great first experience. The bar area was a little packed with loud, drunk old douchers but thats what you get at a trendy place in the city. I will be back very soon...I must have another Baked Snow Crab Handroll. The dynamite sauce in it = spicy sex magic
(4)
Tracy F.
I've been to this restaurant probably close to ten times. I have to say it gets worse every time. I'm not sure if they're just comfortable with their success, but the food and service gets more "meh" each time I'm there. For the price, it should be outstanding. But, some of the sushi rolls and entrees are just average. I would say their appetizers are by far and away the best items on the menu. And they have a great Asian beer list. If you can get a table in the lounge, go for it - it's a great vibe, though the seats at the low-tops are a little uncomfortable (no back).
(3)
Ian O.
Interesting menu doesn't live up to our hopes. When you charge premium prices, everything should be fresh and exciting. Precut sushi fish and other food a little dry. We enjoyed it, service was good. But we won't be back. Trendy scene, more for the over 30- set (like us!)
(2)
Brad C.
I'm the first real person to review this restaurant, yeah! Some faint praise: I think pan-asian, by its inherent nature, is mostly awful; this was not. It was not memorable, but probably better than it really has to be. At least this year. The room, as I'm sure someone above noted, is very pretty: black, lacquered wood, etc. I suppose it can best be surmised as capturing the feel of the signature restaurant in an expensive boutique hotel--that is, it looked like a large investment firm plopped $6-7 million into it as a loss leader to burnish an image. Except it's a stand alone venture. And one supposes the layout, naturally set up so that you can leer at other people poking at their food (while staring back at you, of course), encourages you to linger and quaff a few more $14 cocktails. Can't knock the hustle. Service is mechanical but efficient. Heavily staffed, but stiff. They served an amuse of fried duck skin and some marinated cabbage. I could say this had nothing on Sun Wah but the real problem is that it pretty much had nothing: some cracklins and some ribbons of cabbage. Very prescient of what was to come. Our waitress suggested we pick one or two things from every category; there were at least six categories. Good one. We went with a salad, an appetizer, a noodle dish, and split an entree; we took home leftovers. We had: 1) Salad:burnt watermelon and unagi "nigiri" (chili-caramelized watermelon, peppercress, unagi "bacon", mango, lime)--there were five "pieces" for $14. Not offensive in the least; entirely forgettable in a heartbeat. The unagi was grilled and very lightly soaked in a surprisingly not-too sweet sauce, thankfully; I suppose it's called "bacon" because of how thinly sliced it was. The watermelon was neither caramelized or chili-ized; the citrus fruits were non-existent; the peppercress was merely garnish. I ordered this dish because of nod--intentional or not--to the picked watermelon and pork belly dish at Fatty Crab in NYC, a dish I think is one of the more seminal plates of this decade of American dining. There, the fatty niblets of pork mirror the texture of the fruit, and the sweet and tartness of these two ingredients, respectfully, intermingles in a playful and delicious manner. Here, while certainly playful, the joy was lacking: the eel was a bit mushy and the watermelon was a lukewarm thud, with no crispness or snap; because neither had been given a resolute flavor profile, it was like eating two slightly adverse textures. Eaten, but with a sigh. 2) Hot Appetizer: "Toast and Jam"--shrimp toasts and a ramekin of spicy tuna tataki. This may be the most clever dish of 2009 not served at an Alinea-class restaurant, even if it did only comprise two components. Somewhat fun to eat, simple flavor profile, well executed. Dish could probably be improved by giving the tataki a more robust flavor profile than simply one-note spicy, but it's rare to find anyone doing the rare tuna dish in an interesting fashion. Stingy on the toasts. $14 3) Noodles: "hong kong style crispy noodles--double fried with brown sauce char siu pork, prawns, asian vegetables." Pedestrian and (obviously) nowhere near the level of your favorite noodles at _____ (insert Sun Wah, Katy's, LTH, etc.); when viewed in context of the P-A genre and Sunda itself, pretty good. Asian vegetables = bok choy. Who knows if the pork really was "char siu-d." Brown sauce was nicely balanced and not over-salted. $14. 4) Entree: "crispy pata--confit pork shank with garlic-foie gravy, pea shoots." Warning: Objects may appear less delicious than they appear. From looks alone, this would seem to merit a best-of-the-year mention: the dish comes out with a whole pig's foot stood up on end a AND FRIED, with extraneous green stuff surrounding it. Alas, the pork is not up to snuff in the slightest, and the meat's done-ness was not consistent; there was a cafeteria quality to it. The foie gravy was a bad, bad idea: it was reduced to a pasty, sambal-like thickness, thereby robbing it off its transcendent texture and fattiness; it didn't add anything to the foot. Incidentally, the garlic aspect was served as a separate vinaigrette, which ended up working very nicely for the suprise of the dish: those extraneous greens, watercress actually, were very nice. $22 Desserts are clearly an afterthought: gussied-up cookies, banana fritters, mochi, etc. My guess is that Sunda will pull a Mercat and stick to the same menu for the foreseeable future. Crawl, don't walk.
(2)
Tony A.
Had a great lunch at Sunda with a client. Earned some extra points with them for a great recommendation! We shared a couple of apps and 4 rolls...delicious! Loved the Firecracker!! Strongly suggest a lunch at Sunda.
(5)
Julie L.
Love the brussel spout salad! Definitely order your own...don't split it. My parents are coming to visit and specifically requested this restaurant.
(5)
Ariane N.
Went there on a friday night with a few girlfriends. We were seated promptly (even a bit earlier) at our reservation time. We had wonderful service and wonderful food. We were all ranting and raving about how delicious our food was. It was a very enjoyable evening. The ONLY drawback is the loudness of the restaurant.
(5)
Mika J.
What can I say that hasn't been said? Excellent food (Uncle Paul's chicken is devine), phenomenal ambiance & drinks that hit just the right note. I'll overlook it's slightly annoying rep as the "place to see & be"...Sunda is just plain gooood.
(4)
Scott N.
Wow! So good, a must try!
(4)
Matt Z.
Favorite spot in Chicago. Great White is an amazing mix of Super White Tuna, Truffle and a unique kettle cooked potato chip. The brussel Sprout sweet and spicy shrimp salad is AMAZING. I've never had anything I didn't like here!
(5)
Haley C.
We went to Sunda at 6pm on a Friday night. I made the reservations over a week in advance, which was good because when I tried to push the reservation back, they had no availability after 6! Popular place. The ambiance was great. Very trendy space and I didn't feel out of place dressed up. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable, he even asked about my allergies before we even said anything which is always great since I have many. I had the peached sake cocktail which was incredible. Probably one of the best I've ever had. We also started with a delicious miso soup with mushrooms and the spicy edamame. I don't think I'll be satisfied with just regular edamame anymore, it was so good. Other things we enjoyed that our table split: pork belly steamed buns (delicious), street corn (pretty sweet but so good), duck fried rice (very good), stuffed avocado (soooo good, never had anything like it). My parents enjoyed the snowcap and firecracker. Me - being a sweet potato addict - of course got the sweet potato caterpillar. I've had better sweet potato sushi but it was still really good. My only complaint about the restaurant is that it got a bit too loud once it was full, but other than that it was excellent! I would most definitely return to this restaurant. Craving it again right now!
(5)
Tony P.
Excellent ambiance, good (but not great) food, and okay service. The sushi was quite good; I ordered the cod, and was surprised by the small portion, and so-so flavor. Overall, not worth the price.
(3)
Edna P.
Came here for dinner with hubby and we got the adobo fried rice,adobo pork belly and rainbow roll. They were all delicious! The mochi ice cream was also good. This place can get loud but it has a good vibe. Great service and great food, wish they have this in Cali.
(5)
Wasim O.
Wow!!! Best $140 (w/tip) I think I've ever dropped on food n drinks! I only tried 2 of the sushi but I honestly think I picked the best 2! If you like sushi hit this place up! You won't be disappointed. The something dragon roll and firecracker roll is highly recommended!
(5)
rebecca c.
I must say that Sunda is probably one of my most favorite restaurants in this city! The service is not the best, but the food makes up for it. I do not think I have ever had one thing that I didn't like on the menu. I highly recommend starting off with the Blushing Geisha, it is a tequila based cocktail with agave juice, not sure what else, but it's phenomenal. They have an amazing rock shrimp, sashimi, oxtails amongst many other things I have not had the pleasure of tasting yet. Long story short, Sunda is a must try!
(5)
Katie M.
They have excellent sushi here. It tastes really good and the seafood tastes fresh as well. Definitely recommend and will come back whenever I'm back in town.
(5)
Steven H.
Excellent food, service and decor. We missed our reservations on New Year's Eve and they held it for us until we got there! The brussels sprouts are a must. Everything we got was flavorful, fresh and really good overall. Their signature sticky rice with spicy tuna on top was also really good and unique.
(5)
Christina P.
Go for the scene, stay for the food. Sunda is an experience all it's own - see & be seen, fab cuisine, topnotch service and a killer ambiance. Must order - crispy brussel sprout salad, blue crab garlic noodles, jam & toast and that effing monstrosity of a dessert The Ridiculous. I am dreaming about my return already...
(4)
Chermell J.
Best sushi in Chicago! I go back again and again.
(5)
Rajan B.
The food is amaze balls! Very good wait staff and food is so delicious. Their noodles was kinda salty. But sushi and sashimi is what makes me want to go back there. From the dollar sign you should already know it's pricey but hey you get what you pay for.
(5)
Linh L.
It's too crowded, there's not enough room for food on the table, and the stools don't have a step for you to rest your feet! The stool thing really bothered me. It made the dining experience even worse. The food is ok. It's nothing I never had before. The seaweed salad was exquisite... I'm kidding. They added romaine lettuce. What? Romaine lettuce?? Has anyone else experience the uncomfortable way seaweed and romaine lettuce goes down your throat? The lettuce was scratching my insides and it was hard to go down. Water please!
(1)
Eric S.
It's easy to see why this place is still hoping and sold out most nights even then it's been open a while. An inspires menu with some interesting drinks provide fun ordering opportunities. Make sure to ask about the specials since many of them are one night only and truly special. The most impressive thing about this place though was their attention to detail. Everything was looked after and with countless host staff to make sure your experience is great, it should be the same every time.
(5)
Carolyn B.
The food was on par, scene trendy, but I've never had worse service in my life. I've been to plenty nice places, but Nolan P almost ruined my night. We were a group of 3 girls that each spent over one hundred dollars and our waiter came over maximum 3 times. Spend your money somewhere else for a night out.
(3)
Kathleen M.
By far, my favorite restaurant in Chicago. The service was fantastic. The manager or even the owner will go up to your table and converse with you, making you feel so welcomed. The ambience is romantic but warm. The mix of Asian and American food make this restaurant so unique and better than anything out there. I am Filipino myself, and even though I could be biased I am proud that my culture is represented well at this restaurant. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Lauren P.
Fun, modern vibe for a sushi restaurant in river north. The food is outstanding... I don't think you could possibly order a something on the menu and not like it. The drinks are kind of pricy but absolutely worth it. I recommend ordering the pear sake to drink. The potstickers were also a great appetizer choice. I was slightly disappointed having to wait for a table even though I had reservations, but I would go back in a heart beat to eat there.
(5)
Pt H.
Always great - the sashimi is fresh. The rolls are an excellent blend of flavors. Great service and cool space.
(4)
Lauren S.
I am a sushi snob and I thought this was the most interesting and innovative sushi I have had in a long time. I started with the crispy brussel sprout salad and it was to die for. Then I had the tartare on crispy rice. So good! I also had a lobster and waguy sushi which was my least favorite but still great. I wish I had dined with another sushi lover so we could share. I could back tomorrow and order a whole new set of dishes. My hubby had the short ribs and they were awesome.
(5)
Opal K.
Came here on a weekday with a couple friends. Atmosphere was really nice. It's on the trendy side. We got the kale and seaweed salad. I'm normally not a salad fan but this was really tasty!! I was underwhelmed by the garden specialty roll. The highlight of the meal was the Ridiculous we got as dessert. Really unique and extremely delicious. It's large so I recommend splitting. It's named appropriately. Overall great experience!
(4)
Ha H.
V V good sashimi. Tasted like the fish was fresh from the sea! Not easy to find that inland. They definitely pay top $ for produce. Also has great decor and nice staff, who are friendly and knowledgeable. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5. Good job owners!
(5)
Raviphol S.
This place has many good fusion dishes from Asian, French and American. The price is okay too. However, their sushi can be a bit let down.
(4)
W S.
The food here was good, the drinks were good and the service was excellent. We had oxtail dumplings, walnut shrimp, shrimp pad Thai and crispy rice with tuna. The walnut shrimp was standout to me, and everything was tasty. But I definitely can't say that it was better than what I would get in china town, for a fraction of the cost. All in all it was a good meal, but it was very expensive and I couldn't get over that fact given that it wasn't better than dozens of other Asian restaurants.
(3)
J.B. S.
3.5 stars. The best thing I had was the crispy brussell sprout salad which was extremely flavorful and large. Awesome dish! The sushi was definitely good, but tasted the same as what I get in LA and at Sunda it is way more expensive. The wagyu beef sticks were kinda good but they were not hot! I like beef to be hot, not room temp. The prices were WAY too high for the food that I got. Will not be back.
(3)
Kevin S.
Sunda is hands my favorite sushi spot in the city. The atmosphere is amazing like all Rockit Ranch spots. If you want amazing food and an incredible atmosphere Sunda is a must! I would highly recommend finishing off your meal with my favorite desert in the city "the riduclous".
(5)
Patrick T.
This place is really special. Upbeat and energetic vibe. Nice drinks. Beautiful sushi. I tried the caterpillar roll which is made with fried sweet potato and pear lending an interesting crisp texture. My drink had jalapeño in it which is never a bad thing. I think it was a tiger something or other. The sake selection is diverse and they carry some lovely nigoris. The highlight by far were the nigiri. They are expensive this is a granted. Had the hamachi marrow which is a delicate yellowtail that looks maybe a little seared or torched, topped with delicious roast bone marrow giving the piece a smokey saltiness. Best part of the meal was the escolar "great white," a piece of fish wrapped cylindrically around a ball of rice, topped with a crisp potato chip and black truffle. This is the stuff that hopes and dreams are made of. I just closed my eyes and had my moment for a minute or two. That taste is exquisite and worth a two hour round trip on CTA from Evanston for a 10pm reservation since that's all that open table had left. Must have again//try ALL the nigiri!
(5)
Valerie J.
My husband and I went to Sunda after I got back from a flight to Houston, and after a long day of a conference for him a bit over a month ago. Considering the area and the highly-over-rated restaus in said area, this place deserves 5 stars for food, good staff, and ambiance. The trifecta! We've never been here before but loved the idea of interesting Asian fusion. We also got there early enough to beat crowds, but sat at the gorgeous sushi bar for the fun of it. The menu is huge and decidedly awesome. The vastness of it can be overwhelming, but luckily our super cool waiter helped us pick excellent options. Since it's been over a month and I've eaten my way across Europe, I don't recall the exact names of most of what we had. We started with seared tuna in a ponzu chili sauce. It was fantastic and much more tuna than we'd anticipated. For the price, at least you get what you pay for. This theme continued throughout our foodie affair with Sunda. Next we got their "stuffed avocado" which is really a feast for the eyes and mouth. Filled with delicious tuna, fried onions, and a semi-spicy sauce replete with jalapenos, this was quite amazing. Our next course blew us away as it was so unique. It was grilled pork mixed with barely seared tuna (imagine the textures!) as well as different peppers and vegetables, served on lettuce. Everything was good, but this was just so unique and different. Quite the successful dish! We were wowed to say the least. We finished with the 'eel and foie gras' - which we didn't realize would be fried. It was OK, and definitely interesting, but could have been better. Or maybe I should just start with this one next time? :) I can't wait to try this place again, hopefully sooner than later! Thanks to living up to the hype, and your star-rating, Sunda!
(5)
Kent M.
It's a little pricy, but you get what you pay for - and then some! We started off with the lemongrass beef lollipops and the Brussels sprout salad; both were excellent. The entrees included an adobo braised pork belly that tasted amazing, and it was so tender it just fell apart. The firecracker roll and the steak were both great. But the pies de resistance is their signature dessert: the Ridiculous. It's a gigantic scoop of vanilla ice cream surrounded by a thin layer of cake, drenched in a caramel syrup and sprinkled with candied nuts (walnuts or pecans, I don't remember) - aptly named, but SOOO delicious! The service was another bright spot of the evening. The waitress answered all of our questions and provided some excellent suggestions (see the appetizers above). They were quick to refill the water, brought the food out promptly, and they make a mean Old Fashioned. The only downside was the noise. It was so loud I had trouble hearing much of anything. That was the only reason I didn't rate them at 5 stars. If you're going to Chicago, this is a definite must-visit.
(4)
Madison L.
The Lobster and wagyu is definitely my favorite sushi roll here. The ambiance and the environment is perfect for a Friday and Saturday evening dinner. With the dim lighting and gorgeous decorations, this place has a really casual and intimate vibe. The service is phenomenal and the cocktails are delicious. We also had the panang curry and its placed inside a fresh coconut as well as the baked snow crab hand roll! A great experience - the restaurant is chic and the food is incredibly fresh. Would definitely come back!
(5)
Fletcher M.
Food lacked flavor, waiter lacked knowledge, chef lacked training, restaurant lacked ambiance. When I spend $150 for 2 at dinner, I will admit to having high expectations. However, Sunda let us down at every turn. Saturday night: The waiter forgot our drink order, the back area was so loud I was shouting (come on man, put up some sound deadening, I'm at a restaurant not a club), the food flavor was very average, and the sushi chef was at best a knock off (disclaimer: I've spent extensive time in Japan). Big let down for a 4 of 5 average.
(2)
Ivy S.
What an amazing experience for our first time going here! We had the stuffed avocado, the rock shrimp, the Pho and Pancit Canton. Everything was perfect!
(5)
Tatyana M.
Huge disappointment in everything. FOOD: some dishes were OK, some -plain awful. (particularly sushi) SERVICE: unprofessional, inattentive, unpleasant. AMBIANCE: was nice, but nothing special VALUE: very,very overpriced for the quality of the food CONCLUSION: Never again
(1)
Big D.
Unique menu, great food and a nice ambience. I wished I lived in Chicago so I could try out more of the dishes on the unique menu.
(4)
Marcus C.
Great Brunch! Cool twist on classics!
(4)
Gretta A.
Let start by saying i love love love Sunda!!! I've been there couple times and there is no complaints food is amazing drinks were really good too!! i love the fact that there open late which is works best for me. the longevity noodles are a must !!!
(5)
Joshua G.
This place rocks!... I have finally become a member of their frequent dining club. Although I'm a little upset that I have dined here 15+ times, where do we start... The only complaint we have is the place can be tough to get into and some of the seats don't have backs. What should you get... brussels sprouts salad, rock shrimp tempura, tail of two tunas, sundaes signature crispy rice, and the lobster wagyo roll. This is truly one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago, anytime we have guests in town this is our go to place. It's good for special events, business dinner or a date night.
(5)
Ayana P.
I liked Sunda a lot! We came here on Tuesday night when we were supposed to be home in DC, but Sandy had other plans. Jay was our friendly server and made great drink recommendations. She may have recommeded a few items that we ordered a la carte too. We let the chef choose most of what we ate. Everything that he brought out was delicious. My favority was the brussel sprout salad. My second favorite was that pan crab rolls (I think that's what they're called). They brought a bunch of stuff out that I didn't eat though. I was the only one who didn't eat beef, pork, and turkey and the table still enjoyed what I couldn't. When I'm back in Chi-town, I will be up in here.
(4)
Ivana M.
Everything was excellent: food (we had sushi) ambiance, service!
(5)
Cheryl H.
I think this place has a great vibe: cool, trendy, OK service. But like most Pan Asian restaurants, the food falls very short. It strives to be a jack of all trades, and the adage holds true: king of none. We ordered: The firecracker roll, the infamous tiger shrimp tempura, which is mislabeled since it's actually rock shrimp (much much smaller), the shrimp pad Thai and the crispy pork adobo fried rice. It came out to around 100 dollars for our meal. All of it was BLAH. The portions are on the smaller side, but they advertise it as sharing portions. It's more like tapas style sharing portions but at the price of full sized dishes. We ate here because we had friends in town who wanted to try it and generously paid for our very overpriced meal; I would definitely not recommend it and probably wouldn't come back.
(2)
Ali B.
Dropped in after work on a Friday with my boyfriend. The only spot they had was at the sushi bar which was fine with us. Everything was amazing but the Brussel sprout salad was the stand out! You must get that!!
(5)
D S.
Great Ambiance and Crowd!!! Another Hit by the Rockit Ranch Crew. I will admit that I never thought anybody would be able to top Sushi Wabi, which was by far one of my favorite restuarants in the city for Sushi. However, since they closed Sunda has held the Crown of the City for Sushi in Chi-Town. The Number 10 Roll, or as I like to call it the Big Mac of Sushi Rolls, is delicious. The Rock Tempura Shrimp is a nice appetizer to get the meal stated. And you have to save room for the Ridiculous, a deep fried scoop of Ice Cream... Yummy!!!!!
(4)
Brenda M.
Younger crowd vibe. Sat at table not sushi bar - very loud, difficult to converse at times. Food was good but not worth listed prices. Waiter was nice but he and the bussers were slow and sloppy. Too many other great places to eat in the area so it's definitely not a place I'd frequent.
(2)
JoLynn W.
I recently went to Sunda for a business meeting, and we didn't know what to order so we asked the waiter to make some suggestions. Everything was delicious! We ordered the kale salad, Red Dragon rolls, spicy tuna rolls, spicy tuna crispy rice, pork belly steamed buns, tiger shrimp tempura, tacos and a few other dishes. Excellent service and a very attentive staff. We went during the lunch rush so it was pretty loud, but I imagine the ambience is very enjoyable during the evening. I would recommend making a reservation because it's a very popular restaurant. We had a reservation and we were seated right away!
(4)
Qinghong Y.
Too much meat and a bit salty, should order some rice to go with some of the main dishes (eg. Pork belly).
(4)
Andrea M.
The firecracker roll and sumo futomaki were amazing! Our waitress was fantastic as well!
(5)
Tony R.
Great food great service. Get the Crispy rice and Brussel sprout salad.
(4)
Cathy H.
Sunda's atmosphere was really amazing. The decor was very modern, very impressive. The food was tasty. My husband and I tried as many dishes as we could. We loved almost all of them (Some of the dishes were good, not fantastic. But, you will not receive any bad dishes here.). His favorite was the Devil's Pot. Mine was the dessert with the Thai iced tea flavored anglaise. I wanted to lick the plate. We also loved the sashimi dishes! There were so many other dishes we wanted to try, so we can't wait to go back.
(4)
Ben J.
great sushi all around - firecracker stood out, as well as shrimp.
(4)
young k.
I've wanting to eat at Sunda for quite awhile but was not able to get a reservation. So, when I finally got a reservation this past weekend I was very excited and the food did not disappoint. Although all of the dishes were good,except for "sticky rice", I especially enjoyed corn fritter which had the most flavorful taste and my wife loved bread pudding which she says is combination of creme brulle and thai custard ...."to die for". I was told that the service was very good but our server, Stephanie, was awesome and she even took the sticky rice off the bill because I did not like it. Overall, I will definitely revisit Sunda again to try other delicacy on the menu.
(4)
Tina L.
Really good atmosphere and the food was great. We made reservations, but they only had shared tables left, so kinda disappointed, but other than that..no complaints. Really friendly staff. Perfect sized portions so definitely a place to grab a bite before a night out! LOVE the Go Go Berry Martini
(4)
Jennifer B.
Sunda does not live up to the hype. Hostesses were extremely snobby and rude. Dining room is so loud we repeatedly had to ask our waitress to speak up. Our group is full of twenty-somethings that eat out and go out a lot, and Sunda falls short to so many of the other "Hot Spot" restaurants on Open Table. There's probably a reason you can make a reservation one day ahead. Billy Dec of Rockit falls short on this one. Food didn't make up for the awful service.
(2)
Chicago F.
5/5 for the food and quality we had the rock shrimp app and a few rolls, the seabass was just awesome .. it melted in my mouth 5/5 for the service 5/5 for the decor and lighting it was just a perfect evening :)
(5)
Katie D.
This is by far the best place for sushi! I am sure the other entrees are delicious but the sushi (pieces and rolls) were the best I have ever tasted. The service was excellent to go along with the best food ever!
(5)
Tracey P.
Love the seafood dynamite roll. Atmosphere is fun, but very loud.
(4)
Allison H.
Yum! I've been here twice now - only for lunch - and both times it's just delish! I've had the rock shrimp tempura which is really just amazing. I would be happy ordering 3 of these for my meal and that's it. I'm never a huge fan of fried shrimp but these are just too good to pass up. I also highly recommend the crispy rice pan fried sushi - I've tried both the spicy tuna and kobe beef. The spicy tuna was very good but the kobe beef - ridiculously amazing. It's a rare occasion when I prefer beef over any type of seafood but Sunda has found a way to make it happen. I've also tried a few of the sushi rolls - rainbow roll, mushroom lover, tail of two tunas, spicy tuna, and firecracker. All good, expect the mushroom lover was pretty disappointing. Being a mushroom lover myself, I figured this roll was meant for me. It was pretty flavorless and disappointing. I definitely wouldn't order it again. In addition to the great food, they have such a cool, trendy atmosphere and the service has always been great. The servers have recommended some great options and helped us figure out how much food to order for a group. The prices are little high but it's river north and about what you can expect for any trendy places in that area. I seriously can't wait to go back here. Please, you need to go and make sure you get the rock shrimp tempura and crispy pan fried sushi with kobe beef!!!
(4)
Ed D.
7 of my friends and I went here on a Sat night. The sushi was fresh and the food was very tasty. We ordered a bunch of dishes, some of them being short ribs, chilean sea bass, chicken adobo, steak tenderloin, hamachi, escerot w black truffle, crab tempura. We also ordered martini's and other drinks. Finally we ordered a bunch of desserts like taro bread pudding, chocolate cake, ridiculous sweet plate, chefs special dessert. All of us liked everything we had. There were a bunch of 'wow this tastes sooo good' reactions! There was nice ambiance and the decor looked very trendy. The customers looked very stylish and there was a lot of good looking people that ate there. It's located in the restaurant district of River North. I was afraid of the cost since we ordered so much food and drinks but it actually wasn't that bad. I would go broke eating there every day but it's definitely worth it once in a while.
(5)
Tiffany K.
Sunda sure does NOT live up to the hype. We came here for one of my girl friend's birthday dinner. It was a group of about 10 or so. First off, service was horrible. Food was okay. I did not order a hot entree, I had sushi. Sushi was mediocre. The server forgot one of our friend's order, mixed up another order and overcooked one of my other friend's fish entree. I had a good time only because I had dinner with great company. Overall, my experience at Sunda was not great. I would not come back here, ever!
(2)
Nazario O.
Fantastic food, fantastic service, great spot to bring your loved ones. A great recommendation is to get the "Ridiculous" for dessert. This is a must get so leave some room for this wonderful treat. Much thanks to the staff, especially Kevin, Jesse, Aeron and all that helped the night start in the best fashion possible.
(5)
Jimmy P.
So far - my favorite sushi place in Chicago. Food: - We ordered the rock shrimp tempura, crispy rice with Kobe beef, several cuts of sushi (mostly fatty tuna) and the pork belly entree. - *Almost* everything was great. Some of the best items we ate came as recommendations from our British waiter Ben. We called him Big Ben behind his back, but I don't think he'll care. - The one thing that really blew us away was the escolar. That miraculous little piece of white tuna was something else... entirely our waiters recommendation. Did I dream about it like he claimed I would? No. But I did have a minor religious experience and saw the fish Jesus - Fejus. He tasted delicious. - The one bad note, and sadly came as a huge recommendation, was the pork belly. I love pork belly.... but this thing was FRIED. It was super dry and the sauce was over salted. Overall: The pork belly was a huge disappointment (I love devouring the flesh of pig) - but I still gave them five stars anyways. I might be too forgiving. The escolar was incredible and they had super fresh sushi. You also have to order the crispy rice if you go - somewhat unique and bursting with flavor.
(5)
Liz K.
Sunda was fantastic! I had a reservation for 6:30pm on a Saturday night. We arrived at 7 due to bad traffic and they were extremely pleasant and seated us immediately. I had called ahead to let them know we were running late, but they have a 15 minute late policy, which they were lenient about. The food was amazing - every dish was delicious; the black cod practically melted in my mouth. The side of cauliflower is good, as is the Rainbow Roll. The char siu was very fatty, but when we told a manager, they changed it out for a leaner one. Atmosphere was noisy, yet casual and comfortable. The tall tables weren't very comfortable to sit on, and I had nowhere to put my purse. I would recommend coat check at the door. Loved it and would definitely go again.
(4)
Eugenia O.
I would give this place 3.5 stars. The interior was stunning with very modern hardwood floors and beautiful decor which gave the place a very stylish and classy feel. Our service was great- very attentive and friendly. Sunda would certainly get a 5 for abiance. The reason why my review is only for 3.5 is because of the price and portion size. My friend and I ordered sushi rolls which were not very impressive looking nor tasting. They were very small and unfilling and rather expesive for the size and (lack of) presentation. In fact, I would prefer Sushi Samba compared to this place any day. Sushi Samba also has a really unique and hip interior. While Sushi Samba's prices, like Sunda's, are certainly not cheap, at least at Sushi Samba each dish is a mini artwork, delicious, and more filling that what I received at Sunda. On the other hand, perhaps Sunda would be better for non-sushi lovers because my other friend who ordered a sandwich was very satisfied with her dish. So: -If you go to Sunda, do not order sushi. -If you want sushi, go to Sushi Samba instead.
(3)
Kristin G.
We went to Sunda just after it first opened with a group from work. Honestly I was not expecting much, but the waitress was good and just kept bringing yummy things out. The Peared Sake drink was one of the best drinks that I have had in a long time. The food was not outstanding, but the scene and the drinks were right on!
(4)
Megen B.
i used to go here quite a bit for lunch meetings and thought the food, service and ambiance was always top notch. as more sushi places have entered the scene, sunda has grown stale and way too pricey. we went today and shared 2 rolls the server recommended as well as each had 2 entrees. not impressed. the hype is not worth it, the service was pretty poor and the food was mediocre. union, shiso and even RA are better.
(2)
Carmen D.
The chili albacore is food porn. Must get. Had the Crispy Brussels Sprout Salad, it was pretty tasty. Good jebus, but the albacore, I should have ordered two plates.
(5)
Tiffany L.
I loved the ambience of this place. My kind of scene. Dimmed lighting. Intimate moments. Our waiter was bombass. I can't remember his name for the life of me but he was very informative and outgoing. He gave really great service. I'm usually used to ordering at least three it four tapas dishes but even two at Sunda was enough. We shared a garlic-y noodle dish that just hit the spot. The drinks were all very delicious and not too sweet either.
(5)
Caroline N.
5 stars for the interior decorating, 3 for the food. I've been to sunda three times, once directly after it opened, for lunch during restaurant week, and last week for dinner. Perfect lighting and a perfect noise level for a date or a dinner with friends. The service is always good. The food is good, although I have yet to have anything that I thought was exceptional. The sticky buns are tasty. The crunchy rice maki are good. The thai papaya salad was delicious. The rolls are all pretty solid. I've had mixed luck with sashimi- I had excellent fatty tuna the first time I went, mediocre salmon more recently. It's definitely overpriced, but it's worth paying for the ambience.
(4)
Marisol D.
There are so many great plates I cant even begin to list them all. The sushi was fresh so you cant go wrong with any of the rolls, but be warned they are pricey. The Pancit Canton, No You Didn't Hand roll, and Shaoxing Chilean Seabass were amazing.
(4)
Jeff S.
Sunda is a trendy asian fushion spot in River North that I have always wanted to try but with so many other good restaurants around, never did. Well until now. Met some friends out to dinner this past week and was seated promptly. Service started out on a high note with a quick drink order and an explanation of the menu. After that, it petered out as I sat on an empty beer for a while and took a long time for the waitress to come back (really, it was only to give us the check). So how was the food? Good but nothing out-of-the-world. Heard the brussel sprout salad is amazing but not a huge fan so I opted for something a little more classic - Crazy Rice (seafood fried rice with some heat). Well at least what they say about heat as it was medium and nothing spicier than what you can find at a Chinese/Thai restaurant. The seafood was good as was the egg on top of the rice (always a nice touch). Not dinner mates did the drunked noodle which was solid but nothing special. That's really the big theme of Sunda - not a bad place to grab dinner and drinks with friends but nothing extraordinary either.
(3)
Lauren P.
Loved the vibe and atmosphere. The sushi was super eh. I've had better many times at places less trendy. However --- the brussel sprout salad is borderline life changing. The service was good, nothing special. The menu has a lot to offer and we tried 2 rolls, butterfly fomomaki (sp? no idea), tiger prawn tempura and Brussels. The butterfly was actually gross, it was really mushy. The rolls were just fine as I said earlier. Prawns were just tiny tempura shrimps over a candied-esk pecan salad. So go and order brussel sprouts.
(3)
Cory D.
Had dinner at this place on my first trip to Chicago. Great food and atmosphere. A fairly young 20's and 30's crowd. Reminds me of some trendy restaurants in the meat packing district in NY. I'm always wary of these so-called "asian fusion" restaurant, due to the lack of real fusion involved and high prices. However, Sunda does the concept fairly well. The lobster and wagyu rolls were above average. Tasty but not over the top. I chose the ridiculous for dessert. It was...well, ridiculous. Recommend.
(4)
Lauren S.
My sister had an event for work at Sunda last night. I have never heard her so upset so I was compelled to write about how horrible it was. Tenia was the name of the girl she worked with and she was so rude and unaccommodating. Neither my sister or I would ever come back here based on the service she was given during her event as my sister who does events often said you can find better sushi and better customer service at Shaw's, Japonais, Hub 51 or Union Sushi. Take your money someplace else Sunda doesn't appreciate it.
(1)
Alexis R.
They should just stop serving sushi all together. The entrees are delicious, the sushi on the other hand, is not impressive. I only order the Wagyu Beef and Lobster Roll, the rainbow roll and tale of two tunas are nothing special. The cocktails are delicious and I always order the Geisha that is no longer on the menu. I think you pay for the atmosphere, not the sushi.
(3)
Amy C.
Happening and lively for a Tuesday night when we dined here. Menu was quite large and had something for everyone. Most of the dishes are for you to share and of varying sizes. Nice selection of beer and wine on the menu. Good food but nothing special.
(3)
Carlondra C.
Went here for a girlfriends birthday dinner. Had a blast, loved the atmosphere - very live. I had the no you didn't...the ultimate handroll, it was like a Sushi wrap. The firecracker & sunda rainbow roll are very good. Portions are family style and easily shared. The Garlic rice was way too garlicky. Will be going back there. Valet parking was $12 bucks. Make reservations, will not be seated until most of your party is present.
(4)
Erin K.
Too much hype and greasy, low quality asian fusion. This place is completely responsible for my lack of trust in local media's restaurant reviews. The decor is Asia Disney and the food is bland, salty, and oily. There were frozen crab legs in the sushi station.
(1)
C B.
Went in a small group and we thoroughly enjoyed our mixed drinks, bottles of wine and the sushi. Everything was presented nicely and our server was very attentive. It was a little loud but only because every table in the restaurant was taken. I think noise is to be expected. Our wines were quite delicious. We had a Riesling and a Sauv Blanc. The cocktail menu was unique and my drink tasted quite lovely. My group seemed very pleased with the sushi and apps. The side of cauliflower was incredibly tasty and I recommend it for vegetarians.
(5)
Charles A.
We enjoyed a nice lunch here. I wish we could have lingered. The atmosphere is pleasant, the portions generous and the food and service excellent.
(4)
Kimberly D.
I went there based on a recommendation from the concierge at the W. It was wonderful! I had "the great white tuna" - escolar, the truffled tataki salmon, baked crab handroll, and crispy rice with kobe beef. the baked roll was okay but not the best i've had. the rest was amazing!!
(5)
Nadeem P.
Amazing atmosphere, awesome drinks, delicious food, and sweet happy hour. Our favorites here were the pork belly buns and the firecracker roll. During happy hour they have a ton of stuff for 50% off. We will definitely be adding this to the list of happy hour spots!
(5)
Dave L.
Came here based on yelp reviews and because I was in the neighborhood. Lets just say I was not impressed at all. The place was overly crowded and that means banging elbows with table to the left and right. How do you enjoy dinner when customers from other tables are elbowing you (WTF)? Food was completely uninspiring. My experience almost felt like happy hours at some sushi restaurant. The only difference was the prices here were about 10x as much as other better restaurants. The place was so loud. I came so close to busting out my ear plugs.... Sad to say, I am never coming here. PS: Waiter was a good guy, but seriously overwhelmed.
(2)
Brett K.
The Kobe beef tartar sushi is all that really needs to be said here so I'll be brief... Awesome atmosphere, genius menu (food and drinks) and great service.
(4)
Brian C.
Sunda is in a class of it's own when it comes to Asian fusion in Chicago. The staff is incredibly helpful when it comes to exploring the menu and is quick to offer a solid recommendation. After several visits to Sunda, a few dishes stand out more than others. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad, Pork Belly Skewers, Lemongrass Beef Lollipops, Umami Surf and Turf, Pancit Canton, and Citrus Scallops have been group favorites. Sunda has proven to be consistent and is an absolute must anytime guests are in from out of town.
(5)
Steven S.
Im giving 5 stars for their service. I made a reservation at 8. And i came since 7:50. At 8:15, they still didnt have a seat for us. They gave us a free shot of sake. Then, when we sat at about 8:25, they gave us free brussel sprout salad and also birthday cake for my friend. I am very glad that they are treating us special fpr the delay.
(5)
Kabir S.
Excellent place, excellent food, great vibe and very good service! A bit pricey but worth it!
(4)
Peter C.
Horribly bad service! Waiter knew nothing about sushi. We had to clear our own plates by putting them on the empty table next to us. The food was decent, but they forgot two of our dishes and I had to flag someone down for soy sauce (after our first round of food had already been sitting on our table for five minutes). The waiter (Nolan) tried to make nice as soon as he was bringing the check, but when we told him we were displeased with the service, he simply disappeared and returned at least 5 minutes later with the check and the manager. Ugh! Such a disappointment. In fact the service was so bad that I decided to join Yelp to tonight to warn you all. Don't believe the hype! Stay away from this restaurant. Come get real sushi in California! I have not been this disappointed in a restaurant in a long time.
(1)
Stephanie M.
Loved it!
(5)
Quantas G.
Solid place. Awesome food, well executed. I went for a work dinner and enjoyed every bit of it. The prices were out of my price range and the flavors were out of this world. (A little embellishment never hurt anyone.) The food was really good though. We kept ordering dishes until we were full. And I kept ordering different sakes until I couldn't take anymore. The menu is pretty inventive and the ingredients were top quality. (But avoid the desserts like the plague. They were fairly bland and uninspired.) The service was impeccable. Our server was knowledgeable and helpful and the accompanying staff kept us satisfied. The decor was a nice minimalist look that was cross between earthy, rustic and Japanese. If I could afford this place I would go back to be thoroughly satisfied. As a sidenote, this place is a place to see and be seen. Given the owner's 'prestige', this place is hopping with Bears players, pretty people and Jillian the Bachelorette. I'm not pretty, a Bears player or a bacholerette socialite but I did enjoy the food.
(4)
Jennifer H.
Knock-out service, delectable food, tasty cocktails. The scene is great and fancy-but-not-too-fancy so everyone can feel at ease. A great place for a girls night or date!
(5)
Rebecca A.
HUGE fan of Sunda. Hands down the best sushi and upscale Filipino fusion food in Chicago.
(5)
Sandy S.
What a place! What a vibe! What creative sushi! One stop shop for a good time out in Chicago. Drinks at the bar? Check. Rather be seated at the coolest sushi bar in America? Check. Chicago is a good looking town and Sunda is their hangout. The venue is sleek, dark and sexy. Perfect for a date or a night out with friends.
(4)
Din D.
Good food. Good service. Sitting at the sushi bar is pretty much the only option most of the time since they are always booked, which can be a little awkward. The other option was the seating in the middle which was even more awkward because you are sitting on stools which can be very uncomfortable. Besides being extremely pricey and hard to get good seating this place was pretty cool.
(3)
V. K.
Great Service, Great Atmosphere, Great Food! I will definitely be back!!
(5)
Nicole S.
My cousin and her husband recently visited Chicago from Dallas and we (along with three of their friends) made a dinner reservation at Sunda. I had not heard of the restaurant, but I like sushi so I was game. We ordered a variety of rolls and beverages. I was very happy with my beverage selection. I don't remember the title, but I do remember that it had blackberries in it. It was DELISH! And, typically, I'm more of a nigiri/sashimi kinda gal, but I went with the group and tried all of the rolls. And my favorite was the caterpiller. I definitely plan to order another one on my next visit.
(4)
N K.
Sunda is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. If I have sushi fans in town, this is my go-to place to take them. Musts... Signature Sushi w/ Spicy Tuna on Pan Fried Crispy Rice Short ribs Lo mein or Pad thai Strawberry fields cocktail Sake Reservations! This place books up fast Great service, great location, great experience every single time.
(5)
lisa u.
HANDS DOWN THE BEST SUSHI I HAVE EVER HAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! amazing food, amazing ambiance and great service love the vibe of this place and I always know that I will get consistent service and quality of food every time I go! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
(5)
Ralph D.
First time here, the menu seemed a bit overwhelming but the waitstaff was very helpful and in helping decide on what to get. Ordered the Rock Shrimp Tempura, Pig Sticks, Pancit Canton and Sunda's Signature Crispy Rice. All of these were amazing. The "Ridiculous" Dessert was ridiculously amazing. No joke.
(5)
Elizabeth N.
the prices are high but the food is amazing and their drinks are the best!!!!!!!
(4)
Viral P.
This place is loud and busy for a weekday night. Not too many vegetarian options, but as always you can customize it. I had cucumber/avocado rolls and a drink. I really liked the ambiance minus the decibel level. I'd recommend that you should check out the place for sure depending on whom you are going with. If its friends and you want to have cocktails, then i surely recommend it. If its a date, then may be not as it gets loud in there.
(3)
Marla M.
I have been eager to go to Sunda for quite some time and they did not disappoint! Everything about my experience was perfect. I loved the decor, they really thought out each detail. The service was amazing and unpretentious. The food was cleverly named and the flavor delivered. I would recommend everything we ate. We started with the angry soft shell crab dish which is seasonal and lemongrass beef lolipops. My Husband had short ribs for his entree and I had seabass both were fabulous! The dessert we ordered was called Ridiculous and it was:) You must save room for that. I signed up for their online newsletter on their website and they gave me a $15 off for lunch or brunch. I am so excited and can't wait to go back and try Sunday brunch with their Asian flair. I am a fan!
(5)
Cathy F.
Always consistently delicious Pan-Asian fusion style "japanese" food. I've been there a few times and it's never disappointed. By far their best deal is the "Sunda Social" 4-6pm (I think) offer on weekdays where many of their appetizers/rolls are half off! A few favs: -Shishito peppers as a starter is always delicious. They're not too spicy and nicely charred. -Brussel Sprout salad is fantastic. -Oxtail Potstickers are delish -The Duck Hash is INCREDIBLE. One of the best things I've ever had. -The "oh no you didn't ultimate handroll", but ask them to make it into a regular cut roll. I think its their best roll next to the lobster and waygu roll. -Any of the tatakis are truffly and excellent. Service can be somewhat slow sometimes, but the ambiance of the place can't be beat. Great for happy hour meeting friends or for a date. Sometimes it can get a bit loud, though.
(4)
Barbara S.
A group of 6 of us went to Sunda for dinner so we were able to sit at a chef's table slightly away from the main dining area. Food was excellent; servers were also excellent and knowledgeable about all of the menu items. 1 of us was a vegetarian and another allergic to seafood - both were accomodated with no issues. The only issue we have is the noise - it's not a place for casual, quiet conversation.....we'll go back because the food was so good!!!!!!
(4)
Nycole H.
A good friend was hosting an event in the new upstairs event space and I was very excited to visit Sunda for the first time. Throughout the event there were a few appetizers brought around and they were so good. So good in fact that a few friends and myself decided to stay for dinner. The food was really good and not priced bad at all. I am somewhat obsessed with Escolar and could eat it daily so I got that and Organic Miso Soup w/Crab. It was all so good. I think this was by far the best Escolar I have gotten. It was so buttery and delicious!! I look forward to coming back!!
(5)
Samantha H.
I try to rate things based on price point and what they're trying to accomplish. The food at Sunda, I thought, was good. But for the price you're paying I wanted it to be knock my socks off, can't wait to go back, sushigasm good, which is wasn't. It was tasty. The service was above average and I really liked the decor. It was very crowded on a Saturday night and our service was still good. It's not somewhere I'd go out of my way to go back to, but not somewhere I'd avoid either in the future. I did particularly like the tail of two tunas roll.
(3)
Aaron B.
Overall pretty good new spot in River North. Definitely a scene on the weekends. Appetizers and drinks are definitely the way to go as entrees were disappointing. Highlights: Rock shimp tempura, "toast and jam" (tuna tartare on shrimp toast points; very good dish), garlic noodles Lowlights: Shaking beef (overdone, tough beef cubes under a pile of greens), sushi rolls (horrible for the price)
(3)
Jennifer K.
went here for lunch and sat outside on the patio, which was lovely...we couldn't decide what to get, so we asked our server to just bring a bunch of dishes that we could share, all delicious! rainbow roll, spicy tuna, kobe beef roll, pork buns, chicken w/ walnuts, summer salad, noodles etc. quite the feast! highly recommend this place!
(5)
Sam C.
decent sushi, can tell the place has been around for a while, not as trendy as other places. waitress was a little odd, when one of us ordered a drink with cucumber vodka she told her not to get it because someone had gotten sick from it earlier in the week. too much information. drinks were decent, a little too cheesy, one looked like an umbrella drink. rock shrimp were amazing. other rolls were good but not mind blowing. tables were a too close together - someone next to us spilled their wine - which went all over my friend's coat and my purse. sushi is more upscale and inventive at mirais and japonais, would go there instead.
(3)
Soldissimes S.
Pretty Cool Asian Fusion Restaurant....Ambience is Great - Service is Friendly - Nice Date Place. The Bloody Mary Bar was intersting and the Tea Buffet was different. Had Pancit, Loompya (funny way of Spelling Lumpia), Nasi Goreng and the Salmon Scrambled Egg Brunch dish. Tasty and Attractive presentation. Wouldn't say it is the greatest, but I'd come back :)
(3)
Sonny P.
Went here on a friday night back in october. I had reservations at 6pm and it was crowded. The ambience of this place is one of the key factors I think why people go there. The server and host were very friendly and did not have to wait long to get the table. Prices are average, not overly expensive and the food tastes good. I would definitely go back here again. If you want to run into a celebrity, this might be the best place to, haha.
(4)
George F.
The food, atomosphere and service was impeccable.
(5)
Ryan G.
Worst experience I have had at a sushi restaurant. I am a true conisure of sushi and know what good sushi is. First complaint is the service, everyone that helped me was nice, however lacked serverly in service, it might of been due to the waitresses taking shots with there patrons. second complaint was the food itself, we tried a little bit of everything and every dish was sub par. everything sounded good and looked good but was far from it. third the price, I am not cheap at all but our bill was out rageouse for the quality of food we got. Fourth the scene, there was definitley a scene there, the decor and ambiance was great, but i was surrounded by a bunch of drunk people literally wasted. It was very loud and extremely obnoxiouse. I too like to have a good time but this was too much for me. If your looking to get wasted and get over charged for sub par sushi and food then thi sis your place. I would reccomond roka akor thats across the street. One of the best sushi experiences I had. Very profesiona,l great service, wonderful ambiance and the food and sushi was over the top
(1)
Casey Z.
Came here for my birthday dinner this past March and I was thoroughly impressed. Their sushi is some of the best I've had. One complaint is that it's very, very, very loud!
(4)
Lady L.
This is such a great restaurant. I highly recommend and I am not much of a Sushi fan. The food is amazing, & the ambience is wonderful! If you have someone to impress or wish to be you should definitely pay Sunda a visit!
(5)
shawn f.
Awesome place. Excellent decor and atmosphere. Helpful and friendly staff, and the freshest sushi my wife or I have had in Chicago so far. Awesome weekend brunch stuff going on too.
(5)
Amy E.
I am torn on this review and need to go back again to make sure. We went here on one of our date nights but had a few too many glasses of wine prior to coming. We ordered a bottle of Champagne which was good. My husband had the tuna app which he loved, I ordered the Sea Bass which I did not love, it had a strange crust. We had a little too much to drink so we didn't eat as much as we normally would so I think we will have to make another trip back. Our server was great and very entertaining. The only other thing I didn't love was that we had a 9:30 reso and were there on time and we still had to wait for a table for 15 minutes, normally this is not the end of the world but the bar was sooooo crowded with people waiting to head over to underground we couldn't even get a drink (not like we really needed another anyways......)
(3)
Corin C.
Great Pan Asian food and sushi with a fun lively atmosphere. Sunda has great service and the restaurant has a beautiful modern tasteful decor that isn't overdone or too stark. Everything on the menu from the seafood and beef entrees, sushi and desserts are wonderful. We had some curried codfish, sushi rolls, brussel sprout salad (yum), beef tenderloin and molten chocolate cake and the bread pudding for dessert. I loved our waitstaff and they brought over free shots of sake. Sunda rocks.
(4)
Dabney, B.
I'm here right this second, working this smart phone like a Cardiac Surgeon. Anyone know the BCS Championship score? Fourth time here since they opened it. I don't have much time, because my client is going to be back shortly. He got an important phone call from the Mrs. that he elected to take outdoors as things heated up, but it's about 18 below out, so I know my time is limited. First of all, go here, end of discussion. The hot new thing in Chicago these days is to label a new place over-hyped a year later after it comes out of the gates blazing with rave reviews and fanfare. After all, it's the cool thing to do in that quest for the next big thing, especially in the downtown locations. I'm a throwback, so I'm a fan of many of the old Chicago staples that peaked and crashed faster than your favorite Reality TV show that many locals now dismiss as "Too touristy" or having much better options at some secluded shoebox in Andersonville, Lincoln Square, or Wicker Park......sigh. This place is legit. Layout: 5 Star Talent: 4 Star (3 in the Winter, 5 in the Summer, typical Chicago) Service: 5 Star Food: 3 Star Decor: 5 Star Intangibles: 5 Star My top 5 favorite Items on the menu: 1) Lemongrass Beef Lollipops 2) Crab Cake Crusted Ahi Tuna Sashimi 3) Wild Asian Mushroom And Asparagus Toban (vegetarian, tastes phenomenal, only thing I've gotten each time) 4) Spicy Tako Roll - octopus, tobiko, scallion, cucumber, spicy mayo & I'm slim, so screw it...... 5) The Ridiculous - a hot carrot cake with nuts and hot creamy sauce wrapped around a thick hard Gigantic scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. The menu is so deep you could come in ten times over and it'd be a unique experience. Go with a large group and load up on booze and rolls, and I guarantee you a top-shelf evening. Ok, I gotta bounce, he's coming back, and my ice cream is melting...
(4)
Jeff R.
My high anticipation and expectations for Sunda were unfortunately not met, though there is a caveat. I went for an early dinner/post work light eat. Therefore, we focused more on the small plate and sushi items of the menu and did not order a main entre. However, that should not exempt a restaurant for serving relatively uninspiring dishes without a distinct flavor. The decor was impressive, especially in the large space. There were two bars, communal tables, interesting lighting and lots of things to distract your eyes. The service was equally pleasant, fast and knowledgeable about the food they were serving. The front room also gets very high marks. But it always comes back to the food, that is what we pay far (quite dearly in this case) and why we let someone else do the cooking. As I said, we ordered four small plates to share and call a meal. Two of them were sushi rolls (more sushi and sashimi on the menu then I expected), the duck bao and finally the highly touted Devils basket (soft shell crab in a whole host of chili peppers and other hot spices).The Number Nine ($16) and Golden Child ($12) specialty rolls were anything but special in my opinion, especially for the price. Number nine is a shrimp, unagi, tobiko, asparagus, tempura flake, kaiware and unagi sauce while golden child consists of super white tuna, mango, avocado, tempura crumbs with mango crème. I am normally a huge fan of large and complicated maki rolls as I love the different flavors you can create in one bite. Unfortunately I did not get any of that with either roll, with the main culprit being I couldn't quite taste anything from the fish which is supposed to be the star of the show. I think the golden child roll was a bit more satisfying with the mango flavor, but neither one was good enough to order more of (a fair standard for which I judge maki rolls). Maybe I'm being harsh, but there are plenty of good local sushi places I can go for complicated rolls at much less cost. The Duck Bao buns (4 for $10) were also confusing and disappointing in that the main flavor should be the duck, which did not have a lot of flavor. The second part is that the bao bun is more like a bao sandwich, which turns into a lot of bao dough served with some only ok duck. Finally there was the Devils basket, wok tossed crispy soft shell crabs in dried chilies, shallots, scallions and toasted garlic ($16). Hailed by Chicago Magazine as the best new dish of 2009, I was very curious what would come out of the kitchen. I don't know if I would crown it the best dish of the year, but it was by far the best dish of the night. Lots of good flavors with an overall message of spicy crispy goodness. Unfortunately it was the only such dish that seemed to have everything figured out to present a unified flavor. My main message is not that I had a horrible time, or that the food was terrible and inedible. Quite the contrary. And maybe my expectations were a little high walking in the door so that anything but perfection would be a let down. But what I keep thinking about is that most of the food presented did not pass the sniff test, simply is the food tasty with good flavors. Combine that with questionable value and you leave scratching your head. Maybe I had a bad night, or they had a bad night because everywhere I look is nothing but praise. I would love to come back, try the main course dishes (they do look very interesting and tasty) and change my opinion (I always love good food); when I do, I know I won't be paying the bill.
(2)
Van P.
Good experience overall. Had reservations but they weren't ready to seat us until 30 minutes after. Stood around awkwardly for 25 minutes until a spot opened up at the bar. Ordered a drink and was seated at our table as soon as we got our drinks. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. Although she forgot about our garlic noodles. When we reminded her (after having already finished everything else we ordered), she made some excuse about the kitchen still preparing it... - Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad ($14) - best dish of the night! very unique taste. recommended by our waitress, who said, "if you don't like it, I will give you $10." - "Toast and Jam" ($15) - crispy shrimp toast & spicy tuna jam. also very good - Rock Shrimp Tempura ($15) - too bland. I would pass on this - Garlic Noodles ($9) - nothing special - Rainbow Roll ($16) - average Must try when in Chicago!
(4)
Rachel W.
Very fun atmosphere, the crunchy tuna sushi is so delicious, as are the oxtail pot stickers and the amazing amazing fried brussel sprout salad. Overall I've been really impressed w/the food. I've been here a few times, my only complaint is it gets INSANELY loud. Like you can't hear the person you're sitting 1/2 foot away from at the bar...If they fixed the acoustics I'd be a regular.
(4)
Emily D.
I went to Sunda for the first time recently for a girls' night. The atmosphere is hip and swanky - a great place to start a night out on the town. We all ordered cocktails that we enjoyed. We started with the rock shrimp which was amazing. They were perfectly crispy and the candied walnuts are so good. We then split a few rolls. We enjoyed all of them and decided to order one of them again. However, the second time it was very different. We asked the waitress if it was the same one we had before and she said yes without barely looking at it and walked away. We're pretty positive it wasn't, but it was still good so we ate it anyways. Our major complaint was over the desserts. My friend ordered the molten lava cake. The first time it was brought out the waitress asked her to cut it open right away because "sometimes they mess it up." The middle was hard and the cake tasted burnt. She brought out another one a few minutes later and it had the same problem so my friend ordered the pistachio crusted vanilla toast instead. She didn't really enjoy that either. All in all, the rolls are very good, but I'd skip the dessert.
(4)
Julie P.
Had dinner here last Saturday night and they actually seated us 10 min before our reso time, so that was a big plus! We had a few drinks in the busy bar before we were seated and there was not much standing room. Shortly after we sat down, we were brought a small plate of some sort of potato dish on that house that was very good. I actually found out that I knew one of the managers from college so he came by our table and gave us shots of sake and later on 2 pieces of fantastic escolar with a homemade potato chip and shaved black truffle. Not something I would ordinarily order but it was delicious! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made some good suggestions. We ended up ordering the summer of sunda roll, which was very light and refreshing, as well as the kobe beef with crispy rice, which was melt-in-your-mouth awesome! We also ordered the garlic longevity noodles with blue crab and the honey ginger braised long ribs. Both were fantastic and the meat was so well seasoned on the long rib. We were too full for dessert but they had some interesting options. I didn't find it to be overwhelmingly loud compared to busy restaurants in the area. I thought the uniforms the staff wears were kind of strange and looked uncomfortable...weird choice but I'm sure there's a reason for it. Overall it was a great experience and I will definitely be back to try more of the menu!
(4)
Jon H.
Great atmosphere and Sushi. Can't report on the other items on the menu but they all looked very good.
(5)
R V.
Been here twice- one with a friend and the second time with clients as a big group. Both times, the food was delicious, very well presented, recommendations from the servers were spot on and service was impeccable. The restaurant's ambience is very trendy, communal dining can be fun if you're a small group but they do well to accommodate bigger parties too. It's definitely one of the new places in town and very trendy indeed. Attractive staff, attentiveness to detail in service as well as the fabulous ambience make it worth the visit.
(3)
Gladies P.
We've been meaning to try Sunda for a while and I am so happy we finally did. To break it down: Bar service: fair. Peared saketini was really good. Table service: fair to poor but the attention we received from the maitre d (?) more than made up for it. Food: Amazing! Ordered so much food that the 3 of us shared because we wanted to try almost everything on the menu. Lobster wagyu beef roll, oxtail potstickers, uni, lemongrass beef lollipops, firecracker roll, crispy pata, adobo braised pork belly (the best of the bunch), Chilean sea bass, pansit canton, and ended the meal with the ridiculous for dessert (a little underwhelming). Overall a great experience. Planning to go back soon.
(5)
Kat P.
I love this place! I wanted an affordable asian dinner during my recent visit to Chicago. Based on Yelp reviews I booked Sunda. This place was PACKED on a Saturday night so make reservations in advance! Also, Sunda is very loud so it's really best for groups instead of a "date". But the food was great! We had the beef lollipops and the duck. The food is served to share so honestly, I would order 3 or 4 dishes per 2 or 3 people so you can try a little of everything. Man, that duck was AWESOME!
(4)
Milly P.
I was looking forward to eating at Sunda after all the rave reviews I read and heard. They did not disappoint. For appetizers we had the devil's basket, a tripe dish, their speciality maki made with wagyu and lobster, and their toro and chu-toro sashimi. The devil's basket is their signature appetizer made of soft shell crabs over a bed of chilis. Who doesn't love soft shell crabs?! You must order this when you go to Sunda. The tripe dish was a little salty and the speciality maki of lobster and wagyu was okay. The sashimi was fresh, but I think it was a mis-step on our part to order sashimi with other dishes that are so highly spiced. For our entrees we ordered the Malay style Chilean sea bass and the Shaking Beef. The sea bass was OUT OF THIS WORLD. It was so flavorful and the fish was cooked perfectly. We recommended this dish later to our friends too, who loved it as well. The shaking beef in comparison was ok. For dessert we had the tempura carrot cake. This was good, but could have been better if there was less tempura batter. Finally, I wanted to say that their cocktails are amazing! We had the chibuya crossing and the lichee petals. Both were exquisite!
(4)
Kyle I.
These type of restaurants really do get me excited, and if you read any of my other reviews on Asian restaurants, especially ones on restaurants that purport to be Asian, you will see how much fun I have Yelping them. Sunda this! and Sunda that! Its a new fancy Asian-fusion restaurant you gotta try! Kind of pricey but its the new thing! This sort of discourse is usually a big deterrent to me, equivalent to seeing a radiation symbol on a door. But since I lived in the area, on the same street, and literally had to pass by every day, I decided... a little radiation never hurt. July 28 2009, I tried Sunda for the first time, on my birthday, with my dad. We had the lunch specials and some sushi. I had the "shrimp and sea bass curry" - green curry, pineapple, peppers and lemongrass. I love seabass and shrimp but I HATE curry. Our server was a little asian girl by the name of nikki (i think) that was so emphatic about the curry fish I had no choice but to try. My dad had "grilled petite ny steak" (8 oz) Korean style with sesame and soy. Before our dishes came out the server brought us some fish chips that you can usually only find in Chinatown. I was told that the restaurant "imports" them from Chinatown, LOL. The two meals were the perfect amount of flavor and size for the both of us for lunch. I am not a big fan of curry nor korean style anything but since Sunda was somehow able to do some magic with their curry I would definitely try it again in the near future. February 27, 2010 my GF and I went into Sunda to grab a quick appetizer before our actual dinner at a restaurant nearby. We asked for a table at the sushi bar because it was 99% vacant and we really only had about 10 minutes before we had to leave. Surprisingly though, the two hostesses (a petite black girl and equally petite asian girl) gave us very smug looks and then rolled their eyes. I'm not sure if they were annoyed that we didn't want to sit at a real table or if they were just trying to make it seem like the place was so cool that you couldn't just ask for a table without a 3 month reservation, even if it is clearly not that busy. Anyways, we told our waiter, who looked like a photocopy of Llyod Lee (played by Rex Lee) from Entourage (very awesome), that we only wanted to order some super white (escolar) tuna and had to leave. He was very understanding and quickly put in the order. The sushi was quite heavenly and the service from after the hostess part was excellent. To my surprise I was thoroughly impressed by Sunda and will be back for more soon, hungry and hopefully able to stay longer.
My first impression was that SUNDA was very 'sceney'. I went there during fashion week and there were several models there. I felt like there was a little too much attitude but then I was pleasantly surprised when the host offered to sit us down an hour early since my wife is pregnant. We were able to get some appetizers and drinks at the comfortable lounge area. They mixed my wife an off the menu non-alcoholic mango drink and we munched on some incredible sushi. They also had my favorite San Miguel pilsner. Dinner was even better, but beware, it is better to eat family style there. Being Filipino I tried the few filipino dishes there, lumpia and crispy pata. It was great. They also served up some great vegetarian substitutions for our vege friends. They did some amazing things with cauliflower which under normal circumstances I can't stand. Someone also ordered the shakened beef which was a very tasty, spicy version of sauteed beef. it is a little loud but the vibe is young and relaxed. had a great time and will definitely be back.
(4)
Soo S.
I was disappointed with the food at Sunda. The decor was beautiful and seemed like a hip place to be but the food was definitely not up to par. We ordered several roles of sushi which was probably the most horrible out of our meal. The rice on the roll was mushy and just not fit for sushi. The garlic noodle had no taste and definitely overpriced for a dish a 5 year old can do. To give them credit, there were 2 dishes that were actually really decent. Their Sea Bass dish and their special brussel sprout salad was really superb.
(2)
John T.
wow..wow...wow. This is as good as it gets! Creative, sexy, you get what you pay for in my opinion. You want to eat cheap...go to mcdonalds. you want great food, service, and overall experience....eat here.
(5)
Christopher A.
I eat at Sunda for the first time last week. I was surprisingly impressed with the quality of the food, the quality of the service, and the atmosphere. The food was absolutely fantastic. My friend and I eat at the Sushi bar and the Sushi chef gave us free samples of new sushi to try. The price is a little costly but it is definitely well worth it. I don't think anyone would be disappointed in choosing Sunda as your choice for sushi.
(5)
M M.
I'm Filipino and I dined here with 2 other Filipinos. As many of you know, the executive chef is Filipino and has featured some Filipino dishes on the menu (adobo, pancit, crispy pata, etc). We all agreed that it was the best we've ever had! The sushi and dessert were also amazing. This is hands down my favorite restaurant!
(5)
Darlene L.
Food is fabulous at this pricey, high end, trendy River North favorite. No wonder it is a celebrity haunt. Shared a chicken salad, sushi, and dumplings for starters. The filet entree was excellent as was the chicken breast. The latter could have done without the gingered scallions. Service is efficient but a bit frenetic at times. Take home is also delicious the next day.
The only reason why I give it two stars is because of the decor. All I can say is sushi should not be cooked. I got the firecracker and it was pretty bad. The entire roll is deep fried. When it says tempura, it does not mean the little bits of tempura on top. In my opinion this wasn't even sushi. It was drenched with so much sauce you couldn't even taste anything else, which may have been the point. We also had the pork belly buns which were okay but the pork was pretty fatty. I have had way better. The person I was with had the tuna on the toasted rice patty which was the only good thing we had at the table. Maybe we ordered all the wrong things but in my opinion if this restaurant is as highly rated as it's supposed to be, everything should be good. I would not bother going back.
(2)
Winnie L.
I really love their soup dumplings and the popcorn shrimps. Sushi is fresh but the cooked food are so-so. The duck, fliet mignon and lamb did not impress me... we wanted our steak rare... it came out medium well. I asked the server if it is rare. He said yes. You will have to be blind not be able to tell that it is not red in the center. Love the drink list tho... Service was pretty bad. They put plates on the table without readjusting the plates/glasses, so after they serve us soup/appetizers/main course, we have to move everything ourself. We ordered bottled water and they decided to chill it for us but never refill our glass unless we ask. We went at 9pm on a weekday and it was NOT busy anymore. We got better service at the bar last time from the bartender. They really need to retrain their staff.
(3)
Cait C.
yum! i went while traveling on business to Chicago with a gf from the area. Thank goodness she made a reservation, the place was packed on a Tuesday. My friend called during the afternoon and the only place they were able to seat us was at the community table. We opted for the sushi bar where we could talk a bit easier. Our waiter was awesome and made all the recommendations as to what to order. I like when waiters are honest and tell you not to order something and suggest something better. We ordered the chicken dumplings to start which were good, not amazing. The sushi was great. I loved the tale of 2 tunas roll it was my favorite, perfect amount of spice. The fried rice, tuna roll with jalapeno was also great. The rainbow roll had a bit too much fake crab for my liking . All the fish was fresh and the rolls were creative and different. I would go back if I am in chicago again! fun place, would be fun for big group. It is a bit loud so I wouldn't take Grandma here.
(4)
ali a.
Sunda has become one of my favorite Asian hot spots. After moving back from Hong Kong, it was hard to find Asian food as good as it is there. Because Sunda is so amazing, it is always crowded and usually takes a little while to get seated. I do recommend trying to get a table though. Last weekend we were at a communal table, and the chairs aren't so comfortable. Some of our favorites are the sticky rice sushi (its a must!!!), the beef lollipops, the dumplings, and recently we tried the yellowtail jalapeno sashimi. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu and I am always trying new things. If you are in the mood for a great meal and a fantastic atmosphere, this is the place to be.
(5)
Mint S.
After all the hype I've heard about this place, I was not impressed. The decor is nice and the service was good, but we have some complaints about the food. Our "Bang Bang salad" didn't have any dressing on it. Seriously, how can you forget to put dressing on the salad? There wasn't even a drizzle and without the dressing, it was favorless. The other big thing was the "jasmine rice"; it was undercooked. We're asian. We eat rice pretty much everyday; we know when rice is not cooked well. This rice was wet so it was sticky and it was crunchy. The main complaint that my husband had, though, was the pork belly. We were expecting a good amount of fat on the piece. Sunda's pork belly is so trimmed that there was only a hint of fat. If you like that sort of thing, that's great, but we were very disappointed. On the plus side, the "Adobo braised pork belly "was cooked very nicely; crunchy on the outside and tender inside. It tasted more like char siu sauce than adobo, though, but I didn't mind it. The "Shaking beef" was awesome. Cooked to the medium rare specification perfectly. The sushi was decent; we had the "summer of sunda roll", which tasted fine, but it was not rolled very tightly and the filling kept spilling out, no matter how I held it with the chopsticks. I actually dropped a whole piece in the soy sauce because it fell apart. The "spicy tail of two tunas" was awesome though. No complaints on that at all.
(2)
Patricia L.
I think this place is lovely and quite yummy. I'm a bit skeptical of the communal tables that are in the middle, but I sat at private tables both times I went and it was quite lovely. They have this honeydew drink that is so delicious with real honeydew made with it. On to appetizers: oxtail potstickers were pretty good even though I'm not a huge fan of oxtail. The lemongrass lollipops looked so cute and they were yummy. I loved how they really made it look like a lollipop. My favorite appetizer is the wild mushroom and asparagus toban. It's not too salty and all of the flavors complement each other very well. The crunchy asparagus pairs well with the soft mushroom. Yum. In terms of sushi, the super white tuna sashimi was by far the best sushi I've had in a long time. The service was really great and I felt like they were quite attentive and ready for any questions. I really enjoyed both experiences at Sunda and would gladly return.
(4)
Simma Down Na H.
I definitely will come back here!!! My friend and I ordered the longetivity garlic noodles, rock shrimp tempura, the oh no you didn't...the ultimate handroll, and the summer of sunda roll. All were really great. Next time, I'm ready for more.
(4)
Lorna S.
Sushi fusion...let me just say that the food here was outstanding! I arrived early for dinner, so I sat at the bar while I waited for my friend to arrive. I wanted to try a fun specialty drink, so I asked the bartender's advice. He suggested I try Chibuya Crossing, this had a mixture of tyku citrus, fresh honeydew and lemon juice, passion fruit nectar, white tea and honey. This drink was $11, and was worth every penny. He told me that the Chicuya was some kind of rice vodka. There were pieces of honeydew melon in the bottom of the glass. Probably a dangerous drink; no alcohol taste whatsoever! When my friend arrived, we were seated at a table for two. This place also has communal tables where you are rubbing shoulders with people you don't know. This is not interesting to me at all. We started out with oxtail potstickers which were $10, and crab cake crusted ahi tuna sashimi $16, japanese hot mustard, sweet soy glaze. These things were fantastic. Next we had seared american kobe beef tartare $14, and, well, while I remember having one other dish, I don't remember what it was. Not because it was not good, but by this point, I had about three of those tasty drinks. I do remember dessert however, it was a trio of puddings. YUMMY!!! If I can say anything about this place, I guess I would call it trendy. If any of you folks watch "The Hills" or "Melrose Place", this is what most of the patrons looked like. You definitely want to look your best when dining there. This is a place to see and be seen by all the beautiful people in Chicago...men and women alike.
(4)
Darl B.
sorry for lunch only it was kinda lame for me. miso soup way way way too salty.. like are you kidding me?? Main dish grilled samon filet the sauce was far too sweet it totally overwhelmed the flavor of the underlying samon. poached a little under too. sorry no a-ok. service fine btw.
(2)
David T.
If you are a fan of Asian fusion - Sunda is a must when visiting Chicago! They have a variety of very unique and creative dishes in a tapas style, with hints of flavor from Japan, Thai, Vietnamese, French, and Californian. Recommend going with a larger group so that you can have the chance to sample a larger variety of menu items.
(5)
Cherisse G.
I wouldn't come back if I didn't like it, right? Right. The first time I came here I took a girlfriend out to dinner because she was moving to SD, CA and I wanted a nice atmosphere on a summer night. We got seated in the middle of the restaurant and even though it was an early dinner, the place was packed and LOUD. I don't even think there's music playing in the background but all the chit-chat from the patrons just filled the sound waves. Our server was very nice and explained the menu to us. We each got a meat entree (sorry we ARE omnivores).She got the braised beef short rib and I got the crispy pata and split a pork adobo flake fried rice. We swapped some of our entrees and both plates were so flavorful and moist. The rice was perfect to share for two with enough garlic to flavor. I came back again for a 2 friends' birthdays with a party of 15 and had the same server from like 2 months before. This time we sat in front of the sushi bar on a long table with stools, which to tell you the truth, looks like a great set up, but sucks when you're wearing heels and a dress. One gentlemen from management (I believe) introduced and greeted us all personally and then all of a sudden, we were being asked for our IDs because he bought us all a shot. Nice, and thanks. I ended up getting the braised short rib because I couldn't stop thinking about it from before and tried the rock shrimp tempura (AKA honey walnut shrimp) which was very good, but the shrimp were teeny tiny. Still good though. We ended up ordering a dessert for the birthday peoples and I don't know if it's on the menu or not, but it was something of a taro bread pudding and it was DELICIOUS. Subtle and sweet, I would probably pretend it was someone's birthday to try it again. Service is awesome. Whether it's a party of 2 or 15, they never slacked and were always attentive. The only thing I really had to ask of them was where is the bathroom? (It's downstairs towards the back BTW) Otherwise there was no rush to order, eat or leave. Came back again for girls night out. I can't stop. Little bits: 1. Make a reservation (You can do it on yelp) 2. Valet parking is available and so is metered parking (which is free after 9pm)
(4)
betsy b.
This place lives up to all the hype. We had a 9pm reso on a Saturday and weren't seat until 10 because it was so packed. The manager found us at the bar and bought us a cocktail for making us wait so long. I thought this was a very nice gesture give how busy the place was. The bar area could be a tad bigger though if waiting so long is common. We were shoulder to shoulder. We'd been scouring the menu for weeks and wanted to try everything. We basically made it like a tapas type meal and just ordered apps. We had the toast and jam which I loved. The toast was a bit greasy for my taste but the tuna was yummy. We also had the tuna crisy rice which I really enjoyed but my husband thought was kinda of blah. We both loved the lemongrass beef lollipops. They had great flavor and were cooked perfectly. The husband really wanted to try noodles and I wanted sushi so we had planned on getting the Lo Mein and then trying a sushi roll....well that didn't happen because we were so full. There is so much more on the menu that I want to try so I'll definitely be back. It's more a group type restaurant than a date one. The dessert menu wasn't all that appealing. That was my only gripe.
(4)
Jessica B.
I was really excited about checking this place out, unfortunately, I was insanely hungover when I went. But I didn't let that stop me. I tried the beef lollipops, roasted duck baos and sticky rice rolls with shrimp tempura and avocado. The beef lollipops were really tasty and had great presentation. There isn't a ton of meat there, but it was really satisfying. The baos were pretty good but I don't think i would order them again. The presentation again was lovely but the duck wasn't very flavorful and actually tasted kind of dry. But the sticky rice rolls really saved this entire thing for me. The rice was beyond delicious and the avocado had a nice flavor but it wasn't very spicy (even with wasabi in it) and the avocado did overflavor the shrimp. Either way, I would still order it again. The one thing I will say though is that I dined her alone (reading a magazine) and the staff didn't seem to know what to do with me. They tried to seat me at the bar and when I noticed a table outside and asked to sit there, they hesitated and then took me out. When I asked if it was reserved for someone else, they said no and the waiter wasn't rude but just seemed a little unsure of how to approach me. Or maybe i looked as hungover as I felt. I would definitely go back but I wouldn't run there.
(3)
Danielle R.
A great find! I came here looking for ambiance to celebrate a birthday dinner and loved the look and feel of the place. My husband and I chose a selection of small plates to share rather than a main entree. The pan fried rice with spicy tuna was really good as was the crab cake crusted tuna (would definitely order again)! Thought our specialty sushi roll tasted fine but wish it wasn't cut so big as it made it a little hard to eat all in one bite. The place was loud which I didn't mind but there was a lot of shouting going on to hear each other and the waitress. The drinks were a little off....I've never seen a foamy manhattan before. Overall had a good time and enjoyed the food. A plus that it's right off the Grand red line stop so you don't have to worry about driving or grabbing a taxi.
(4)
Cassie H.
My brother-in-law's girlfriend has always wanted to try this place and we asked her to pick the restaurant so we ended up at this really swanky place. The decor is nice, the ambience is nice, and we got a really private table in the back of the restaurant to catch up. Our waiter was very nice, although he spoke so softly that sometimes the other end of the table couldn't hear him (like when he was describing the specials). They were very attentive. My sister had several of their sashimi and sushi rolls with an appetizer of miso soup. She really enoyed the toro and smoked salmon, but felt the firecracker was hotter than she would have liked. She liked the miso soup but made me eat the larger pieces of seaweed. My brother-in-law ordered shrimp & crispy rice which looked good (I didn't taste any) and the BBQ pork. My husband said it was okay after trying a bite. My brother-in-law's girlfriend had the duck which she said was spicier than she had expected. My husband had the filet mignon which was very smokey. My dish was really good: seabass. The fish was perfectly cooked and light without being fishy. Overall, it was a great experience. The downside would be that the menu was more limited than we would have guessed. Also, the food is pricey... if you don't watch out, you'll spend a fortune.
(2)
Yolanda L.
Trendy space gets 4 stars from me. Food gets only 2 and since I love food, Sunda underwhelmed me. Nothing was awesome but nothing was terrible Ibut I've definitely had A LOT BETTER. Big noisy space, cool decor but filled with business diners and women who were made up and dressed up just because they were going to a "hip spot". I found Sunda to be annoying, as someone coming from NYC because restaurants and scenes like that are allllllll over NYC, so bf and I settled for Sunda because it was the only restaurant in the area without an insane wait. App: tuna tartare special. It was tuna tartare sandwiched between two fried wonton skins. It was pretty good but you really can't mess up tuna tartare. A bit salty though.... Main: baked crab roll your classic mess of fusion sushi. Waaaaay too much mayo on top, waaaay too much crunch. By the time I chewed through the mess on top I was wondering if this roll really had the crab that it said was in the roll. I really hate fusion restaurants that do this. Don't go to a sushi spot to order these disgusting sauces up balls of mayo if you don't like real raw fish. Bf's main: black cod with miso. Waaaaaay to salty. Miso flavor was great, the overdoing the miso paste was not. Fish was perfectly cooked though. What a waste. I must've had black cod with miso a million times and I've never had it quite as salty. This was not an enjoyable meal. We will definitely not go back to Sunda on our next visit to Chicago.
(2)
Mayra H.
so i went to Sunda for the first time for a friends 30th b-day celebration. The vibe of the restaurant was cool-a bit more upscale and bougie than some of the other sushi places ive been to. (but im sure its because it was downtown) I must say though that the vibe is really all they had going for themselves. J and I have been to much better sushi places in chicago (and Oak Park for that matter) where we've eaten some of the best sushi ever! But maybe since its New Asian food overall and not necessarily a solely sushi restaurant that that's why their sushi isn't amazing or even close to amazing. i paid almost $40 bucks for two rolls... yes only two rolls! I ordered the Dragon roll-which wasn't bad & the Baked Seafood Dynamite that sounded great on paper but wasn't rolled very well and was a bit mushy. There drinks are a bit over priced as well, at least compared to other restaurants i've been to where i've paid no more than $9 a glass for the wine they're charging $15 for. I wouldn't go back for the sushi but I may go back to experience the other things on their menu.
(2)
Joe R.
I went to Sunda tonight for my brother's birthday dinner with high expectations and those expectations were surpassed! Drink wise I recommend the Mai Tai in the awesome tiki god glass/mug. Tasty, yet potent. For our meal, we decided to go family style and order a plethora of dishes. My favs were the Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna, Longevity Noodles w/Blue Crab, Beef (yes, beef) Popsicles, & the Rock Shrimp Tempura. I look forward to visiting Sunda again in the near future. Two thumbs up from this guy!
(5)
Tim B.
Almost went 4 stars , but I want to visit again to be sure. While we had a great time here, with incredibly fresh fish and well balanced food, the question we had was with a menu that large, can they really do everything "well"? The sushi, like I said was fesh and the combination/specialty rolls creative. The special Sashimi for teh night was again, perfect. We even had desert which is seldom the case as the "ridiculous" was too tempting to pass up. I later fell asleep on the couch at home in a carb coma after consuming the tempura fried ice cream, wrapped in carrot cake with caramel and sweet toasted walnuts. Cocktail menu was storng as well with the Pear Sake being our favorite. We will dig into teh expansive Sake menu on the next trip
(3)
Radmila S.
I went with a group for a Birthday party on Saturday night. There was much eye candy within the restaurant. The staff was very welcoming! Uncle Paul especially made you feel like part of the family making excellent recommendations. Drinks: the strawberry delight was a dessert in itself. the divine lychee also deserves a nod. Miso soup with oxtail-surprisingly the oxtail was a perfect addition to the tofu oxtail potstickers- very tasty, the white wasabi cream brought it to another level. Rock Shrimp Tempura-i find it hard to mess up anything fried, it is good for all palates at the table Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad---too die for, a MUST order, a burst of flavor in your mouth Stuffed Avocado- filled with tuna, i probably would prefer just sashimi tuna but an average dish Longevity garlic noodles with blue crab style-somewhat dry, i'd skip this next time Adobo Braised Pork Belly----THE BEST DISH ON THE TABLE. the pork belly melted in my mouth, was the perfect amount of crisp on the outside. Great over rice. Crispy Cauliflower-the garlic, miso, and chilis made this a great dish even if you don't like cauliflower Green beans-crispy and flavorful Yellowtail jalapeno - very light and fresh I definitely recommend Sunda for both the people watching and pork belly alone.
(4)
Patty S.
I went to Sunda recently with some girlfriends. Got a res through Opentable.com and was seated right away when we arrived. The atmosphere is very loud and energized which reflects the decor. There are many sections of seating options to the restaurant. I think if you don't have a res on Friday or Sat, you might not get in. The Food Highlights: Duck with Steamed Bao Buns - Absolutely delicious! Definitely reminds me of Dim Sum Rock Shrimp Tempura - Brings me back to my childhood. I loved this dish when I was a child, but haven't ordered it in a looonng time. YUM!! Baked Seafood Dynamite - So good that we kept re-ordering this roll! Lobster and Wagyu Roll - Does this dish even need commenting?? (and others that I can't remember...) We were too full for desert, but had a fabulous time regardless. I'll definitely be back for more Food Buddha!!!
(4)
Ramya G.
Probably one of the best sushi places I have been to!
(5)
Katie H.
Have you ever had a dish that was soo good, you immediately ordered another serving of it? That happened to me at Sunda. . . . twice. My husband received a $100 gift card for his birthday, so we were ready to spend big (for us anyways) at Sunda. We started with the crispy duck hash which was fantastic and then moved on the escolar (white tune) topped with a black truffle. The escolar was amazing, but don't bother with the fancy truffle prep. It ass nothing. Just get the regular order for like half the price...and that's just what we did, enjoying another round of the perfect fish. Then it was on the duck bao, which were sliced like sandwiches rather than stuffed like dumplings but were still delicious, soft and chewy with a tangy hoisin sauce on the duck. The much-raved about crispy rice, which we opted to have topped with the shrimp and avocado, was fine but I wouldn't order it again. the crispy rice part was great, but the topping, which was essentially shrimp guacamole, was just too much. I had to scrap half of it off (and I love gauc). The highlight for me was the fried crab handroll though. Holy hell. As soon as I took one bite, I asked my husband "can we order another one?" (in my defense, they are small. shared by two people you get two small bites each). So the crispy duck salad, bao, 2 rounds of sushi, 2 rounds of crab handroll and the cripsy rice, plus 3 tall Sapporo's and a small bottle of hot sake (for sake bombs) was $130. The service was fantastic throughout the dinner. We did have one little hiccup and that was that after we paid - $30 plus tax and tip on my card after using the gift card - we got home and realized we didn't have my credit card. We called and the host said "well no one has turned it in". Okay.... well it's Friday night and my card is floating around Sunda or out on the street. Someone could do a lot of damage. Maybe you could go LOOK for it, check with my server? Nope. So I called and cancelled it, then at 1am, got a call saying they had it. But other than that slight annoyance, everything was great and we will definitely be back for more of the crab handroll, the bao and the crispy duck.
(4)
Beata P.
I came here for a work lunch. The decor is very nice and is a great place near the Loop to bring a client out. Would also be good for a birthday dinner or special occasion - would definitely not come here on a whim though. The space is deceptively small, but was about 70% full and that is a lot of people. The sound level can get a bit noisy. The food was great - the rock shrimp tempura is as yummy as everyone says it is. The bao are also a good appetizer - I'm just bummed you can't split the serving of 4 between duck and pork. I had a rainbow roll and it was good - what I would have expected based on other sushi places. The service leaves something to be desired. I felt that our waiter would leave for big chunks of time and either forget about us or forget things. Maybe they don't serve dessert during lunch, but I was itching for a coffee! oh well. Would recommend with the caution that it may be a longer meal than what you are expecting.
(4)
Molly G.
My favourite place for Sunday Brunch! The tempura French toast is AMAZING! As are the rolls we tried and the dim sum. The atmosphere is lovely, relaxing (it was mid-morning on a Sunday, so I dont know what its like at happy hour or for dinner) and the staff attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. The tea bar is great! And the bloody Mary bar is huge with a big selection. If you have guests in town, bring them here for brunch!
(5)
Mr. S.
Good food. Good service. Fun place.
(4)
Michelle M.
Hands down... One of the best restaurants and most delicious food I have ever eaten :) The people who work here are gorgeous too! OMG I just about drueled over two of the guys working there :) the food was amazing. The wine was delicious. The atmosphere was decadent. I loved it all :) Oh and the chocolate cake was great!
(5)
Dan D.
Awesome atmosphere and interesting menu. Yet, the food was not that impressive and the variety of options was not varied enough from what I was expecting. Service is top notch! And the cocktails are quite yummy - I think one of the most popular fruity drinks is the "Go-Go Strawberry." And honestly, it tastes pretty good... As for the food, there is nothing spectacular or unique. We tried about 5 different appetizers. None of which are worth going into detail. For main course, we tried some sushi and the "Toast and Jam" - a crispy fried shrimp (toast) with a layer of spicy tuna puree (jam). Sounds cool! Tastes kinda yukky. :-( For MUCH less money, I'd rather head to Uptown and have authentic asian cuisine at a place with outrageously innovative food... at a noise level that I can have conversations. Note: this is NOT a good date place. It is very noisy, much commotion with people standing and moving all about. For drinks, it is great. Just not a nice fancy dinner with a loved one.
(3)
Diana B.
OH. MY. GOD. Sunda is amazingly delicious. It's not just sushi, but an Asian fusion restaurant so you get to try a little of everything. I came here during happy hour, and at least 20 things are on the hh menu plus a different drink every day. The food is out of this world. You have to get the corn fritters, the pork belly buns, the firecracker roll, and the ridiculous dessert which is....ridiculously good. 5 stars!
(5)
Molly G.
For my first time at Sunda, I was pretty impressed. They have a sharing concept, that I wasn't too sure about at first. But, it turned out to work out very well because I could try all of the dishes. I was with a group of four and we got close to a dozen different dishes, including sushi rolls, appetizer of rocky tempura and a duck and egg dish. We also got a Cod dish, which was AMAZING!!! I would highly recommend this to anyone, it is a little pricey but worth it if you don't go all the time.
(5)
Lyn B.
Sunda is a fantastic place to bring friends from out of town! It is super trendy, the food and drinks are great (relatively large menu!), and they take reservations. The service is pretty good too. Great spot to go with one other person, a small group, or a big group - great time every time I've been regardless of how many people I go with!
(4)
Sarah H.
LOVED this place. Went for my birthday this weekend with 5 girlfriends. Our waiter gave excellent recommendations, the drinks were yummy, food was delicious and they treated me (birthday girl) very well ($10 gift certificate, cheesecake dessert for the table to share). The staff was very attentive and couldn't have been nicer. The decor is beautiful. Really cool spot. Will definitely be returning!
(5)
Elizabeth E.
Some thoughts in no particular order: 1. Beef lollipops were awesome 2. Very noisy 3. Asian version of Mercadito All and all definitely worth paying a visit, however I wouldn't mind next time just getting a couple drinks at the bar
(4)
Ann C.
Great service. Great ambiance. Will come back for sure!
(5)
Isabel K.
We just got back from a bachelorette party in Chicago and chose Sunda for our dinner venue after it was suggested by a friend and it was great! The food, service and ambiance was exactly what we were looking for. We were seated right away and our server was attentive and the food came out in succession at a good pace. The manager came over with shots (with his head sushi chef, who my friends wouldn't stop staring at) and wished the bride to be congrats and continually made sure we were all set throughout our dinner. As for food, I loved everything we ordered, but a few things stuck on my palette in particular: Garlic noodles with blue crab - simple and they weren't cheap with the crab so there were good chunks in there Steamed Baos - delicious (that's all that needs to be said) Spicy Tuna with crispy rice and jalapenos - the crispy rice added an unexpected texture to the normal spicy tuna maki we're all used to and the jalapenos was the icing on the cake for those who really like spice Miso Cod - It wasn't too salty and the fish was cooked perfectly As for the sushi, the fish was fresh. I usually gauge the quality based on the uni because that's my fav and it often has a funk to it if it's not fresh. All the sushi/sashimi we ordered tasted great and was well presented... For dessert, my fav was the mochi ice-cream and I hardly ever eat dessert! Overall a great experience and definitely worth 5 stars! And I give it a 6th start just cuz the manager is from Guam too! =)
(5)
Mike E.
Was travelling to Chicago for work and dined here alone by the bar. Was a great experience, fun, lively "restaurant and cocktail" vibe, modern interior. Excellent sushi (was very surprised by the quality of Sushi in Chicago overall, I also hit Sushi Wabi for lunch). I particularly liked the signature sushi with the pan fried rice and handcut kobe beef tartare. This was a unique dish with excellent flavours and texture, a great creative riff on sushi. The miso brozed black cod was also a stand out, supple, sweet and tender cod with eggplant. Will return next time I visit.
(4)
Lynde G.
Go here to impress someone you like...or someone you want to like you!! :) Dress to the 9's..... my fav's to order (I've ordered other things besides these): Black Cod Crispy spicy tuna or Kobe Salad with pork, ahi tuna and mango I think it is special number #9 sushi roll. **Ask for recommendations...and really interrogate the server to let you know what is outstanding -- not what everyone orders. Yes, there is a difference. **Make reservations in advance any night during dinner, otherwise you will wait in the crowded bar drinking ice filled drinks for $14+ each. They are good......but I think a little deprived of liquid. **I'd skip for lunch. Been there done that. Overpriced for average asian inspired dishes. Service is slow for lunch which is weird because we needed to get back to work! Go for the scene....Stay for the food.
(4)
Noah L.
Cool venue. Decent drinks and pretty good food
(3)
Taylor F.
Sunda's rock shrimp tempura with glazed walnuts and creamy honey aioli is to die for. The spicy tuna and jalapeño sushi is a little too spicy, but still addictive. Great ambiance.
(5)
Axl R.
Absolutely fantastic from beginning to end. Delicious food, fun ambiance, attentive staff, and not pretentious. The brussel sprout salad was awesome and the seafood toban was awesome. My friend was really happy with pork sticks but not so much the seven spice chicken.
(5)
Lim K.
We arrived at the restaurant a little before 5 and had to wait in the lounge area for about 10 minutes. Asked the hostess that we would like to sit at the sushi bar. However she took us to the corner of the sushi bar in the back. Unlike other sushi restaurants the seats at the sushi bar are very low and it blocks the view of the sushi chef. Anyway, we ordered shishito peppers, a spicy "tail of two tunas" roll and a red dragon roll. The shishito peppers were good. The rolls did not have much flavor and the rice was not cooked properly. The service was good. Glad that it was happy hour so we did not have to pay the full price.
(3)
Kelly G.
Brussels sprouts salad and peppers are legit. So yummy and great cocktails.
(4)
James C.
Finally checked this place out. Saw Billy Dec in his usual gear... random tshirt and a hat. He was eating with the commoners which was pretty cool of him... except he was right in the front when you walk in so maybe he did that on purpose to be seen or something. Anyway, the food was great. The prices are kind of jacked up for the same thing you'd find somewhere else but if I had to review this place as a whole, it's pretty good. Service was attentive and the food was good enough (nothing amazing but good enough... cause honestly, how much better can it get than japonaise or any other restaurant like this one). If you're in the mood to spend some money or impress a lady, come to this place and go nuts. I don't have any must try items on the menu except for the lobster and wagyu roll... which is $20. I think it's worth $20... I think... Oh... try to stay away from the communal tables... they're super uncomfortable. It's definitely a last resort kind of thing. Am I coming back? Maybe... when I'm richer.
(4)
Jacob V.
I'm a fan of this place - it's pricey, but well worth it. The only thing that sucks is the Reserved signs all over the lounge area(which is their designated waiting area). My wife and I ate here last week. At the very beginning we had an 'offering' which was a hummus-type dip with a few deep-fried bread things (had the consistency of thin pork cracklins). For drinks, my wife stuck with water, and I had the Ginger sake drink, I don't remember the name. We had two appetizers - Rock Shrimp which were AMAZING!!! and the Watermelon Eel salad. The eel salad was a few cubes of watermelon topped with eel 'bacon'. It was a new taste, as I had never tried fruit and fish in the same bite. My wife and I split the beef ribs and they were OHMYGAWD good!!! The meat was soooo soft that we didn't need a knife.. I was able to PULL it off with my chopsticks! Amazing!!!!! For dessert, I had the Ridiculous, and my wife had the Molten Chocolate cake. I can say the Ridiculous was... damn good! it is like a scoop of vanilla ice cream that is dipped in carrot cake batter and deep fried. Very very tasty. By the way, when you go, ask for Daniel! He took GREAT care of us!
(5)
Frank C.
Had lunch with my family today to celebrate mothers day. I was expecting much with the restaurant since recommended by a friend. The loompya (egg roll) was not so good, the nasi goreng (fried rice with salmon) is not so exceptional but I love the salad crispy salmon, it's yummy. Ebi (sushi) is okay, while spicy "tail of two tunas" is good. No fruit juice for kids. When we got our check, 4 items totalling $60+ was added to our bill. Although the waitress apologized, they could have done better. Check what you ordered. The servers and attendants were exceptionally fiendly and fast service. The food are expensive. You'll enjoy more if you eat in Joy Yee's. I will definitely not recommend this to friends.
(1)
Lauren P.
average sushi, lotta hype. stopped in for a weekday work lunch. overall, the lunch crowd was very calm. lots of suits & low music -- from what i understand, much different than the night time scene. the sunda set combo (lunch specials with salad/miso soup & a standard roll,) looked pretty enticing, but everyone at the table ended up ordering sushi. to drink, i ordered some tea. they have about 12 varieties to choose from & it comes with the cutest little honey stick on the face of the earth. our table started off with a few appetizers. first, the rock shrimp tempura - YUM! this is a must order. so. good. we also shared the crispy brussel sprout salad (off the dinner menu.) i'm not typically a fan of brussel sprouts, but this salad was surprisingly delicious! i would definitely order it again. ...and then came the sushi. wah wah. i ordered the wa-machi & the firecracker, & also sampled the golden child & tail of two tunas from a friend's plate. everything sounded good on paper, but not every piece tasted fresh, and the flavor combinations were pretty bland & uninspiring. the firecracker was not spicy in the least bit & i couldn't taste the ginger in the wa-machi. i've also had much better mango rolls than the golden child. service was fine. if you're interested in cocktails & a scene, sunda might be the place for you. but if you're looking for some great sushi, venture elsewhere.
(3)
Eva M.
Love it! Great food and Great Service. I even tried sushi and loved it. Great for young people. Will be back. Had sea bass and the oh-no-you-didn't sushi. A MUST.
(5)
Lisa K.
My friend and I wanted to try Sunda, asian fusion restaurant, the new kid in town. They are definitely out to impress. As soon as you walk in, you are the center of attention of the wait staff. Who can't wait to help you. We tried several items to share and loved them all. The soup dumplings were especially good, we got two orders of them because we thought the first one was so good. The devil's basket filled with soft shell crabs and chilis was also good. A little overkille on the chilis but it was fun. The sushi was fresh and prepared well. We also ordered a sparkling saki that wasn't on the menu but was delicious. I would definitely recommend Sunda for anyone who has clients, a date or anyone they want to impress. They can take them here and have a great meal.
(5)
Linda G.
We had Mother's Day dinner here, We were seated at the Chef's table. Our waiter helped guide us through the selections for the group. Excellent.
scene and be seen! I have been to Sunda a few times now and have enjoyed each time I've been there. Yes, it's trendy, yes, it's hip, yes it's the scene and yes the food is very good. Rockit Ranch Productions does know how to incorporate all of that making your experience a heck of a lot of fun. Each time I have been there we load up on the apps and don't really focus much on the main courses. The devil's basket is a very cool concept of a caldron filled with dried hot chilis and delicious fried soft shell crab. The toast and jam is another cool concept and also very good. For entrees the miso bronzed black cod and shaking beef are great choices. The mix of asian flavors and dishes make for a unique dining experience that I know will keep me coming back to try other dishes as well.
(4)
lucky r.
ok finally I went here for dinner and it's so much better than lunch. Very trendy and chic atmosphere. Food was delicious. The dinner menu was so much better definitely does the restaurant justice. Something i recommend to start out with is the stuffed avocado, the brussel sprout salad, and the braised short ribs and for dessert try the taro and coconut bread pudding and if you want a sugar attack go for the tempura ice cream (too sweet for me). the only complaint I have is that the communal table with the stools are extremely uncomfortable. My back and butt was hurting was hurting.
(4)
Josh P.
Stopped in the other day, it had been a while. Amazing as ever!
(5)
Andrew S.
I have loved Sunda from day 1. They have a great room, great food, great service, and the best fish in town. We recently found out that most of the fish they are using is imported overnight from fish markets in Japan. We had dinner at Sunda last night and it was wonderful. Sunda it's always a pleasure. Thank You
(5)
Rhonda H.
This restaurant is the best. The flavors they combine together are the best! My favorite two dishes are the Prawn ragoon and the lobster waygu roll....amazing, i would highly recommend dining at Sunda.
(4)
Diana T.
4 stars (feeling more like 3.75) even though I know this place is notorious for plenty of things: bad service, expensive, some plates are not awesome, and the feeling that these people here just plain judge you?? Last night was my 2nd visit to Sunda for my gf's birthday. She made reservations for 9PM, however when we got there, there wasn't a table ready at that time. I believe we had to wait almost 30 mins for the RESERVED table. But they bought us a round of drinks from the bar, so I thought that was particularly nice of them. After that, we got seated at our table almost immediately. Our waiter was very charming and made some very helpful recommendations. I've had their sushi and was not impressed and was only interested in their non-sushi dishes. We ordered the honey walnut rock shrimp tempura. It was basically the honey walnut shrimp that you get from a chinese restaurant but about 3 times better. We ordered something called the Devil's Basket which was 2 soft shell crabs cut in 4 pieces sitting in a bed of red hot dried chilis. Very delicious. The waiter pointed us in the direction of the crispy rice sushi and helped us pick the Kobe beef one. It was probably the most tender kobe beef I've ever had. The meat literally just broke apart in my mouth, and in a good way. For entrees we had the roast duck breast which was sitting in buttery mashed potatoes and this amazing sauce. Their side of cauliflower was fantastic. Best freaking cauliflower I've ever had in my life. Next entree was the Shaking beef, meaning Bo Luc Lac for those familiar with vietnamese fare. It was a delicious rendition of it although the meat was a bit on the chewy side. The side of string beans was also amazingly delicious. They put walnuts and chinese sausage in with it and the flavors were so well-matched. We finished off our meal with the bite sized cookies and the ridiculous, a big deep fried tempura ice cream ball covered in way too much caramel sauce. It was all good but not amazing. Overall, the experience was a lot better the 2nd time around for me. I think if it had not been for the waiter and how the manager helped salvage the table situation, they would have received less stars.
(4)
Sara Joelle W.
dinner last night here was sooo good. cucumber gin gimlet + a selection of the rolls (lobster + kobe beef, salmon in jicama tacos, 2 types of tuna)... definitely fusion but soo good. also i loved that when i told them i was allergic to white tuna (escolar) they were able to easily substitute it with a second type of tuna.
(4)
Molly P.
This place is cool. It says a lot that I can admit that b/c I was predisposed to disliking Sunda after I learned it is owned by the same guy that owns Rockit (I detest Rockit...and not just b/c I have banned for life from that dbag hole). Anyway, I've been here for lunch twice and both times got the combo lunch for $18. Both times I had way too much food and got a second meal out of my leftovers so in reality I think it's pretty decent value. The decor is very artsy and modern, and the place has a very open feel to it. I'm a fan, despite my best intentions.
(4)
Pasha A.
The Sushi is avg at best... Very Americanized. The Scorpion roll (soft shell) was very sub par. However the restaurant has a very fun and lively scene that makes it good place to get drinks and some small bites before you go out.
(3)
Christopher M.
I was worried. No lie, walking in the door I was sure we were going to get attitude and a seat somewhere in the back, possibly the basement. This place is beautiful. Gorgeous. Huge, spacious and wonderfully dark in the sexiest way, I was certain the lovely hostesses would give us grief. Didn't happen. They were happy, helpful and polite. Our seat was wonderful, and while it was situated right in the busy heart, it was comfortable and nice. We opened our menus and were stunned by the variety and intensity of the offerings. Everything sounded so wonderful, we had to come up with an immediate plan of attack on how best to try the broadest range of foods. Our waitress' arrival meant we had to toss out drink orders (which we had prepared) and we began with our first choices of food. She was quick to give advice and assure us that we'd picked some of her favorites as well. Even as it began to get busy, the noise level did not rise too high and we soon had the first round of food. This was it, the moment. Let me tell you something, I love food. I eat all the time, whenever I can. This stuff was amazing. The worst stuff we had was the best I'd had in awhile and I ate here a night after coming home from NOLA. This place has some magic they sprinkle in things. Steamed Soup dumplings - Sounds crazy but these were the best soup in a bite I have ever had. Somehow they manage to get the broth inside the dumpling so biting into each is this explosion of flavor in your mouth. Its amazing and delicious. Lemongrass Beef Lollipops - Chop into these like the owl or unroll them and enjoy at leisure but if you like beef these are one of the tastiest ways to have it period, bar none, and I say this in this city. These things are a miracle of flavor. Charsui BBQ Pork - BBQ pork, a staple of Asian style cuisine, usually something dessicated and chewy. This was moist, succulent and delicious. The pork flavor shined through and the smoky BBQ was amazing. Crunchy Pig, Hidden Lobster - Lobster rolls with bacon, SMART! Veggie Q Roll - Tasty, clever and refreshingly light. A great accompaniment for any meal. At this point, understand, we were stuffed. Full. To the gills. Bulging out of our clothing full. But dessert, dessert had to happen. Had to. It was writ, burned into stone, like from on high. For dessert we had... The Ridiculous - Ever had fried Ice cream? The Ridiculous is standard fried ice cream taken to the extreme. Its the size of a football. It could feed three people. Its covered in this delicious crispy shell then drizzled and drowned in sauce. Its delicious. Anywhere else on Earth this would be a king of desserts. At Sunda though, it is second to... Taro Bread Pudding - This is ambrosia. No not your Aunts salad, I mean the Old School food of the gods kind. This is the most delicious bread pudding in the city. Its wonderful. Words fail me here, but it tastes like sweet taro tea mixed with cream, cake and heaven. That's all I have. Its better than that but really, its all I can do. So yea. Been there since, just as good, so they get my full on love.
(5)
J P.
Dined here to celebrate a special occasion, we came an hour earlier than our reservation but were seated right away, which was surprising and unusual but definitely what we wanted! It was PACKED with people on a Saturday night at 8pm, and like people say this is definitely a place where young 20-30 somethings get together, all dressed and dolled up. You cannot walk into this place in a hoodie and jeans, or even jeans without feeling completely out of place, it is REALLY nice. The atmosphere is pretty dressy. Overall, we ordered the chop chop chicken salad which REALLY let me down, it was so incredibly dry; i did enjoy the subtle taste of the jalapeno but the chicken tasted bland/dirt like and the whole salad was just.. dry. We also ordered the corn fritters which were pretty good. We ordered the scorpion roll which my date loved but I wasn't too particularly thrilled about, first of all it consisted of 5 pieces (2 of those were end pieces with the tail sticking out)..I mean it just seemed like such a small amount of sushi for the amount we paid; maybe I'm spoiled with my cheap and delicious suburban sushi joints. I got the blushing geisha and it was pretty strong (good thing) and had a good gingery kick. Also got miso soup, which was delicious as usual - but how can you really mess that up? The best part of the entire meal was the dessert. We got the "ridiculous" which is basically tempura fried vanilla ice cream and carrot cake, it was so delicious, I felt like I was consuming opiates! I almost don't want to try it ever again because I feel it should be something that should only be tried once and not ruined or something! Unfortunately, unless I'm drunk (which was obviously my state of mind during NYE here, where i had the amazing beef lollipops and the pork bun), i only eat chicken, sushi, so not many menu options for me. Although I had a generally pleasant experience here and our waiter was on the ball and sweet, I may or may not come back here.
(3)
Drew T.
Went to Sunda for a work dinner on a Thursday night. It was hopping with a very see and be seen type crowd. I felt as if I had been transported to South Beach which, while probably desirable for some, wasn't really what we were looking for. The food was good, but not up to the hype.
(2)
John M.
Do not believe the somewhat less-than-superb ratings, Sunda, is a great Asian fusion restaurant. One small negative. It's a scene there, so it's crowded, noisy and hectic.
(5)
Amanda T.
I've never really been much of a Pan-Asian restaurant fan because well, frankly, most of them really suck. But not Sunda. My recent trip there completely exceeded my expectations and killed the bad taste in my mouth I had from my last attempt to dine there. I've heard many positive things about Sunda so I decided to finally go and try it last year. We made reservations and we were FIVE minutes late and they gave our table away. We even called to say we were going to be about ten minutes late, and all they said was try to get here soon. I was heated so we left. We finally came again. And I'm glad we did. Last minute reservations are impossible, but luckily I know someone on the darkside that scored us reservations. I like the atmosphere: filled with a lot of eye candy, but still manages to keep a very chill, laid back tone. Our waitress was awesome, super friendly and very helpful with recommendations. The menu is extensive and has lots to choose from. I saw they had Blue Fin tuna, so i HAD to try it. Blue fin is an endangered species, so it's a rare find in restaurants. It's endangered for good reason: it's frickin delicious. I'm all for saving animals and whatnot, but I have absolutely zero qualms about that piece of Blue Fin sashimi sitting happily in my tummy. Everything we ordered was awesome as well. The signature makis are unique and worth trying. And the rock shrimp tempura was definitely a big hit. The chocolate molten cake was so good my friends and I had to order a second round. Right now I'm in my room, sick with a cold. I'm pretty sure the only thing that would make me better right now is some Blue Fin tuna. Can somebody please pick me up and take me to Sunda, like now? Thaaaanks!
(4)
Mariza B.
Everything here is delicious! Speaking as a Filipina their Pancit Canton, Loompya and Crispy Pata are delicious. My personal favorite is the Shaking Beef.
(5)
K. J.
I have wanted to try Sunda for a while and FINALLY did. I was not disappointed. The food was creative and beautifully presented. We enjoyed several appetizers and ordered some of the more exotic sushi and sashimi options on the menu. When I return, I may try some more conventional choices, but that is just my own personal preference.My favorite was the "No You Didn't...the Ultimate Hand Roll". The ox-tail pot stickers were a favorite of my husband's. My friend ordered the adobe braised pork belly (huge portion) and seemed to enjoy it. Overall, I think everyone enjoyed their food. Service was really outstanding throughout. When I booked the reservation, I requested a quiet table, which was accommodated (or as best as Sunda could...it is a very loud restaurant). We arrived on time and were seated promptly. Our waiter was outstanding. Our group wanted to try Sake, and having never tried Sake before, the waiter arranged a tasting and then helped us choose a bottle. He was also helpful in explaining in great detail the various dishes and drinks. Food came out quickly, empty dishes were removed promptly and my water glass was refilled frequently. Also, when booking the reservation, I was asked if we were celebrating any special occasions. I mentioned that the one of the couples each had birthdays within the next week. So, at the end of the meal, our waiter brought each of them a piece of cake with and candle with a card signed by the staff. I thought that was a very nice touch. Overall, it was a great night out. I will definitely be returning.
(4)
Ellen M.
Forgive my review for being short, but we just got back from dinner at Sunda, and I am entirely too full. We came here for my 29th birthday back in December, and since have been obsessed with their sea bass special. My friends and I went back tonight, especially for the sea bass, and when we only saw one on the menu, we assumed it was the same one. Welllllll sadly, what came out was something entirely different. We politely asked the server what the other one was, and she told us that was just a special and is no longer on the menu. We were bummed, but since everything else was so good, we moved on. A few minutes later, Brian Cummings, the manager came over and apologized for the confusion...walked away, but came back again and told us he was able to work with the kitchen and order us the meal. Not only was the food outstanding, but his customer service skills were top notch. He went out of his way to make our dining experience worth every penny.
(5)
Steve T.
Had the most amazing Chilean Sea Bass here, completely melted in your mouth and was so delicious time practically stood still. I can keep raving about Sunda, but honestly, that was the best sea bass I have had in my life. That fish rocked my world, and I challenge someone else to make some that is better.
(5)
Danielle C.
Went there for the first time tonight. It came highly recommended by a co-worker. I'm a vegetarian so I asked the waiter about vegetarian options and he gave me some off the menu items. Including tofu seabass. I ordered this and it was amazing! My boyfriend said his sushi was the best he ever had. We were both in love with our dinners. The service was great and the ambiance was cool. I liked how they had several different dining table options. Like my co-worker, I would totally recommend this place! Good food and good ambiance aren't so easy to find!
(5)
Sean W.
Best Asian Style upscale food in Chicago that I have found. The Filipino style food is amazing including a new take on some of the more classic Filipino dishes like Pansit. Two negatives: The Space is Loud. The space can get incredibly load during peak dining time so much so that you can not hear your waiter or the person across the table from you. It doesn't help that they have large round tables in 1/2 of the restaurant, which if you are seated at don't expect to be able to hold a conversation with the person directly across from you. Service is just Ok. The service is just ok and the waitstaff gives off a "I am awesome because I word at a cool restaurant" vibe. The managers are at least nice if the waitstaff messes up your order they comp you as they should.
(4)
Steve C.
Overall, not bad. My wife and I are not much on paying for ambiance; we're just there for the food and the food was good. We had the Devil's basket and the oxtail potstickers. Both were great. The Devil's basket is two softshell crabs in a huge pot of dried red chilis. For dinner, my wife had the sea bass and it was also great. Good sized portion and lots of flavor. The only loser of the night was the dish I had: the beef long rib. Little flavor and super fatty. I realize that rib meat is usually "well marbled" but this piece of meat was a good 30 - 40% fat. Oddly, Sunda also doesn't serve any kind of carb with the dishes, apparently. I'm Chinese and I like rice or noodles with meat, especially meat that's really fatty. Pricewise, everything was pretty reasonable. The food was about $80 all told and two drinks were $25. I'd go back, but next time, we're probably just going to order 4 - 5 appetizers and go dim sum style.
(4)
Philip G.
Attentive service despite the fact that we sat at the sushi bar. The experimental/creative dishes are awesome, though sometimes the red pepper overwhelms the raw fish flavor. Considered purely as a sushi bar, though, I don't think this would get 5 stars. The sushi is good but the underlying fish is not comparable to the fancy places in New York or even the average places in Los Angeles. We spent a little over $100 to feed two guys plus one drink. Try the string beans!
(5)
Marc J.
Ill get the good part out of the way first, because it won't take long. 1. The oxtail skillet was good 2. One member of our party of 6 had her meal comp'd for the ridiculous experience we went through. The bad: 1. Our server did not refill our coffee. Ever. UNLESS I flagged him down and asked for a refill. You are serving brunch, why are you not walking around with a coffee pot? 2. It took an extraordinary amount of time to order our food, and this only happened once we flagged down our waiter. 3. The food took 45 minutes to come out. This happened after the waiter went out of his way to tell us at approx 30 mins that the food would be out in a minute and a half~direct quote. 4. Two ladies ordered the same meal. Both arrived cold. One lady mentioned this to the waiter, and he comped her meal. He didn't have the brain capacity to ask if anyone elses meal was cold...which could have been assumed given that two people ordered the same thing and one was cold. ...all in all, this place is absolutely worthless at being a restaurant.
(1)
Megan G.
Crispy artichokes are great
(4)
Justine M.
I loved Sunda. Got: -Pancit Canton (Filipino dish - noodles) Reminded me of home :) - Lumpia (Filipino "spring" rolls) Reminded me of my Filipino parties - Chicken breast Bahn mi - so fresh & light. The bread could've been thinner and not as hard - Tempora Walnut French Toast - SO GOOD - Braised Pork under a poached egg atop pan fried rice cake - Rice cake was WAYY too hard but pork was made perfectly - Indonesian Rice - So good! - Raspberry tea - beautifully displayed. Came in it's own tea pot and honey - Mango Mimosa - So gooooodd We went on a Sunday afternoon and there weren't too many people there. Staff was friendly. Ambiance and decor was beautiful. I'd go here again. It's a bit pricey, but worth the display, environment and food.
(4)
Dustin F.
JACKPOT - How can this NOT be 5-stars?!?!? This has everything you could want, Kobe Beef, amazing sashimi/sushi quality, great drinks, and a fun scene! I usually get scared when I see Asian Fusion - usually that equates to over priced poorly conceived trendy food - fortunately, no fear needed at Sunda. A group of us came in and opened a can of whoop-ass on the menu - I mean we explored the space! From the chips with sauce they bring before you order to the RIDICULOUS (aptly named) dessert, everything was "O"- Tastic. Some key highlights (i.e. DO NOT MISS): Everything... and: -Seared Kobe on crispy rice - literally just melts in your mouth -Truffled Tataki Sashimi -Lobster & Wagyu Roll -RIDICULOUS dessert - don't care if you are allergic to chocolate - order this!!!! Make sure you come hungry and with some deep pockets, but it won't be a meal you soon forget.
(5)
Mike W.
I really liked this place, despite the fact that its part of the rockit group. The food is a mix of interesting flavors and everything is presented nicely. I went on someone else's dime so the price wasn't a factor but this place is really pricey so be aware of that. I would say good for a date or special occasion, maybe happy hour before a night out on the town.
(4)
Lyn P.
This is how you do Asian fusion, people. The menu is delightful, with touches that someone who eats Asian food all the time can appreciate. So for my specific experience, we went to lunch. Dug the atmosphere/decor as soon as we walked in. We were seated and I was actually shocked to have shrimp chips served to us while we perused the menu. I make those at home and I rarely see these in restaurants so my experience was already starting off well. I decided to go the Filipino food route for my lunch choices and ordered the pork and shrimp lumpia and then the Chicken and Pork Adobo. The lumpia was rolled "shanghai" style so it was thin and meaty. Great flavor to these and a good portion for sharing. My meal came with a salad with a light vinagrette and also 3 pieces of sushi (spicy tuna or cali roll.) I choose the spice tuna and it was really good - they spice the tuna instead of using spicy mayo. The adobo was different from what I am used to but it was still fabulous. The sauce wasn't as vinegary as I like, but it still had great garlic and soy flavors. I dug the grilled onions in the dish (also not what I am used to) - they were cooked to the point of perfect carmelization. The pork and chicken were seasoned well and not overcooked/dry. I was super happy with my meal and will definitely venture back here the next time I am in Chicago.
(4)
Peter F.
Came here on a wednesday night without reservations, it was about 80% full, so we still got a table. The environment here is amazingly loud. I'm not sure if it was from the surrounding table or the music, but the noise level was on par with a night club. I notice the building design wasn't really optimized for sound absorption, so maybe thats why the noise level gets amplified. Anyways, I digress... Adobe clams: Too salty, had to send it back and waiter was nice enough to oblige. It came back less salty, but the dish itself still isn't that flavorful. Rock shrimp: Absolutely perfect! I love it. Shrimp dipped in tempera batter, covered with a sweet creamy aioli syrup that is explodes with flavor. nuff said Sushi Firecracker: Pretty good. sushi roll had all these awesome ingredients in there like cream cheese, unagi, jalapenos, tempura, tuna, spicy mayo...but I'm not sure if all of it shined through in every bite. My taste bud got confused and it tasted like I was eating a cooked tuna roll with guacamole and tempura. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but not amazing and nothing notable compared to other sushi rolls. Garlic crab noodle: Tastes like ramen noodle. Not really flavorful and the crab was sparse and underwhelming. Pass. Duck Hash: Aaaaa-Mazing! Perfect blend of ingredients...when it isn't too salty. First time I had it a few years back, it was too salty, then the 2nd time, it was perfect. Overall, the experience at Sunda is A-OK. They are often inconsistent with their salty levels. Each time I come back, one of the dishes is too salty, then the next time, it'll be good, but another dish would be salty. It would get a 4-star if it wasn't so inconsistent.
(3)
Larry V.
Came here for a company party and was very impressed. The atmosphere here was awesome, and the food was spectacular. The wait staff was very good, and overall, we had a great experience. Expect it to be upscale and trendy, and a bit pricy.
(4)
Julie Z.
Business lunch here. YES! I've been wanting to come here for quite some time so when I was delegated as the authority to pick a lunch spot for a business meeting, Sunda was on the top of the list. The interior is pimp and unique. The day I was there the male waiters looked like models (seriously they were all attractive) and dressed super sharp in their double breasted military inspired jackets. Our waiter was awesome and gave great recommendations including the brussel sprout salad. I hesitated when he suggested it b/c I'm not a fan of brussel sprouts but he assured me it was worth it and good lord, this salad was super, super tasty! Note...it is not located on the lunch menu but he said it would be no problem to make it. We also had the following: Rock shrimp tempura - tasty..what you would expect though as a rock shrimp app Signature sushi with tuna and kobe beef - lovely Tail of 2 Tunas roll - a great roll for Tuna lovers Firecracker - advertises itself as spicy but it could use more kick Mushroom lover roll - Ugh. I did not like the texture of this in my mouth. I came on a Friday during Lent so were were a bit limited in ordering meat dishes but I will be back to indulge in them. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Kristin M.
Best sushi EVER!! I absolutely love this place and the unique ingredients they use in their sushi and drinks! If you want a "experience" this is definitely your place. It's very trendy, young and hip. A little loud inside and hard to hear. If you want just causal sushi I would choose a different environment. Went here with my sister late night at 9, and went with my mom at 6pm which was perfect for both - at 6 it was quiet enough to have a conversation, since my mom hates to talk over loud music!
(5)
Sarah D.
I'm giving it four stars, but that's pushing it. The food was really good. The waitress was very knowledgable. And the bloody mary bar is bomb. Five stars for unlimited shrimp and Absolut Peppar Vodka. But for some reason, I just don't want to go back. Could be the prices, or it might be a specific breakfast dish I despised but can't seem to find on the menu right now. I went for Sunday brunch, and I could have sworn it was pork belly and bonito flake, but maybe it's the Okonomiyaki with bacon. Whatever the protein, I was not a fan of the flavors. The fishiness of the bonito with the overpowering, almost BBQ like, smokiness of the bacon left a not-so-good flavor memory in my mouth. But I have to say the presentation was awesome. The bonito flakes looked alive when the dish was served and the colors were so vibrant. My mom and I also split the Crispy Rice Kobe Beef Roll; it literally melted on my tongue. The warm tenderness of the beef with the salty rice was insanely gratifying. We also ordered the rainbow roll; very fresh, but again, overpriced. I just noticed they have lunch specials and half-priced sushi for happy hour, so I might have to try it again.
(4)
Shajan K.
I highly recommend this place. Food, ambiance and service were amazing! I've heard so many good things about Sunda and its worth the hype.
(5)
Winston G.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I was debating on just giving this place three stars, but I decided on four because it does have some pretty awesome dishes. Came here for a Sunday night dinner, and the food was either hit or miss. Pork belly buns were not great. I've probably been spoiled by the great pork belly buns I've had at Momofuku in New York, but the buns here were a bit soggy and too salty. The management removed this dish from our bill, which was a nice gesture - still, these can be worked on. They have potential. The sushi here was good - had tuna, sea urchin, and octopus. About $14-15 for 4 sashimi pieces (so $45 for all three/ 12 pieces), so a bit on the pricier side, but the sushi was very fresh and of good quality. Good stuff. The miso bronzed black cod was decent - my main complaint about this dish was it was a bit too sweet. I read the chef's bio and saw that he had been the opening chef at Koi in Los Angeles - Koi in LA basically does this exact same dish, but just not as sweet. The fish was cooked perfectly though, but the devil is in the details. Less sugar, please. The star of the night though (and probably why this review does get 4 stars) - the Atlantic salmon sashimi "bundles". These were creamy blue crab wrapped in salmon - DELICIOUS. I would go back again just for this dish - it was truly awesome. Well balanced, not fish, and really smooth. $15 for 5 pieces (a bit small, but worth it). Service was fine. No complaints. Maybe a bit slow in between the sushi and main courses, but wasn't too bad. Tried one of the cocktails here, some berry one, which was good.
(4)
Kris L.
Big fan! Great cocktails, great food, and great people watching!! Our server was very attentive and recommended some rolls and dessert that were delish! I had the dragon roll, corn fritters, garlic noodles, and the ridiculous dessert. All acceptable! (Although the garlic butter noodles had a whole lotta garlic! I had to keep my distance the rest of the night). My friends all ordered meat dishes ( I was trying to be a good catholic during lent and not eat meat on Fridays) and they all loved their food. Enjoyed the ambiance, has a trendy chic vibe. It is really loud which wasn't a problem for our group and prices are a bit steep but it was well worth it. Can't wait to come back!!
(5)
Kelly C.
Inventive Asian cuisine with swanky atmosphere and staff that are really on top of it - it's a winning combination. I checked out Sunda for lunch with some work mates and enjoyed everything we had. I highly recommend eating family style since there are lots of things you'll want to try on the menu and the portions are designed for everyone to have a bite. While I've heard it can be crowded at dinner according to other reviews, at lunch you can get a table, enjoy the same awesome food and relax. That being said, we were on a tight schedule and let our waitress know up front and the kitchen was able to accommodate five-star style. While probably a little pricey for an everyday lunch, it's a perfect spot for a business lunch or special occasion. Definitely will be going back again.
(4)
Tiffany L.
I have been here twice. Once for regular dinner, and once for happy hour at the bar. I've tried a bunch of things including various rolls, the duck baos, the watermelon unagi, oxtail pot stickers, and the duck hash salad. The only thing really worth mentioning here is the duck hash salad. It is SO DELICIOUS. Nice asian flavors marinated into the tender duck, a citrusy frisee, and daikon hash squares, with a very nicely fried egg on top. Make sure you have a little bit of everything in your bite, the flavors are wonderful.
(3)
Nez A.
Heard so many great things about this place. I called a week in advance to request the veranda for a party for 6pm. The person who I spoke with said it should be no problem, the morning of the party I received a call from Sunda to let me know that we had to give the table back by 8:30 (not sure why they wouldn't have told me that when I made the reservation, a bit odd to receive a call just for that). Either way when I arrived, we were not seated in the veranda area. The manager really had nothing to say when I asked him, and when I pushed back a bit, his response was we needed a party of 13 or more. My party had 10 people...I would understand if there was another party who needed it, but there wasn't anyone there. That turned me off a bit. As for the food-it was good, nothing more. For the price you pay, it would make more sense to skip the hype and go to Tanoshi. I'm not sure if I would return. Maybe the lunch experience is better?
(3)
Jon-David J.
Hands down the best Asian inspired restaurant in Chicago. The tapas style servings and the recommends from the waiters and the food are terrific. I now have so many favs that I'm not going to start until I write my own blog at TLT. Warning: it can get loud for the over 40 person (like me) but it's kewl and happening all the time and the food/drinks and service are so worth it.
(5)
Tera D.
Omg, this is my absolute new favorite gourmet sushi place. If I have a taste for raw goodness, and a few (well ok, more than a few) extra bucks in my pocket - Sunda here I come! Granted I went on industry night with a friend in the industry, and thus my first experience involved everything being half off, but I've seen the prices and I'm willing to go back. It was just SO good. Appetizer highlight - crispy Brussels sprouts salad. WOW. We also had the crab cake crusted tuna, which was actually my least favorite, since it had some steep competition. My friend had the stuffed avocado which I didn't try, but would absolutely order next time. For roles I split the Tale of Two Tuna's and the Number Nine with a friend. Both fabulous. Seriously, I have never had fresher, creamier tuna than in that first role. And the number nine is an unagi roll with great flavor. Sunda, I will be back - probably soon!
(4)
Chouster S.
Hands down the best sushi I've had in Chicago, possible one of the better ones even including New York City. We came in a large group, and with more people coming in after the first group had already placed their order, the waiting staff seemed a little confused about who ordered what. I had to fight for the dishes I ordered because everyone on the table wanted them! Definitely get the pork belly, all sushi are fresh and tasty, they have a few Asian vegetable dishes that are delicious too.
(4)
Jennifer Y.
Sunda is one of my favorite Japanese/Asian places for lunch, dinner and cocktails. Decor is spacious and sexy/chic. Clientele is young and hip or older and sophisticated. Personal food favs: 1-Sticky Rice with Kobe beef (comes hot, like a cooked Kobe Sushi piece). You only get 4 pieces per order but OMG it is glazed and tender...soooooo good! 2-Sushi is amazing (specialties are the best) 3- Cocktails: Yum! Bartenders here know how to make a drink. If you're going to pay for an expensive cocktail I say go as crazy and complicated as you like. 4 - Some sort of duck bun thing was ammaaazing. Think it was an app. Never made it to dessert....was always way too full. Good place for a date, friends and maybe your parents if they're cool enough.
(4)
Grace L.
What a hefty price tag! I think I just spent $100+ for two people to become hipsters. Rolls are overpriced, but maybe it's because I'm use to tons of sushi and asian options in the San Francisco bay area where there are tons of giant rolls that are nowhere close to Sunda's extreme prices. Nevertheless, you've got to try Sunda at least once. Our order for the night for the two of us: - Beef lollipops - probably one of the best things we ate that night. I didn't really taste the lemongrass but you can't really go wrong w/ meat and ponzu sauce. - Duck steam bun - good onion bun, duck and sauce tastes like every other dim sum peking duck. - Garlic noodles - Not bad. Light amount of garlic in a small serving that was perfect to split for the two of us and allow us to eat a ton of other dishes. - Brussel sprout salad - This is a warm salad. I didn't care for the dressing at all. I think it's a fish oil base? Too bad the waiter put the dressing on before I could say STOP. Luckily the bf liked the salad so I had him eat most of it. - Summer roll - Avocado, asparagus, mango and other greens in a rice paper wrap. Pretty refreshing and definitely a "summer" feel - Crab/lobster roll - way too expensive ($19) for something that tasted just OK. I think the name of this was something like couching pig hidden lobster or something along those lines. - mango ice tea and a mango soda - $8 ea!! They have an interesting way of serving it though. You get one shot glass with the mango syrup, a cup of ice, and a large canter of ice tea or soda (sparkling water). You can mix as much (or little) syrup as you want for your perfect tea/ice/syrup ratio. Oh, noise level was pretty loud in here so it was hard to hold a decent conversation. Timing of the food was kind of off, we waited awhile before someone came to us to ask us what we wanted to drink. Overall, it was a decent experience. The ambiance of the restaurant is really what you're spending your money on.
(3)
Maria M.
Gorgeous place, fantastic food, top notch service. If you go, you have to try the Rock Shrimp. Love this place
(5)
Lauren F.
Maybe I'm just jaded by the incredible seafood and Asian restaurants in San Francisco, but this place was totally just meh. We ordered all of the top recommendations on Yelp, and they were all sub par. The best dish we had was the brussel sprout salad. We tried the beef lollipops -- overcooked. Several of the sushi dishes -- not impressed. Yelp has led me astray!
(2)
Missy C.
ALWAYS amazing service - I love that the manager walks around and stops at every table to greet everyone. I've been to Sunda a couple times and have never had anything I didn't like. My favorite items are the lumpia, steamed soup dumplings, and the oxtail pot stickers. Make reservations! This place is always very busy!
(5)
Rosa H.
Rainbow roll, kimchi soup and fried chicken were all fantastic. But my favorite is pork belly. It is so delicious, the sauce and the tender meat just melts into my mouth
(4)
Jaclyn P.
Really loved this place. Came with 3 friends and had a great experience. Food was delicious. Ambiance was great. Server was awesome. No complaints!
(5)
Taina M.
Came here on a Thursday night for dinner with three other girls. I'm a fan of the Rockit venues and this was my first time at Sunda with pretty big expectations. Friendly staff. Great enviornment. Great decor. Amazing food. Grabbed a drink at the bar first, around 6pm. Drinks are delicious, but not very strong. About $12 or $14 bucks, don't remember, but pretty average for the area. As for dinner... Rock Shrimp Tempura, Baked Snow Crab Handroll, Sunda Rainbow Roll and "The Number Ten". We shared everything and it was all amazing. Literally my mouth waters just thinking about "The Number Ten".. Some of the best sushi I have ever had.. We also had a bottle of wine and edamame. Came out to about $40/$45 each without tip.Which is about $20 less than I was expecting to pay. Anyway, I will be back soon, that's for sure.
(4)
Sofy G.
Excellent food Delicious cocktails Great atmosphere Great service Definitely, One of the best restaurants in Chicago.
(5)
Joani O.
I've been to Sunda three times now for lunch, so I decided to write a review. First, it's a beautiful space with a nice bar and from what I've experienced, attentive service. What attracted me originally was the fact that it is an upscale Asian restaurant, yet when they first opened, they were offering specials to bring people in. (I'm not a fan of paying for pricey downtown lunches on a regular work day, unless it's a special occasion.) I had the grilled salmon once and the panang chicken once, and both were cooked to perfection and very tasty! If coming for lunch, they also have a weekly special which is one entree for $8.88! On this particular trip I was with a group, so to share we ordered: -Edamame -Brussel Sprout salad -Steamed Buns with pork belly -Tempura Rock Shrimp I would have/could have enjoyed all of those, alone! I never used to be a fan of brussel sprouts, but lately I've been trying to get into them, and this salad is awesome! The combination of the vegetables with minced shrimp made this sooo tasty! After small portions all of those, I shared the baked snow crab roll and the rainbow roll with a friend, and they were fabulous! Overall, Sunda is pricey and I can get comparable dishes at other Japanese/Thai restaurants for much less. (Especially pad thai and traditional sushi rolls.) What keeps me coming back is the quality, presentation, and the ambiance. I will continue to enjoy the lunch specials, and I can't wait to bring my husband here for a date night!
(5)
Robert F.
Went here this past Saturday after hearing the hype. Walked in and our table was ready right then. Lots of open tables for having 0 reservations 2 days out. ( checked again after I already made them ) Got the miso soup w/ mushrooms and it was GOOD. We got 3 sushi rolls....ummm..the Dragon..tale of 2 tunas..and rainbow... They were all good. The server tried to have us get more, but we were full after 3. Let me say that I am new to Chicago, but I feel you can get sushi of this quality all over the city for probably $5-10 cheaper. It was good-great don't get me wrong, but $110 worth?? hmmm
(4)
Rebecca H.
Great place for food and drinks. Get a reservation.
(4)
Nathan J.
Sunda is a series of peaks and valleys. The first time i went there i was blown away. The interior is great. Modern and classy, exactly reflected in the food. However onto the food, the most important part. Its good but you really have to carefully choose. I've been here twice and the sushi each time is decent. Usually well get one or two great rolls and then one that just disappoints. But when you venture away from sushi to their other dishes, this is what puts it over the top. The beef tenderloin wrapped around lemongrass sticks is orgasmic. Sunda, your a good woman. But if I'm looking for sushi I'd rather go to Arami.
(3)
Tom Z.
The entrees (I had a pork leg confit) were good portion and well cooked. I was a bit dissapointed because I expected more of a fusion style. I will try the sushi next time
(3)
Derrick T.
Came here to check out the Dine Around Prix Fixe ($33 a person), and boy, were we impressed! Ridiculously busy on a Monday evening, I'm glad we made reservations in advance. A very "happening" restaurant/bar where the noise levels were high, this is not your romantic date kind of place. We had selected out a cold dish and hot dish to try off the prix fixe, only to be informed that when we select the prix fixe for $33 a person, we actually get ALL five main dishes along with the side of rice and dessert! Finding out that they had a sushi bar as well, we opted to try one of their other items along with the prix fixe menu: Alaskan Salmon Bundles (not prix fixe): Fresh salmon wrapped around blue crab meat bundles... shame it's only five pieces, but it was innovative and delicious. Prix Fixe: South Eastern Chicken Chop Salad: The peanut jalapeno dressing was made wonderfully... very low amount of heat, but just enough to let you know the jalapeno was there. Chicken was tender, salad was fresh. Yum. Spicy "Tail of two Tunas": Rolled yellowfin spicy tuna draped with super white tuna on the outside, with a kick from jalapeno. Again, not ridiculously spicy, but enough to awaken your taste buds. This was excellent. Rock Shrimp Tempura: A clever upscale take on the traditional honey walnut shrimp found at other Chinese restaurants. The tempura crust seemed a bit thick, but the dish comes together very well. Miso Bronzed Black Cod: Served over glazed, slightly crisped eggplants, this was the clear winner of the hot courses. Fish was tender, moist, and flavorful. Definite winner. Chicken breast of Tobonyaki: The outside was very flavorful, but the meat itself was slightly dry and couldn't match the flavor of the outside. Good dish, but can't keep up with the cod. Sunda Cookie Bites: Eight different mini cookies, that my wife each had half a bite of each. Fun, enjoyable, and all very different flavors! The creativity of the cookies was wonderful, and the size was just right as the richness of each cookie can be enjoyed in a bite. The only dishes we were able to finish were the sushi, cod, and cookie bites, so I'll be enjoying some salad, chicken, and shrimp for lunch today... and the servers were kind enough to pack a new box of jasmine rice for us! Verdict: Excellent food, great customer service, well worth checking out as it's one of the few places that I've tried that excels at pan asian upscale approach! And a great value for your money if you're able to take advantage of the prix fixe menu during the Dine Around Chicago Gourmet Festival month! Look forward to coming back here again!
(4)
Demetrio P.
Friends, wife and I went here for dinner and overall all of us enjoyed Sunda! For me personally, I was very pleased by the wonderful food. Couple things we ordered that stood out were the Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad, Adobo Braised Pork Belly, Seared Kobe Beef Tartare on the Pan Fried Crispy Rice, and the Lobster and Wagyu Roll. All were very delicious! Who knew fried brussel sprouts made into a salad would be so delicious. The Adobo Braised Pork Belly was slightly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with the wonderful flavor of adobo sauce. And the Kobe on Crispy Rice was so yummy, the beef was so tender and tasty! Pretty much everything we ordered was great. Will definitely go back for more eats at Sunda! In summary, good food, good service, downtown restaurant prices.
(4)
Mahsa T.
Is it bad that my review is slightly tainted by the wonderful ambiance and celebrity/politician sightings the night I was there? Billy Dec, owner of Sunda, was celebrating an award for Asian Heritage Month and the entire downstairs area was packed with beautiful, stylish people and celebrities such as news anchors, won't drop any names (eh hem, Linda Yu) and politicians, again won't drop any names (eh hem, Alexi Giannoulias and Pat Quinn). Pseudo celebrities aside, I'm happy to report that the food has gotten much better here since my last visit when Sunda first opened. The "No You Didn't" handroll is still one of my favorites. Wonderful organic miso soup with mushrooms and great garden vegetable roll. Also had an opportunity to sample some shrimp appetizers and other rolls. Everything was delicious and wonderfully prepared. I was also very delighted with my drink, which was iced tea with sweet or flavored vodka. Even though we were sitting in chairs that were not all that comfortable in the lounge/bar area because the restaurant was packed, I was wonderfully impressed by our meal and the great time we had here. Service was understandably a bit slow, but that will not deter me from coming back here again real soon.
(4)
Adi S.
Went here last summer. Everything about the experience was fantastic. The rock shrimp tempura was one of the best things I have ever eaten. Sushi was unbelievable. Also had the duck boa buns, which were delicious. A very memorable culinary experience.
(5)
joseph a.
Good stuff and good staff.
(4)
Jetaun W.
I am so late on this one. Went a couple of Fridays past, but I am still thinking about this place. I only have two reasons why: Strawberry Fields (cocktail) Oh no you didn't (sushi) I can't really recommend anything else. I can really go back and have a seat at the bar to enjoy the sushi and cocktails. I had the Blue Crab Longevity noodles for an entree and the texture of the dish was off. I am used to pasta being heavy and not fluffy. This pasta was a little fluffy. You would have to get it in order to understand what I am talking about. Beautiful space! Oh yeah dessert.........yeah...... no! My friends thought it would be good to order tofu cheesecake. Not great but not bad. They also decided to order some sort of avocado mousse dessert. Yeah......NO!!! it was a hot mess. That turned me off completely, and it was time to go.
(4)
Julia K.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city, highly recommended! -Amazing service every single time -Great for groups and dates -Must gets: Brussel sprout salad-random but incredible Duck steamed buns Japanese scallop and the Number 10 roll -All the food is amazing -Make a reservation in advance for weekends
(5)
Paul M.
My office is in River North literally a block away from Sunda, which is dangerous because the food here is amazing and the ambiance is right in my wheelhouse. I love the entire vibe of Sunda and go there often for lunch. Not five-stars because I wish they'd change the menu items a little more frequently or have more lunch off-the-menu specials, but other than that no complaints. Haven't been for dinner because of how difficult it is for reservations, but will have to get back there for dinner, soon.
(4)
Kimberly O.
Having already indulged in a few mid afternoon libations at the Wit rooftop my girlfriend and I decided some food was in order before things got too crazy. What was intended as a simple refueling exercise quickly evolved into the best meal of our whole time in Chicago. The decor is what you'd expect from an Asian restaurant but classily executed and not overdone. The low lighting and subtle ambiance were soothing and suited our mood perfectly. The clientele were a mixed, well heeled crowd bar the chap next to us who looked like he'd mistakenly strayed from Viagra triangle. Realizing that we were perhaps a little tipsy and in need of some guidance our clever and charming server - Rachel - steered us to some amazing selections: Hamachi with Jalapengo kicked things off beautifully. Artfully presented and deliciously flavorful. Next up the Buddha salad which is quite frankly knock your socks off good. The flavor of the rich crisp pork contrasting beautifully with the seared succulent ahi, crisp lettuce and sweet mango. Next sticky rice topped with with Ahi -a perfect combination of chewy crisp rice and delectable, silky ahi. However if you ever go to Sundha and don't order the lobster roll with Waygu beef you will have missed something quite sublime. It was hands down the best thing I've eaten this year and caused my GF to proclaim that Sunda is amongst her all time top 5 dining choices. Ignore this suggestion at your peril. My final tip is to take as many of the small Red candies at the reception desk as you can possibly fit into your purse/pockets/cheeks -they are unbelievably good - but beware the scary green candies. Sunda we love you.
(5)
shoaib a.
I came here on a Sunday for brunch. I loved the ambiance and the nice decor. We Sunda does this east/west brunch that I thought was quite unique. I ordered the oxtail and potato "smash". Although I'm usually not a fan of fried eggs and would never order them otherwise, they were on the dish so I ended up eating them. The smash was very unique and I applaud that. Overall, the meal was good but I'll likely try something different next time.
(4)
Kelly C.
I have been here several times and have enjoyed myself each visit. The decor is amazing and it's definitely a place to be seen. I have been for their Sunda Social, every weeknight they have specials on certain cocktails and half off apps. The drink we has was a strawberry something (it was over the summer and my brain is a little fuzzy) and it was fabulous. The apps were tasty as well. This is perfect for an after work wind down. However I made the mistake of coming here before a night out - by 11pm we were starving! Probably our own fault for not ordering enough food. Some of the food highlights from my several visits: -Beef Lollopops-amazing and this is coming from a girl that is not a huge beefeater -Rock Shrimp Tempura - excellent - the walnuts and aioli are a great addition -Baked Seafood Dynamite-it was good, but it tasted like a dynamite roll I've had elsewhere. -Firecracker roll - with a name like that I want some heat - it had spice but I could have used more (not sure if the other people would have though) - "Tail of 2 Tunas" - very good roll I've had other food items but I can't recall them right now. Overall a great spot, yep a little pricey but I think the food/drinks are well worth it and it's equivalent for the area. I will def be back - been wanting to try the brunch!
(4)
Evan M.
"Meh" says it best. Maybe I'll give this place another shot for happy hour, but as a place to eat Sunday brunch . . . meh. The service was just a big letdown. This place has been on my neighborhood To Do list for a while now, but I've always been swayed by other places, and turns out, rightly so. We only ended up here because Slurping Turtle was closed, and what a bummer. Our waiter, while polite, was just not on his game. My friend asked for a beer list, and he mentioned they were listed on the menu. Once he'd walked off, she verified they were indeed not listed on the brunch menus, the only ones on our table. When he finally arrived, we were eager to order, as we'd waited quite a while to be seated for our reservation. Unfortunately, she asked for a beer which sent him darting off before we could go, "Oh hey! Hi!" to reel him back. Another 10 minutes passed, and I was about to eat my chopsticks, when he finally returned with the beer to take our order. Now, the menu seemed a bit lackluster--nothing made me go OOH, I AM SO GLAD I DRAGGED MY ASS OUT OF BED FOR THIS. So I put in orders for two items. One came. After a sufficient amount of time, I asked about the second and was told it was coming. Either he didn't put it in AGAIN, or the kitchen staff was disorganized, because it STILL did not come out. Order fiiiiiiiiiiiiinally came out, and he offered to comp it--yay, I mean, the hungriest person at the table got all the food last. Oh, did I mention nobody ever refilled our waters, ever? One of my thirstier friends grabbed a 5th glass of water, which had been placed on the table in front of nobody. The ambience was nice, but not as impressive as I'd been led to believe by all the past reviews. With all the other top-notch sushi places in River North, the Gold Coast, Streeterville and the Loop, I can't see this one lingering near the top of my list anytime soon. Food was good, but not memorable. Service was polite but not attentive or quick. Ambience was nice but not eye-opening. For the prices, I'll go elsewhere. Just meh.
(2)
Lavina D.
The ambiance here is awesome - very lively, trendy and great for a Saturday night before heading out on the town! Made reservations and they were running behind schedule so sat at the bar for a cocktail - the Peared Sake was tasty, pear is just so refreshing in the summer! Once seated, we proceeded to order some hot sake which was delicious but I can't recall which one. For food, we had a mix of things based on recommendations and what our taste buds were craving: Bang Bang Salad: Worth the bang for sure! Great burst of flavors Toast and Jam: My friend loved this idea (crispy shrimp "toast" and spicy tuna "jam") indo corn fritters: Very tasty, reminded me of Indian pakoras Veggie Q roll - i had this for an entree My friend ordered 2 of the specialty sushi rolls - we def had way too much food between us, but we don't live in Chicago - so it was worth it. For dessert, we had a great selection of Mochis - 6 different flavors!! Overall, I give it a 4 stars for a good mix of food and ambiance. It's a similar idea to Spice Market in NY. The service was great too - our waitress gave us recommendations of places to go out dancing and also the name of a club manager to drop at the door to get in!
(4)
Mary B.
Overrated. We went on Saturday night - we were literally rushed out. We went for the much hyped gluten free menu. Turns out its also taste free. The GF menu had lots of choices, we were very encouraged. They also have GF soy sauce. The strawberry martini made with belvedere vodka tasted like strawberry juice with a tablespoon of vodka. The edamame was undercooked and way too salty. Shishito peppers were the tastest thing we had. Salmon jicama was three little tasteless tacos. Pad Thai? Best to order it from the little Asian place in your neighborhood, it will be much better. We ordered brown rice which came at the end of the meal. Oh joy, a bowl of dried out rice.
(2)
Stephanie B.
I dub this my new favorite sushi spot. No, I'm not kidding. Between the elegant and tres chic ambiance to the innovative menu and libations, I am still swooning over this spot! While I know Sunda has been open for quite some time, I haven't had the opportunity to check it out. My sister was in town and we both had a hankering for sushi and fab drinks. I offered up a few suggestions, but hands down Sunda won once she looked at it online. We made a reservation (leaving us minimal options only because it was Friday night at 8 pm). We opted for a 10:30 reservation for two and took our chances by showing up a little early. We were pleasantly surprised when they did seat us early after a short 15 minute wait. The crowd was pretty dressed up. We felt a bit on the underdressed side not wearing a skirt or dress. This is definitely a "pretty people" place. I swear everyone was giving each other the once over. The only ding I could dig up was the fact that it was pretty loud. I don't know if I would go there with my boyfriend just because we wouldn't be able to talk and converse over a date-night meal. I actually like to talk to my company without shouting. After navigating our way to a communal table, we scanned the drink list and couldn't choose between all the available options. My sister went with the Divine Lychee and I went with the Toasted Ginger snap martini. They were equally delicious. We also scored some free drinks sent from another table. We told them to pick for us. And they chose the Blushing Geisha. It was crisp, smooth, and went down way too easy to be tequila! We ordered edamame to begin our meal with. I found it odd that they didnt give us a bowl to put the empty shells into. I also wanted soy sauce to dip my edamame, which I was not offered. We placed our order with three specialty rolls to start off with-- Summer of Sunda, Dragon, and Firecracker. They cleared our plates (with the empty shells) and gave us fresh ones for our sushi. That's when we were offered soy sauce. Now it was time to dig in! Our fave roll, hands down, was the summer of sunda. The flavor palette of the basil combined with the mango and tuna was delicious. I wanted more! I found the dragon roll to be right on. No complaints. The firecracker roll was quite spicy, but plated in a unique fashion. It was made to look like nachos! The wasabi cream looked like a nacho cheese sauce. It was warm, gooey and yummy. Something I wouldn't have expected, but that is what impressed me. I was not able to take advantage of dessert, but I have a feeling I will be back very soon! I definitely recommend this spot.
(5)
Hyon L.
Why is this place getting good reviews? The sushi isn't anything to freak out over and the rest of the menu is fried food. I made french fries when I was 13, I don't get how people are charging patrons so much money for something that is so easy to make. The atmosphere is annoying. It's between middle aged Creed/Nickleback listening rich men that are akward and dress poorly or the women that are skanking it up to makeup for the lack of their father's attention. Wait is this a night club? Is that what I walked into? Cause if so then give it 5 stars. Sleezy atmosphere and all.
(1)
Rachelle B.
My friend and I both work on Kinzie street just a few blocks away from each other. One day we decided to go to lunch and decided to hit up a nice spot that we wouldn't normally go to instead of the usual Singha or Potbelly. There are a lot of nice restaurants in River North that we never go to because 1) it's River North and no one hangs out there on purpose, at least not any of our normal friends, 2) it's a crazy stupid douchey scene at night, 3) the restaurants and clubs get really pricey at night. We decided to go to Sunda. The interior of Sunda is beautiful. It looks modern, but at the same time there are a ton of antique-looking Asian pieces that give it an old-world look. Right away we were served some chips. They were kind of like the consistency of shrimp chips, but thankfully didn't have that shrimpy taste that I'm not crazy about. Light and airy, kind of styrofoamy, like they're supposed to be. I don't know why they were pastel colors, but whatever. To drink, my friend got the mango tea and I got the mango soda. They were tasty and presented in a cool way, but $8 a glass? For tea and soda? Our waiter was really friendly and nice and helped us pick out the right amount of food. He also gave us recommendations on what he thought were stand-out dishes and wasn't afraid to answer honestly about things he didn't think were that special. Our waiter told us that the signature sushi is what Chef Rodelio Aglibot is known for. The signature sushi differs from regular sushi in that the rice is pan fried in ghee (clarified butter) and glazed with soy sauce. Then you can have it topped with hand cut spicy tuna and jalapeno, seared American kobe beef tartare, or shrimp tempura with avocado and wasabi. We opted for the spicy tuna. I wasn't sure how this would be, but I was willing to give it a shot. We both thought it was delicious. The rice on the bottom is cooked and so flavorful, then the fresh raw tuna on the top an a slice of fresh jalapeno. I was afraid it was going too be too spicy, but it wasn't, and I'm sensitive to spicy. Great balance and combination. A second recommendation from the waiter was the rock shrimp tempura with glazed walnuts and creamy honey aioli. I found these really addicting, but who doesn't love something fried up and drizzled with mayo and mixed with some glazed walnuts for a nutty crunchy sweet contrast? For an entree we split pancit Canton. This was also a recommendation from the waiter. I liked this dish, but I wanted something more out of it. I don't know if I wanted more salt, like a dash of shoyu, or a little more spice or what, but it was not my favorite of the day. I thought that Sunda had good food, a great ambiance, and good service. It is pricy. We paid about $30 each, and that was just for lunch. I'm sure dinner is a lot more. That said, we did have leftover pancit and tempura. The serving sizes are plentiful and our waiter did mention a lot of people split dishes family-style like we did. We probably could have had a third person at lunch and have ordered the same amount of food, which would have made it more economical. I'd recommend Sunda to anyone who needs to take a client out to a high-end restaurant, someone who wants to impress a date, or someone celebrating a special occasion.
(3)
Adam K.
Place is LOUD, like evil olive club loud. My lord, I was screaming the whole night. Service was slow, it took them 15 minutes to bring me a makers neat? there is no ice cubes or anything, just pour the alcohol & bring it to me. Ugghhh. Anyways I got: Crispy Brussel sprouts - tasty a lil too sweet tho. Duck hash - weird pretty good I guess, the duck is tasty , but the egg and cabbage made it weird, I I'm not sure how I feel about this, actually. Cannot tell if its a hit or a miss. The egg made it seem cheap. Pork potstickers - gross, hella bitter & horse radish Garlic noodles - good, nothing to write home about. Oh no you didn't -Ultimate handroll - the deep fried thing made the whole roll taste like a bag of doritos. The outside of the roll was not seaweed but a weird white seasame flecked thing which I did not like. This was a total miss for me. Wack. Ahi crab cake - not a crab cake at all, pieces of sushi with somethin of a seared cake thing on top. Strongest dish for me. Very tasty. Flounder and tuna sashimi - fresh and delish. Wish I just got a bunch of this. Lime on gin & tonic was bright yellow. All of the menu items were extremely expensive and small dishes. This is not a place I plan on returning to. But they have a free coat check. But the 11.99 valet throws that off, 11.99? Just say 12! you're not fooling anybody.
(2)
Real D.
Super friendly staff. Nicely decorated place (except for the hanging plastic straws over the sushi bar). Food was good. Portions are very satisfactory. The points off for me would be the acoustics. THIS PLACE IS PLAIN LOUD. I could hardly speak with my lunch companion and the effort and the me repeating things over and the leaning over was too much like P90X, if you know what I mean. I need a discount for all that extra physical work to talk to my friend. It was lunch. I can't imagine dinner. Hey, I'm a beautiful, young, striking person myself, but unlike the other young beautiful, windswept, effortless fashion plates there, I was not satisfied with my choice of meetup place this day. Too freakin' loud and the stomach crunches I had to do just hear my fellow man was an extra thing. The other extra thing was the urban olympics trek (Parkour) to the latrines. An unintended workout for a quick downtown lunch. Dec, your architect failed you on this one.
(3)
Carter G.
Sunda was decent overall, but my expectation was it was on the same level as Girl & the Goat, Longman & Eagle or GT oyster Bar in terms of quality of food. It wasn't. We started out with the Kale & Seaweed salad, MEH. The sushi (Spicy Tail of two tunas and Seared AhiTuna) were ok, but not as good as Japanai which falls under the same price category. We also had the Lemongrass Beef Lollipops which were overcooked and chewy. The chicken in the chicken Pad Thai was overlooked as well.Overall the restaurant was ok, but not on par with other places around the city with the same price point. The only part of the meal that was memorable was the Blackberry Limeade cocktail.
(2)
Amanda F.
This place a great vibe. Lychee luxury drop (drink) was great. Lobster and Wagyu was my favorite roll. All around a great spot.
(4)
Alex H.
I'm often at least a little bit skeptical of places that put incredible effort into decor and vibe. Not that I have a problem with an appealing space, but to me it should always be food first, scene second. I'm happy to report that Sunda does both quite well. I think enough has been said about the decor and vibe of the place--very cool space, great decor, cool bar, beautiful people--so I'll focus on the food. If the very term 'Asian Fusion' has you thinking 'cliche' and 'overdone', Sunda will challenge those stereotypes. Loved the Toast & Jam, Beef Lollipops, and Devil's Basket (I'm pretty sure the titles of these dishes alone speak to the creativity of the menu here). Also, sashimi is not a commodity. It may be pricey here, but you'll get what you pay for in terms of freshness and beautiful cuts of fish. There's also a pretty extensive cocktail and saki list which is a great complement in my book. Be warned that menu items are anything but cheap, and they tend to add up given the small-plates sharing concept Sunda employs. I think it's also fair to say that you're paying a premium for location, decor, and for the privilege of seeing and being seen here. Also, in the spirit of full disclosure, I've had better sushi rolls in considerably less ostentatious atmospheres throughout the city. But for the complete package and really knocking a few dishes out of the park, I'm a fan.
(4)
Drew B.
I love this place!!!! I surprised a friend with dinner and Sunda and we were both very impressed. The service in the beginning was a TAD slow, but it was freaking busy as hell on a Tuesday! So I got over that in like 4 seconds. Our servers name was Rachel and she was very quick on her feet and knew a lot about the menu. We both started with two specialty drinks, the pear martini and lychee martini...both amazing, and they tasted even better when we were on our third round! Food comes out as its ready and I love that, everything is shared and there's always something new on your plate. My companion and I ordered the roasted duck hash, black cod, shrimp tempura maki, hand cut spicy tuna, and the number nine maki roll (I am currently looking at the menu, no photogenic memory here). Everything was very delicious and flavorful. When the duck hash arrived, our server said the best way to eat it was to break the egg on top and mix up all of the ingredients. After we thought that was a good idea, she grabbed the utensils and did it for us... talk about service! My favorite dish, and the one that keeps me recommending Sunda to others, was the miso blackened cod. There was some sort of cinnamon roasted eggplant at the base of the dish that made me die, twice, at the table. So delicious! I work at a nearby bar and whenever anyone suggest great food, besides ours, I send them over to Sunda, especially on Sunday when everything is half off! You'll see my name on the reservation list soon, promise.
(5)
Judy B.
My friend raved about how good this place was, so we came here for brunch during my visit to chicago! OH. MY. GOD. It's literally places like these that make me want to LIVE in chicago. The complimentary banana bread is on point! so good, but not too sweet. LOVED IT. We asked the server for a recommendation, and we ended up ordering the tempura french toast and crispy pork on rice patties. The crispy pork on rice patties was kind of like an asian fusion take on eggs benedict, but it literally was simply AMAZING. NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE IT. To be quite honest, I still dream about it. IT WAS THAT GOOD. perfectly savory, but not salty at all. I could literally eat it all day every day. The tempura french toast was also DIVINE. It was perfectly crispy, but not greasy and tasted so light and fluffy that I literally thought I was in heaven. The syrup was also a perfect consistency (because I ate really sticky syrup) but for something that is sweet, it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet, which i LOVE. Ugh, whoever came up with those two dishes is literally a God that I can worship because that chef in the kitchen is literally a purely brilliant genius. I also ordered the lychee mimosa which was perfect- not too sweet, but not too strong, and lightly bubbly. Lastly, our server was just absolutely accommodating and really helpful, but I might just be being biased 'cause he reminded me of a ryan gosling look-a-like. But in all seriousness, if I had the money to, I would literally fly back to Chicago just to eat here again. IT IS THAT GOOD.
(5)
Lia V.
I cannot say enough positive things about this place. Atmosphere - awesome and chill Service - phenomenal Food - Oh my delicious, unique, incredible sushi. Truffled tataki tuna sashimi.... freaking amazing. Everything we ate there was so delicious. I had a 007 martini that was mixed perfectly. I've tried a lot of sushi places and this place definitely tops the list of best sushi. I highly recommend this place for sushi lovers. i didn't try anything other than sushi so I can't speak for anything else. Yum Yum Yum... I want to go back...
(5)
Luke L.
I've only been here for Sunday brunch and both times it's been AMAZING. If you go here for brunch and get anything from the "West" menu, you should just go to a diner and get your omelet and bacon fix and be on with it. Definitely order of the "East" menu as they have some amazing brunch dishes that are an awesome fusion of eastern cuisine with some western influences. Highly recommend the french toast (the sauce is ridiculous!) and the crispy pork belly over a rice cake.
(5)
Tammy P.
Was a recommendation from a friend while my BF and I were visiting the Windy City for the weekend. Sunda definitely hit the spot. We got the organic miso soup with crab- super yum. Never had miso soup w/ crab before. It was a first and we really enjoyed it. As for the rolls- we got the baked seafood dynamite and scorpion roll- both were mouth watering, flavorful, and delicious! Our cocktails- toasted ginger snap and the lychee luxury drop were super as well! Definitely coming back to Sunda when visiting Chicago again! I really like the decoration of the place as well- very spacious- and earthy.
(4)
Tracy L.
We've been here multiple times, and each time has been great! The staff is always friendly and accommodating. The last time we went was my bf's bday. I pulled the waiter aside to order something off menu (the sisig) and he also recommended a dessert. He made it really special, playing it up with he presented the off-menu dish to my bf's surpise. They all signed a card for him and gave us 2 gift certificates for the next time we came in! Favorites to try: 1. Beef lollipops 2. Sisig (minus the tripe!) 3. lobster and waygu sushi 4. shaking beef 5. some molten chocolate dessert mmmm! 6. chinese new year drink special, LOVE! i wish it was chinese new year all the time for this drink!! i've basically had almost everything on the menu at this point and you really can NOT go wrong! atmosphere can get really loud. the first time we went we were basically shouting over the table at each other. Second time, we were placed in a private back dining area for a big party, and for my bf's bday we were in a corner further away from the noise so we were able to converse normally. It's a lively place, loud place, but it's great like that. Great place to bring family and friends for any occasion!
(4)
Gary C.
I decided to give this place another shot in part because my girlfriend's family wanted to eat here for a birthday celebration. Yeah...I'm sticking with my original rating of a three star A-OK, but here's why: Decor as mentioned by almost everyone is a huge plus, except the bathroom is like two flights of stairs underground. Also, I never realized how loud it was in the restaurant. Food was MUCH better than the first time around. Adobo pork belly is the go-to entree. Among the best adobo and/or pork belly I've had in the city. I would have upped the rating to four stars if it weren't for... ...the service. Killed me again. Reservations on a Monday for 8 PM. We got seated at 8:30 PM. Whammy. Server was below mediocre. He rarely checked on us and did not fill our drinks or ask for refills once. Water was refilled once by his serving entourage, aka food runners. Not sure if I'll give Sunda another run. I think I've been fooled enough by it's looks. I will say, however, you might have a few celebrity sightings as this is a very trendy spot. Our party was seated next to Josh Duhamel and Fergie.
(3)
Steven N.
Food is good here, but not over the top good, so I would suggest coming here for the atmosphere and to people watch. As one reviewer put it, it's sort of a "hipster" hangout. Dinner came out to $300 for 4 people. Lots of beautiful people and well-dressed people here, so definitely dress to impress before you step foot in here. They have a few communal tables, a large sushi bar, a small lounge area, and sit down tables. We sat at the communal tables and the experience was not as bad as I was expecting. The place was pretty loud anyway, so your neighbors don't really distract your dining experience. We ordered a variety of apps, rolls, buns, and entrees to share between the four of us. Food is certainly tastey, but the fundamental recipe are mostly based on food you can get from Chinatown or Thai restaurants for a small fraction of the high price they charge here. Don't get me wrong, I think they certainly use good ingredients and the presentation is above average (note - not great as I would expect for this price), but as anyone who really know AUTHENTIC Chinese & Thai food can instantly recognize, it's a $10 plate dressed up as a $25 plate because you're in a hip place. That's to be expected of course...food is not disappointing, but that's not why you would come here.
(3)
Laura K.
I was BLOWN AWAY by one of the dishes here. The Boo - Dah's style Grilled ahi tuna and pork was out of this world. If I had one thing to eat before I died, I would choose this (and maybe some mac n cheese from Kuma's corner, but that's beside the point). It is a random combination (ahi tuna and pork) but it was prepared to perfection - some mango and sweet chili sauce with delicious kick....AMAZING! I have to say, this place came close to getting a one after my husband and I had been there for 40 minutes without getting seated when we had an 8:00 reservation. When they came up to tell us at 8:40 that we could sit at a communal table I just about died. We finally were seated in the restaurant by 8:50.... Instead of making a scene, my husband and I were strategizing how we could make the restaurant lose money - our plan was to use our coupon, not order drinks, and yelp the crap out of how horrible this place was.... But all that disappeared when one of the owners ended up spoiling us for the rest of the night by throwing all kinds of free stuff our way and apologizing profusely- the chef even came out to offer us some free toro sashimi with sake expressing his apologies! Needless to say, they more than made up for our wait! We ordered one sushi roll (Sunda Rainbow Roll), the DELICIOUS ahi tuna/pork dish, "all of the above sashimi", and the "shaking beef". The fish is AMAZING there - so fresh, perfectly cut, and just overall the best sushi I have had in the city (way better than Japonais). I cannot wait to go again. Just about everything on the menu had me drooling, and I still cannot stop thinking about the ahi tuna/pork dish that I hogged from my husband. It is a MUST if you go there. While they really need to work on the number of reservations that they take, the food is delicious, and I'm glad we stuck it out! :)
(5)
Ashley C.
Had a saturday night dinner with the girls here....perfect ambiance for us. Sushi rolls were creative and the atmosphere definitely inspired us to drink, laugh and feel like the pretty girls we are. (Cocky statement, I know, but true.) Rock Shrimp Tempura was a big hit, so much that we got two orders for the table. I had the Lobster and Wagyu roll and the Scorpion roll, both fresh and wonderful. Someone in our group ordered Pad Thai with Chicken and said it was really good, but I did not taste it myself. However, as this person is a picky eater, I believe it had to be in order to pass her test. I had two Polynesian Storms and they were great...very fresh and invigorating....I cannot wait to go back for lunch and try other items when the cost isn't as expensive...but still worth it.
(4)
windycity g.
I came here for my husband's MBA graduation dinner. The food was tasty but nothing spectacular. There were three of us so we split: - Tail if Two Tunas (too fishy for our liking) - Rainbow (very fresh) - Baked Seafood Dynamite (very good and similar to a volcano roll with less topping) - Red Dragon (favorite by far) We were very satisfied with the food (prices are up there but we knew that going into it). In terms if drinks, we each got Dirty Martinis which were made perfectly! Our unfortunate complaint is due to our waitresses attitude. She started out very pleasant and helpful but at the meal went on she became very annoyed of us and was not attentive to us. We asked for a round of saki bombs to celebrate the graduation (we didn't plan to do them full on by knocking the table, just to pour the sake into the beer) and she just stared at my husband for a minute. He asked again and she claimed, very rudely, that she had never heard of them before and that within her year of working there she had never had anyone order them. We explained what they were and she again, stared at us. Finally we just asked her if she could ask the bartender for them. A few minutes later she came back with them and then pretty much never came back to our table and charged us for two full sake bottles (when it was only three sake cup fills) and two full beers. Of course she was uber polite and friendly again when she brought us our check. If it weren't for the service we would have really enjoyed our meal to celebrate my husband's accomplishment. Instead we left with a bitter taste in our mouths.
(3)
donna y.
To say things nicely... service really sucks in the lounge/lobby area. I've been to Sunda a few times and the times I've been in the lounge area have been the worst. I'm not sure why the servers who manage this area get so worked up about tables being reserved yet they don't put a reserved sign and even better - there's no one to fill them during the duration of your stay! Why would you move two people in an empty area from a small patio table of 4 to an even squishier table of 2. I'm petite so I cannot image how the average American would feel. It's not the first time, which has led me to this review. The server was also the epitome of diligence. She came over every other minute as we perused the menu. Would've probably killed her to smile too. There are a lot of fantastic bars and restaurants in the area. This is no longer one of them.
(1)
Anna H.
If you want quality service, high quality sushi and an energetic, trendy atmosphere, Sunda is the place to go. Our server was fantastic, James. He gave us some amazing recommendations, was very attentive but not overly intrusive. Plus he was pretty easy on the eyes :) Some of his recommendations included the Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad, a must get even if you are not a fan of Brussels Sprouts. The texture and Asian flavor with the woodiness of the Brussels sprouts was fantastic. Also, he recommended the Unagi/Foie, rice topped with fried unagi and foie gras. It was also great, very interesting texture but great flavor together. My friend got the Sea Bass entree that basically melted in your mouth. The fish was prepared so well and really showcased the natural flavor. My other friend ordered the slow roasted short ribs. It was also excellent, extremely tender and the seasoning was a perfect Asian short rib flavor. For the three of us it was a bit pricey, but we did order some of the more expensive items on the menu along with a round of cocktails and a bottle of wine. It is a very trendy place in the loop that attracts a lot of young, wealthy professionals so it gets very energetic and can be a ton of fun at the communal tables.
(4)
Carol K.
Still very trendy and lovely inside. Still great food (the signature sushi rolls and beef lollipops are my fav). Still one of the "see and be seen" places in Chicago. Sunda lost one star for me as the service was a bit off on this night. We got a great table in the back- but the server was so busy that we felt a bit neglected although the food from the various runners came up fast. And just a note to the bussers- I know you want to do a good job- but wait until my glass is empty to take it- and don't remove a sushi plate that has ginger and wasabi on it. Cripes! I felt I had to grab on to everything on the table or else it was going to disappear! I'm all for a clean table- just let me finish eating first!
(4)
Rits M.
I love sushi here. My faves are the lobster roll, the shakin beef, the tom kha gai soup and the beef tempura. They have managed to combine great flavours and textures into the sushi , however, dont ask them to recommend a sake that goes with it- one of the servers recommended one to me and it totally killed the palate. The sushi itself has delicate flavours, and you can pick out the individual efforts. Each is an amazing dish by itself. The ambience is rather trendy, not really for people who come for the love of food. Personally, I love all the wood work, they have beautiful blue doors against the wall. Oh and you can get a drink at the bar while you wait for your table, and if you are peckish, its a sushi bar, so nibble away :)
(5)
Sahar M.
Good food and great atmosphere but definitely over priced. Last time my girlfriend and I asked the waiter to surprise us with food. We found the bill the only surprising item of the night. Only $343!!!!! Yes, and did I mention together we weight 224 pounds???? we laughed!!! It was an expensive Tuesday night.
(3)
Alicia B.
Delicious!!!! This place was really busy for a wednesday night and I can see why, it's SO good!! iIt's a great place for a date and because it's mostly small plates and sushi, it's great to share. Here's what we had to eat... Oxtail pot stickers....MUST GET! This was the first bite of food we had here and I couldn't wait to try what was next after these! sooooo good!! Escolar....HAVE to get. I don't know what they put on this sushi to make it so good but we ended up ordering more of it because it was so delicious. We made sure to have this as our last bite of the night. I'm not a big raw tuna sushi fan and I can't recommend this enough Unagi/Fgie...this is definitely a double bite suhsi but again, delicious. The foie gras on top was just the perfect touch! Lemongrass beef lollipops.....these were good. very lemony tasting because they cook the beef on the lemongrass. But once you dip it in the chili sauce, it's much better. Crazy how the chili sauce can take away some of that lemon taste. The Number 10...we got this roll because it came highly recommended to us. But it was our least favorite thing on the menu. The waiter was correct when he told us it was a heavy roll. There was so much cream cheese in there that you couldn't even taste the fish. It was a typical roll to me. Something that I could get at any sushi place. With all the other delicious items on the menu, i do NOT recommend getting this. It is a little pricey, but to me, it's totally worth it!
(4)
Ben H.
For all the hype, i thought it was just ok for the price that was paid. Here is a play by play of the dishes. 1) Devil's pot... high quality softshell crab, perfectly fried but not seasoned... i think they provide soy sauce for use, but traditionally, its more salt and pepper... I asked for salt and pepper to season. 2) Shrimp Toast and Jam. - eh, it was regular shrimp toast, 10 dollars more than a chinese take out place, served with leftover tuna bits they turned to jam.. too oily, not that great 3) Various Cocktails.- great cocktails 4) Miso Soups- way too salty... must have over reduced in the pot 5) Crispy Pata.. Pig shank fried... its a first time dish, wouldnt order it again 6) Sea Bass, perfectly cooked but the seasoning and sides were ok. Fish was of good quality 7) Some cupcake dessert. go to Sprinkles or something , not worth it
(3)
L B.
This place was recommended to me by a fellow foodie and I have to say, everything lived up to the hype. In terms of ambiance, the place was stuffed to the gills and a bit too loud crowded. Everyone seemed to be in their late 30s at the youngest. Our waiter gave great recommendations and descriptions of dishes. The food was delicious and inventive. We ordered: -miso soup- was the most delicious and fresh miso soup I've ever had -Signature Rice Spicy Tuna - more like sashimi with a fried rice croquette-- amazing, delicious, and unique -Sweet Potato Caterpillar Roll - this was unique with asian pear that melted away first and layered nicely with the avocado -Yellowtail jalapeno- no rice but yellowtail served on a lightly seasoned cucumber slice, which was incredibly unique and delicious -Apple Cobbler -- YUM! Delicious ice cream, delicious apple cobbler, delicious caramelized syrup. Amazing.
(4)
Michael U.
This place rocks....arrived early for a 6:30 reservation and sat down at the bar. Right away the bartender noticed my wife was pregnant and whipped up a mangotini filled with fresh fruit that was not on the menu which she thoroughly enjoyed. Dinner was with another couple which was nice since they have over 2 pages of appetizers /small plates that you can all share. We started with something I have NEVER ordered before, brussel sprout salad.....which was loaded with favors but none too overpowering. Then moved on to the beef lollipops which were also flavorful and tender. I had the jalapeño bacon and crab roll as my main course and my wife had the sea bass which was cooked to perfection. Our friends ordered the beef short ribs, the stuffed avacado and oh no you didn't roll....we all shared a bite of each others which allowed us to sample the various flavors. I'm not big on dessert, but when I noticed the top of the menu had a dish named "ridiculous", I knew we had to try it and it definitely lived up to its name. All in all the food and service was spectacular and I cannot wait to return....
(5)
Vanessa B.
Love the seafood curry and the spicy tuna on crispy rice. Service can be spotty here, but the food is always quality. The restaurant itself is gorgeous too! I think their sushi in general is quality, but the combination of flavors is never really amazing to me. It will definitely satisfy a sushi craving though!
(4)
Danny M.
I came here for dinner with a couple of friends on a Friday night and it was packed. Our reservations were for 5 people and we were told we couldn't be seated at our table until at least 4 people were there. We ended up losing our reservations and had to sit at the bar, which is fine since we had one end of the bar. I spilled my drink and the bar tender gave me a new one... Free of charge! That was nice of him. For dinner, I ordered the wagyu beef roti prata and it came with 3. Overall, it was just okay. There was nothing amazing about it. The beef was super dry and there was no sauce for it, so it was kind of bland. Everyone else said their food was good, but they expected more food..
(3)
Laura A.
Great food. Horrible service. My company booked a private room for a reception and dinner for 16 people. A waitress appeared to be staffed solely to us, but it was hard to tell. Most of my colleagues had to get their own drinks from the bar. Although I asked the waitress for a sparkling water and saw her give the order to the bar tender, my water just sat on the bar across the room until I noticed it sitting there and I got it myself. Once we sat down for dinner there was at least a 30-minute gap between when we finished our appetizer course and when we received the entrees. This seemed like an insane wait, especially for food that was pre-ordered in advance! As for the food itself - every bite of sushi was creative and outstanding. The steamed bao buns were delightfully delish. The Bang! Bang! salad with raw ribbons of shaved green papaya, carrots, zucchini, jicama and citrus chili dressing was totally bangin. For entrees, I was only able to snag a taste of the lo mein (we also ordered fish and some meat dishes), but since the food took so long I couldn't stay to enjoy it otherwise I'd miss my train home. Major bummer - I also missed my favorite course - dessert. If you love Asian fusion and have infinite patience and time, then you'll have no complaints about Sunda. If you care about service, save yourself some trouble and eat at Japonais or any number of Chicago's world-class restaurants.
(3)
Christina G.
Oh my goodness. I came here for weekend brunch with a Gilt City deal in hand. I was not disappointed. I'd been wanting to come here for ages, but just never made it in. I'm glad i came for brunch - it could not have been better. We started off with the mimosa and bloody mary bars. The mimosa bar is standard - OJ with different kinds of fruit juices and some fruit to top it off. The bloody mary bar is in its own class. There was everything from hard salami to mango slices to water chestnuts, asparagus, green beans, and jalapenos. The bloody mary drink itself is made with either absolut pepper or effen cucumber. I highly recommend the cucumber. To get our hunger pains in check, we were brought 4 small slices of some sort of bread with a delicious sauce on it. Warm and delicious. For the main meal, my husband ordered the dusk hash and I had the smoked salmon skillet. The hash had so much duck meat in it. The skillet was beyond filling - the fish smoked perfectly and the potatoes/tomatoes roasted to perfection. The absolute best food eaten were the potatoes that came with the hash. They were super light, fried, and quite possibly was the best thing I've ever tasted. I can't wait to head back for their sushi and dim sum.
(5)
A L.
Great atmosphere ! Make sure you have a reservation bc it's always busy. Food is delicious, drinks are pricey but very good, and service is excellent.
(5)
Carol C.
Love! Love! Love! It's been a month since I was last there and I'm still salivating just thinking about the Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad!
(5)
Erica C.
Wow, who would have thought Pan-Asian in Chicago would be so delicious! I really didn't have high expectations coming from SF but the food at Sunda was so surprisingly good that I will DEFINITELY eat here again the next time I'm in Chicago. The restaurant is incredibly loud and the bar seating isn't very comfortable, but the food definitely makes up for all this. My three favorite dishes were: 1. Brussels sprout salad: Even if you haven't tried Brussels sprouts, or think you hate Brussels sprouts, just get this salad - its a delicious combination of crispy, savory, salty and sweet. 2. Kobe Beef "sushi": This comes 4 to a plate and each portion is the size of sushi but instead, the perfectly seasoned/grilled Kobe beef sits atop a cloud of fluffy rice that both melt in your mouth. 3. Crab hand roll: just get it - its divine! One caveat, this place is extremely loud.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I haven't eaten there yet. Not for abt 2 weeks yet, so there will be updates then! I went here with a friend who is quick to make friends and he frequents this establishment. The staff was AWESOME and the drinks were great. The menu sounds epic, so I can't wait until dinner!! The decor is fantastic and the guests even seemed pretty cool. The clientele can be somewhat, uh, douchey in this neighborhood and Sunda seems to not be attracting masses from that particular demographic.
(5)
Nicole W.
A true cornucopia of Asian inspired deliciousness flanked by a warm, modern interior and really great service (high five for fabulous recommendations, too!). I had a super delicious meal at Sunda and I'd most certainly head back there again. As my girl Candice G astutely points out, Sunda is not going to be a cheap date. That's seems par for the course when it comes to sushi-ish items, though. Fresh fish probably shouldn't be cheap unless you're feeling extra chancy. But carpe diem, friends, spend some coin and share those plates...because the menu is extra large and diverse. Our table tried so many items, but a few standouts include the fried brussel sprout salad, pork belly bun, short rib and a myriad of sushi. Being that I'm still incubating a kiddo, I couldn't indulge in the raw fish items, but you can bet that I had major food envy over the spicy tuna crispy rice and various cuts of fresh fish. Do be aware that if you're looking to enjoy an intimate dinner, Sunda is probably not the place to go. It's hella loud in there...even on a Monday night! Once I'm not a human incubator, I definitely want to come back to Sunda to imbibe and dine on plenty more...
(4)
Chinwe N.
I wanted to love this place, and materially there was nothing wrong with the quality of food, ambiance, service or location, but the price point was just too high for the overall experience. It's easy to spend $200 and get a decent meal, but restaurants that stand out for me either have super delicious food, or great value. Unfortunately, Sunda missed both of these marks. If I wanted to spend this kind of cash, I would send people to Roka Akur.
(3)
B T.
Ridiculous place. I spent 20 years in Japan and 10 years in the US, but I never came across such a ridiculous restaurant like here. Extremely over priced, fishy fish, warm rice (MUST HAVE BEEN COLD TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS OF RAW FISH). Nothing resemble any Japanese or sushi restaurant. $17 for yellow tail and "price varies" for sushi using old and non-fresh frozen fish? Why is this so overpriced for some frozen fish from San Francisco.
(1)
Sam K.
Fantastic sushi,Fast service, Great spicy edamame. Would highly recommend this restaurant if you enjoy a up beat atmosphere. This place isnt quiet, it is noisy due to many customers. But overall I loved it and it made a great night out with my girlfriend.
(5)
Nicole S.
The best sushi I've ever eaten! We had the Great White, Brussels sprout salad, miso cauliflower, some type of noodles... Everything was great. So much flavor! All the drinks we ordered were amazing too. Make sure you order the Grass Tiger. Our bill was around $400, but ordered appetizers, several rolls, several rounds of drinks, and dessert for four people. It was worth every cent.
(5)
Stephen S.
Really solid food in a great atmosphere. I loved it. Their specialty rolls are all fantastic combinations given what I sampled as well as my conversation with other guests. I especially loved the Red Dragon roll. Personally, my favorite dish was the crispy brussel sprout salad. Delicous combination of crispy, savory and tang (don't miss the rice vinegar dressing tossed tableside). I would go back for this dish alone. I also enjoyed both of my cocktails (tho I have to admit that both were on the slightly sweet side-- the only thing keeping this spot from a solid 5 stars). If you're in the area and have a hankering for Asian, don't miss Sunda. You won't be sorry you did.
(4)
Kathleen C.
Sunda...the spot for a large work dinner...I think not, but let's investigate... 11 of us visited for a work dinner...we had a large crowd, a few picky eaters and a bunch of out of towners (and most of those were from various international locations). Take that, with a 'small sharing plate' menu and you get a bit of confusion.... Having the food just show up 'whenever' doesn't really speak to the familiarity of a 3-course dinner in France or Germany, so we had to improvise....random appetizers come out as they come, and entrees are served individually at the same time...it almost went off without a hitch (only one slower entree, but it worked out). The server was really patient and had some great recommendations. The food was quite delicious. I tried sushi, some salad and a whole bunch of stuff I don't remember. Everything was tasty and I don't think we left any extra food. The drinks were quite good as were the bottle selections (pricing was not bad either on the wine). Overall, a good night, but I had to drop a star for the fact that the restaurant was so loud, it was really tough to hear anything. When trying to have dinner with colleagues, it's hard to scream across the table, so I missed much of the conversations that didn't occur directly next to me. Service - 5 Atmosphere - 4 Bathrooms - 5 Food - 5 Value - 4 (a bit pricey on the food...but ok for the city).
(4)
T T.
This place is a solid go to date spot that has some great food, but you need to order the right items. Tops on my list are the rainbow roll, shiitake dumplings, red dragon roll. All of their signature crispy rice is outstanding and you can never go wrong with either the Cod or Sea bass. Only downside to restaurant is its extremely loud if you are trying to listen to your date or anyone else...Lounge area can be a good call to get around some of the noise..
(4)
John L.
First timer here at Sunda - loved the design of the space and atmosphere. I thought the food was very good and the varsity they offer is abundant. Service was good about average. The crispy rice cakes with tartare was a must have along with the pork with steamed buns. Definitely need to come back and try more dishes there was so much to choose from.
(4)
Paul L.
Wife and I went to Sunda for our anniversary. Unbelievable. The food the service and the flavor that we enjoyed was the best. I would have to say it was one of the best experiences we had at an Asian infused restaurant. Our server Jerry created a one of a kind experience for us. Every step of the way it was individualized for us. From the cucumber martini at the bar to the seating in the back. Out new favorite spot. Recommend for all who appreciate the finest things in life.
(4)
Denise S.
The brussel sprout salad is AH-MAZING! This salad is a must when you go.
(5)
Saba A.
MAKE RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE! We did a birthday dinner for 4 and could not add more people for Saturday night at 7:00. Unless we wanted to change it to 5:30 or 9:30. All other restaurants in the River North area were booked with reservations too. Billy Dec did awesome. The interior design of this restaurant is amazing, the lighting, to the furnishings, to the intricate designs all over the restaurant. I still have to check out his other restaurants. This place is known to the best, and it is. Welcoming greetings and complimentary coat checks are offered. Here is what we ordered: -Eggplant and Tofu Toban -Sticky-Icky Rice (comes in 2) - wasn't the favorite -Rock Shrimp Tempura (A MUST!) -Sweet Potato Caterpillar -Dragon (Very Tasty) We were too full for desert, but I'm sure it would have been awesome. The restaurants philosophy is to "share" and it satisfies 7 types of Asian cultures (learned from our waiter). Our waiter was busy, was sweating but he knew the menu well. Our food came 15 minutes after ordering too, which was awesome. They have special events here, like NYE parties and such, but I may have to wait for a raise to attend! :) Here's the dinner menu: sundachicago.com/wp-cont…
(5)
P J.
My party and I got to the restaurant 10 minutes late last night and hostesses said they gave up our table, even though we had a reservation. They were rude and unfriendly, didn't offer to take our coats. They said next open table would be at 10:30pm so they stuck us in the lounge area for dinner. The guy who walked us to the table just threw the menus on the table, didn't say one word to us. Fortunately, our waitress was a breath of fresh air. She told us her favorite dishes and was very friendly. Portions were large. Cod was bad. Long rib and pork belly fried rice were amazing.
(2)
Nina E.
Our waiter had an English accent, and he was awesome. The service made our experience here even more fun. Everything was delicious, but make sure you get the brussel sprout salad thing - it is so addictive and amazing, and I don't even like brussel sprouts! The sushi was awesome. I would avoid any fried entries here - they look good, but they don't live up to the hype. For dessert (if they still have this special), order the s'mores in a jar. I LOVE S'MORES. I love things in jars. It was delicious. Win-win!
(4)
Evelyn A.
Nicole W and Candice G and a cornucopia of other brilliant babes have pointed out that this place is not for the poor. But hey, if you're a Canadian in town for work and your boss is generous, you might get lucky and end up at one of the big wooden tables at Sunda! At first I was all, hmm, sushi in Chicaaahgo? Shouldn't we be hitting the deep dish or giant portions of meat and cheese or something? Well maybe those are what this town is known for, but Sunda isn't messing around. Lobster rolls were so fresh, the brussel sprout salad was divine and the pork buns were banging. Really a great upscale joint to eat family-style. Go and share and order blindly and enjoy all of it, I don't really see how you couldn't. PEPPER PROPS: To my Chicago friends for taking me here! I'm talkin' to you Oprah, Kanye and Michael Jordan. You guys are so cool! 29/30
(4)
Anne P.
Why is your bloody mary sweet? And even more egregious, why isn't there a description or warning about that in the menu?! I should have sent it back but I thought the rolling bloody mary garnish bar would salvage it. Two limes and some hot sauce couldn't save this drink.
(4)
Andrea B.
Oh YES! What an awesome first experience in the land of Chicago eating. This place is glowing - a minimal but warm decor with great lighting and tons of hustle and bustle. Our party was seated in the back of the restaurant, which was a little more private and lovely. Our server was absolutely phenomenal - extremely knowledgable about every single dish and made some great recommendations. There were so many delicious things arriving on our table that I don't even think I ended up trying them all! That being said, some of the highlights were the lobster rolls sprinkled with bacon (YUM!), the stuffed avacado was amazing as were the pork buns. Let's be real - it was all to die for. To top it all off, the cocktail list is lovely. I had a fantastic blackberry limeade that had fresh muddled blackberry. If you're in Chicago you NEED to visit this spot. It's simply perfect.
(5)
Stefanie N.
Quite the swanky sushi spot. Was still pretty busy at 10PM on a Tuesday night. Ordered the brussel sprouts salad (it was decent), tail of two tuna roll (it was good), jalapeno yellowtail (delicious), miso, and shishito peppers (good). While the service was good, the ambiance great, and the food overall was solid, the place is a little pretentious.
(3)
Amy S.
Sunda never disappoints! I've been here at least 4-5 times, and every time it is amazing! I've tried everything from their Sushi rolls to their Lemongrass Beef Lollipops to their Spare Ribs and Potstickers -the sushi is always fresh and all the food has crazy-good flavors. And you have to get their best dessert, The Ridiculous! This dessert, because it is "ridiculous"-ly delicious, is their number one specialty . It's a special spiced carrot cake with caramel and ice cream all in a big ball, seriously too good to describe! Sunda is a bit pricey, but you will never leave unsatisfied.
(5)
Ryan B.
Ordered them for lunch on Grubhub. The food took over 2 hours to arrive. The sushi I ordered only had 5 pieces (NOT work $9). My ramen would have been better but it was cold when it arrived and the noodles were mush.
(1)
Sara N.
Pricey....but worth every penny. Not ur typical Asian fusion.... Unique creations with outstanding presentation and flavor...stuffed avo=10
(5)
J L.
Really it should be 3.5 stars. I liked their honey glazed pork belly, fried rice and some sushi dishes too. ( fried rice a little too oily / salty for me) However I think this place is so over priced, especially it's sushi / signature nigiri. It is good, but not worth the price.
(3)
Ken U.
Everything bit sushi and service was great!!! Edamame was excellent, bean buns were yummy! Sushi rilles were falling apart and not deserving of the price. All other menu it's we tried were great.
(3)
Dan B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city of Chicago. Excellent sushi and the drinks are great as well. You will need a reservation on a weekend because the place gets super crowded. Overall, perfect place to take someone on a date or celebrate a special night out with friends or your significant other.
(5)
brian w.
Great food, lively atmosphere, solid waitstaff. Only issue I had, which bothered me greatly, was the fact that I had a reservation for 2 at 8 p.m., but the front of the house didn't seat me and my date until 8:20, seating other parties of 2 before us because they "were looking for us but couldn't find us." Meanwhile, we were standing RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOSTESS STAND and, oh yeah, the other parties of 2 they sat had reservations at 8 p.m. or later and checked in after us. I should also mention that I reminded the hostess at 8:15 that we were still waiting. It was only after I saw the hostess seat a party of 2 that had an 8 p.m. reservation and that had come in the door after us that I took issue with the hostess's inability to look to her right and see me waiting beside her. In sum, everything about this place is solid except for the hostesses. I would return, but I'd be wary of being overlooked by the hostesses.
(4)
Mary R.
Lovely presentation and delicious, interesting menu. I felt a little rushed as the food arrives so quickly, so take your time and just order 1-2 items at a time. The duck steamed buns were so tasty! Loved the crispy rice with spicy tuna and jalapeño too. You won't regret the tiger shrimp tempura - amazing flavor! I think the lemongrass beef lollipops were a little over rated - pretty, but I don't like meat that well done. Get whatever dessert special is offered! You won't be disappointed here. Be adventurous and rely on your server for recommendations too.
(4)
Ali C.
I like this restaurant because it has a variety of asian foods. all of them pretty good. They also have a party room on the second floor which comes in handy for private events. Really enjoyed the Tom Kha Soup and Curry Laksa
(4)
Jenny H.
I try to stick with the tried and true classics. So asian fusion-- not really my thing, but holy toledo, Batman! Everything we ordered was oh-so scrumptious! We started off with shishito peppers, toast and jam, and rock shrimp tempura. Followed by a variety of sushi. The one that stood out was the "Golden Child". Ever consider the sweet subtleties of mango, elegantly showcased in a sushi roll? Needless to say, dinner was a resounding success. Even more so paired with a refreshing "Divine Lychee" cocktail. The decor and its patrons were all absolutively chic. I felt a little under dressed amidst the crowd, but I loved taking in the scene and was equally impressed that the menu lived up to the ambiance.
(4)
Issam A.
4 stars because the sushi was good but our hostess snd server were terrific. Our server really made us feel special! We were celebrating our anniversary and she went out of the way to make our experience enjoyable. The red dragon was delicious, as was the seasonal mango tango. However the yellowtail tuna was less than desirable. The cost of our dinner was in line with other high end sushi restaurants. The atmosphere is trendy but not too snooty so definitely a place worth trying.
(4)
Noor B.
We stopped by for lunch one day and were not disappointed! The decor is beautiful and the service is excellent. I had the strip steak bento box with a spicy tuna roll, and my husband tried the pad thai with chicken. The miso soup was delicious, and the steak was cooked beautifully, although the rice was a little dry. The seaweed salad was interesting, and the sushi was fantastic - best sushi I've ever had. I will definitely visit again to try more sushi The pad thai was delicious. It was a little sweeter than I personally like, but the flavor was excellent and the portion was a good size. Overall, excellent.
All i have to say is....10 PM RESERVATION, walked in, 1/3 of the tables empty but somehow still waited 15 minutes to get seated. The one of the hostessess had a huge chip on her should as if she was some big shot....seriously--Your job is to seat people in a timely manner so they have an enjoyable experience. One would think they'd understand such a simple concept, but no. They can't even open their eyes to the fact that you have open tables in all sections and can't sit 3 people at 10 PM. Oh a happy note, the firecracker rolls were pretty bomb, as were the wasabi martini's. Unfortunately, the terrible front desk staff will stop me from coming here or recommending this place to others. ( I gave a 2nd star for these items)
(2)
Brock L.
Came here on a Sunday night. Food and service was great. We had the following: 1. Brussel Sprout Salad 2. Beef Lollipops 3. Pork Belly Buns 4. Lobster and Wagyu Beef Sushi roll 5. Pork Belly Fried Rice The Good: Brussel Spouts Salad was AMAZING. If I could, I would have ordered 3 of these and replaced some of the other dishes. If you're ever here - DEFINITELY ORDER THIS. The Lobster and Wagyu Roll was also amazing. Some of the best sushi I've had in Chicago. The Decent: The Beef Lollipops were a fun dish, but nothing amazing from a taste perspective. The Pork Belly buns were good, but ere luke warm. I felt if the buns or the meat were hotter in temperature this could have been one of my favorite, if not, my most favorite dish. But it was luke warm and was decent., The Ugly: Was not a big fan of the pork belly fried rice, it just tasted ok to me at best. very oil and grease heavy. All in all, I'll still give it 4 stars because the price of everything was not as much as I would have expected. I will probably come here again and give it another shot.
(4)
AndrewSumi G.
This was a great dinner place. It does do a new twist on the pan-Asian place. We got the pork bao and the soba salad as appetizers. The pork bao was deconstructed compared to other baos. Would have preferred a creamier sauce to the bao instead of the overly sweet hoisin sauce, however it was still good. The soba salad was large and had a great assortment of vegetables. We shared the special red snapper entree. What a unique presentation! The meat was taken off the bone and flash fried. The head and the skeleton were flash fried and presented on the plate as the decoration. This entree was more than big enough to share. The only disappointing thing was the sushi roll. We got the scorpion roll. For $16? you would expect the roll to be more than just 5 pieces! Overall a great experience!
(4)
Jon M.
I've been here at least 20 or so times since they've opened and with my past two visits I've been disappointed for one reason or another. Don't get me wrong the food is for the most part consistent and when its comes to Asian-inspired cuisine and sushi it is as expected but the service is severely lacking. If I am paying River North prices for sushi and Asian cuisine that I can get just about anywhere I expect a little more. So let me roll up 2 underwhelming visits into one review. Visit #1: So I went to dinner with 3 industry friends last night around 10pm. Restaurant was about 30-40% full. We walked in and got a table. 1) friend had a 50% off industry card and asked if it applied to the bill or just him. We were told total bill. Ok. 2)I sent both my water glass and soy sauce bowl back because they were dirty. I've never once had to do this. 3)Took about 10 minutes for our waitress to come over and ask about drinks or greet us. A friend ordered hot tea, she came back with box of tea to select, took another 10 minutes after the selection, we were eating by time she got her tea. 4) our water was not refilled once during our meal and only when server was clearing plates did she ask my friend if she wanted a refill on water. 5) we tipped on the pre-discount amount, as we're supposed to, and one of my friends overheard the server say 'wow they left a big tip' as if she was expected us youngish looking industry folk to stiff her on it. Even if the restaurant was at capacity, I would not have expected any of this but the fact that they were near empty by the time we left just made the experience all the more upsetting. Visit #2: I walk in an average capacity Wednesday night and stand at the host/manager reception area as both a manager and host are looking down at their computers. I continue to stand, unacknowledged for what to seems too long, and finally another host walking back to reception area says 'sorry for the delay, someone will be with you in a moment.' I get it, the restaurant is busy, but I'm not invisible and if I am standing less than 24 inches away from you and staring at you like a deer in headlights, waiting to give you my money the least you could say is, 'Sorry for the wait but I will be with you in a minute." No harm no foul. In sum, if you want consistent sushi and other Asian-inspired cuisine, Sunda is fine, but if you want respectable service to go along with the prices you are paying in River North go anywhere else.
(1)
Vanessa G.
Great atmosphere, food, and drinks! Definitely need to try the tiger shrimp and red dragon, plus the hibiscus cocktail. Our server was very nice and always made sure we had food on the table or we had an order in! She was on top of her game, so I assume most of the service is like her. It was my boyfriend's birthday and they remembered! I put it in the reservation online but wasn't sure if I needed to remind them. She brought out this yummy coconut cake with a candle and def made his night! Great place to go.
(5)
Robert M.
Great place for Asian Fusion. Unique drink menu really had some cool options. Loved the Brussels Sprouts Salad and Avocado Surprise. The desert "Ridiculous" was amazing! Highly recommended!
(5)
Steph S.
I have been here at least 4 times and it has been wonderful every time. The drinks are unique and delicious and the sushi is fresh. The brussel sprout salad is a must have!!!! Service is usually good. But it is very loud!
(4)
Christopher G.
Atmosphere is hip. Sushi is average and pricey. If the Uni is not top quality, then I question the place. Service on this occasion was not great. Host station not very friendly and server was a bit pretentious, or maybe it was just me. Sometimes it seems a house cops an attitude when it is a popular hit. I think this one is more about location and atmosphere. Sorry, Billy, but I'll be back...
(3)
Jamie B.
This place is extremely overpriced. I am over the small plate crap. Restaurants think they can bleed a party of 4 at $22 per small plate (and of course to get the "full experience" you must order 10) and it's acceptable? OVER IT. And dare I say this reminds me of another very popular Chinese restaurant chain's food, except way more pricey? I won't even go there, but you probably get the picture. Starts with a PF and ends with a Changs. $300 for four of us was the damage here at Sunda on what I would call sub-par food. Anyway, onto the cuisine of the evening: -Drinks: Pear Sake cocktail, saketini, some jalapeno something or other. NO stars because there was no alcohol present in any of these. -Rock Shrimp Tempura with walnuts and honey -- this gave me indigestion all night. Avoid unless you are going right home. Very good, but very rich. In fact, I believe on the menu at said restaurant I'm thinking of, this is called Crispy Honey Shrimp... -Brussels Sprouts Salad -- delicious, a must try. This is the one item I rank as stellar. -Sunda Poke -- Seemed covered in some sort of mayonnaise type sauce, I have never had Tuna Poke as "creamy" as this one was, and I wish not to again. -Stuffed Avocado -- this freaking thing was $17.00 and was about 3 bites in total. Our table laughed at how small it was for the price. It was spicy tuna with some avocado on top. AVOID. -Confit Pork Shank -- I have recently stopped eating meat, but the dead animal carcass lovers at the table really enjoyed this $26.00 masterpiece. -Noodles -- this was something that I could have made at home. AVOID. -Scorpion Roll -- It was a softshell crab roll that was so mundane and boring, priced at $16.00 for 5 pieces. Another laughable item at the table. The rolls here are very expensive. Since this one was under $20.00, this one would be considered a bargain at Sunda. In summary: The drinks seemed to have 0% alcohol in them, and they were conveniently priced at least $13.00 each. Oh wait! Even just a Ketel and soda = $13.00. WTH? Our server was outstanding, Michael I believe. A+ for that. I just have a hard time swallowing $16.00 for a 5 piece soft shell crab roll, plain, with no sauce at all. This place is popular and trendy, but as far as food reviews go, I am not impressed. There are so many other great places to go to in the city where you won't feel like you were kicked in the face upon the bill arriving.
(2)
Naomi Q.
Great food - Great ambiance & Great Service! My son wanted to go out for sushi for his birthday so we decided to check this place out after all the reviews we'd read. The food is served tapas/family style which in my opinion is great as we like to try a lot of different things. We had a couple of the specialty cocktails and they were delicious especially the peared sake. The brussel sprout salad and sweet potato caterpillar sushi roll were as awesome as everyone said. The tempura shrimp, pork adobo fried rice and panang chicken also had great flavor. They use fresh ingredients and do a great job with the presentation. The server was very attentive and answered all of our questions. For dessert we ordered the green tea donuts which were just "ok" but the "ridiculous" caramel covered ice cream dessert was absolutely delicious! We will definitely be going back!
(5)
Kathleen A.
Yes, please. It's a bit overpriced, but everything is prepared perfectly and very delicious. I highly recommend the bang bang! salad.
(5)
Mari Y.
I seriously do not understand why Asian food is so darn expensive. Is it the ingredients? I dunno, cuz my mom can make some of the dishes on the Sunda menu the same price for a family as one individual dish. I previously mentioned how I've sworn off sushi in Chicago. Since Sunda is considered a nicer restaurant, I thought I would try to re-introduce myself to chirashi for lunch. This was the first time I've had chirashi with rice instead of the cold radishes. Half of my dish was sushi rice (which was tasty but I think it's because I haven't eaten rice in a long time), 6 pieces of fish, 5 cucumber slices and a little serving of lima beans. This dish was $18. That is the lunch price. WTF. So the kicker is that I went back to work after my lunch and my tummy was pretty angry the rest of the afternoon. It's easy to blame the lima beans but I really think it was the fish. Guess I'm back to swearing off sushi in Chicago.
(3)
Jaime G.
Ever wondered what "Asian Fusion" means? Well, gotta try Sunda. Really good food experience with unique combinations of asian ingredients. If you try one thing on the menu - gotta try the signature roll w/Kobe beef over fried sticky rice. Really good and unique combination that makes you want to have more and more. Looks great on the plate and even better in your mouth. Second thing must try is the their spicy "tail of two tunas" roll. The combination of two kinds of tuna, avocado, and the spicy sauce makes it a magic tasting roll. I could eaten two whole rolls by myself. But let's back up. There are a few other unique things to start with like the seafood fried rinds that arrive on the table as you sit down. Incredibly colorful pieces that you hesitate to eat because they look beautiful. But do take a bite - taste like a light pork rind. Also try the warm edemame with a tiny bit of salt. Then order the rock shrimp in tempura batter with mayo sauce and candied walnuts. The one disappointment was the other signature roll with fried tuna and jalapeño. Kind of a bad experiment that tasted like fried fish in buffalo wing sauce and a jalapeno on top. Dessert was also pretty good. Can't remember the custard that we tried but had this ice cream covered in caramel and candied walnuts that was the bomb. Wow. Also, shout out to the white orchid tea from mighty leaf. It was lunch and feeling a bit of a cold so I uncharacteristically ordered tea for drink. Glad i did. Add the really cool (yet a bit trendy) atmosphere and you have a place that you must try.
(5)
rebecca h.
Great little place to try. Lot's of different Asian styles (Thai, Japanese, etc.) all under one roof. Here's What to order: AMAZING: crispy brussels sprout salad kimchi soup Chef's selection - sushi GOOD: pancit canton Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
(4)
Lamia P.
Loved the food and our waiter was awesome! Gave us some great suggestions. It's a great date spot!
(5)
Kyle W.
Great food. Been here quite a few times for various events and had reservations so everything ran smoothly for our party. It is more pricier but that is because it is a nicer restaurant and def worth checking out!
(5)
Josh B.
Our favorite sushi place in the city. The service is always great with awesome suggestion on either the sushi or wine. Without fail we always go for the Seaweed salad and shrimp toast as appetizers then order a specialty role or two. The Red Dragon and The Crunchy Pig Hidden Lobster are some favorites!
(5)
Beini S.
I've been here twice. The first it didn't really knock my socks off, but I guess I just didn't know what to order. Kobe beef roll: delicious! Simple yet tasty, flavors all blend together into me smiling my face off while still trying to chew, and simultaneously trying to stuff another one into my mouth. Couldn't get enough, I almost didn't even offer to share with my dining partner because I wanted it all to myself. Luckily she's gluten free and couldn't eat it anyway. SCORE. Brussell sprouts salad: oh my god. The sauce is amazing, the brussell sprouts themselves are crispy yet soft, the flavor buttery with a little bite of vinegar or something tangy in the sauce. Get this. Great atmosphere, bar area has open seating as can be expected, the blackberry limeade cocktail is delicious, girly and beautiful to look at. My one confusion is the Rock Shrimp Tempura. To me, it tastes like it came out of a frozen dinner box you can buy from Costco, so I personally don't see what all the fuss is about. Other than that, swanky, pricey, but potentially worth it depending on who you are. Plenty of sushi places in Chicago so I probably won't come back, but I can fully understand why this place has great reviews.
(4)
Julia H.
Amazing ahi tuna and grilled pork on the salad menu. Two tail tuna was super delish!!
(4)
Lizzie C.
Sunda hosted my organization for a private event in the second floor lounge last night and it was wonderful! The space is warm and inviting, with beautiful wood floors, benches along the walls, and unique pieces of art. They had our powerpoint presentation cued up and seamlessly transitioned to our video which played on several TVs throughout the room. The staff was incredibly helpful and great to work with and made the entire event run smoothly. Our guests enjoyed the drinks and all the amazing food, including the sushi. The event was truly a success and we were so happy to be at Sunda for such a great night!
(5)
Dana N.
I have always been a fan of Sunda...the food and service are always spot on. On my most recent trip, I had an AMAZING special roll...the Snow Cap Roll. All I can say is that this should 100% be added to the permanent menu!!! If you go and they have it...order it! Other musts are the Spicy Tale of Two Tuna, Brussel Sprout Salad, Garlic Noodles, Oxtail Potstickers, Crab Crusted Tuna Sashimi and Rainbow Roll. I could go on and on...but you get the idea.
(4)
LeeAnne T.
For what it is, I enjoy Sunda. Located across the street from my office, its been a great alternative for large work lunches, noodle takeout, and sake happy hour. Is this my go-to authentic japanese dining experience? No. But they have some delicious chicago sushi aka - meat bombs, and its consistent enough to keep coming back when I am craving asian(ish) dishes and don't want to wait for a bowl of slurping turtle ramen. Pros: - decent service - well rounded menu for all types of picky eaters - handle groups well - fast enough for work lunch
(3)
Erica D.
Warm weather is here, the reso lists of River North restaurants are filling up each day more and more. Picture this, Saturday at 300pm.. A bit late to pick up a reso at Sunda for 8/830 dinner. A girlfriend of mine was in town, our palates were craving sushi so we settled for the late 1000 reservation. The summer feel brought us out a bit earlier, arriving at 915 the hostess explained the table wasn't ready for our party of 2. Not a problem we headed over to Bombay Spice for amazing Mango Martini's. Time flew by and we proceeded back to Sunda for the 1000pm reservation. A last minute call from a friend bumped our party to 3. Checking back in, the SAME Hostess that always mans the host stand was there again. She stands around 5'5", Asian, cute outfit but VERY Rude. I really honestly don't get why she's always rude, giving dirty looks and acting like Sunda is the greatest restaurant in Chicago. I fight the urge every time to ask her why she's so pretentious. We had a reservation and it was 1000pm for peet sake, smile!! 20 min. after reservation time, we were still waiting for our table. Other small parties were seated before us but arrived after us, are you trying to make us wait to make a point? Thank god I spotted a friendly face, the sous Chef, Edson.. What a GREAT Guy!! He's an old classmate and friend of mine. He spotted us and informed the hostesses he knew us, immediately we were sat down. Interesting how that works... Roselle, greeted us with a friendly smile taking our order. She was amazing. Knew so much about the menu, assisted us in choosing some awesome cocktails! Sad that they got rid of the White Sangria.. It was the best!!! Bring it back! Edson blessed us with amazing appetizers, all were phenomenal. The Red Dragon was awesome... The BEST was the 'Escolar the great white', you'll literally have a Food-gasm..... moment of silence of it. The Pad Thai was perfectly flavored. After reaching Food-Coma, 3 of us.. 7-8 dishes.. No more amazing food!! Oh but wait, The Carrot Cake, Walnut, caramel dessert... Holy Crap, make room for it!! Overall, Fabulous time. Roselle is Awesome, Edson is the best, Food is delicious but I cannot give 5 stars due to the hostess experience.
(4)
C W.
***Vegetarian Review: The blackberry limeade is incredible and should not be missed. The sweet potato avocado caterpillar role is also fantastic. Interior / Ambiance: comfortable and high end trendy. Will absolutely return.
(5)
Diana D.
Delicious food. Courteous stuff. An incredible variety of food items on the menu, which i love and expect every time i visit a new place! A little noisy, feels like a sports bar, but for the fresh nice food we found here it was completely not a problem! Thank you! We will come back!
(5)
Lucy N.
Sunda is definitely one of the trendiest restaurants in the city. I've been here 5 times and everytime I receive amazing service and usually the chef will come out to tables for guests to sample new things he is working on. I was here for new years and they handed out mascarde masks for midnight celebrations. Unfortunately they turned my face pink! I ended up having to leave early because the paint would not come off :( I called the next morning to explain my situation and the manger was extremely understanding and invited my friends and me back along with gift certificates. Definitely made up for the mishap on nye. When you go you must try the crispy brussel sprout salad which is like the inside of the best egg roll you will ever taste! Also order the roasted duck hash. All the sushi is great too!
(4)
Juan A.
I love Sunda!! everything is good here. When I think of great culinary scene in Chicago, Sunda is amongst the top places in my book. Maybe because I love asian food =P But really Sunda's a place that is worthy of praise. If you like food, are looking for something special, Sunda always delivers! We have had too many dishes to write about them all -- we were happy with most of them.
(5)
Rebecca M.
When I want sushi, I tend to go with the hole-in-the-wall places, as my experience has been that they normally have the best sushi. Being totally opposite of hole-in-the-wall, I was hesitant to try Sunda. But Sunda, you impressed me! A friend and I made reservations kind of late for a Saturday night, so we ended up getting a really early one at 6:30. People starting filtering in a half hour to an hour later. The place itself looks very contemporary, romantic and upscale. I have to admit that I was expecting a more chic crowd--one guy a few tables down was wearing a baseball cap! I thought that was a bit inappropriate for Sunda. We skipped appetizers and dove right into the sushi. We ordered the Spicy Tail of Two Tunas, Red Dragon, Firecracker and Lobster & Wagyu. Let's start with what I do not recommend--the Firecracker. When we ordered it, we did not realize that the entire roll was fried. The description on the menu makes it seem like only the fish inside is fried. Overall, the roll just lacked flavor. I do recommend the other three. The Spicy Tail of Two Tunas was an incredible take on the traditional spicy tuna. How they get that tuna inside to be so creamy is baffling. The Lobster & Wagyu was the most inventive sushi roll I've ever seen and tasted. Lobster, aioli, scallions and jalapenos made up the inside of the roll, and it was phenomenal. I'm pretty sure wagyu is some type of meat (our server called this roll a type of "surf and turf"). Whatever it is, it was paper thin and covered the top of the roll. It had a nice spice to it, but at the same time, kind of overpowered the lobster. Regardless, a great-tasting roll. And finally--my favorite of the night: Red Dragon. It contains typical sushi ingredients--shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, jalapeno, avocado, etc.--but it was beyond delicious. For dessert, we had the "Ridiculous," which was a large scoop of ice cream coated in a thin layer of ginger carrot cake and drizzled with caramel. Foodgasm. Lastly, the service was good. Our server was very nice and provided great recommendations (Red Dragon and Lobster & Wagyu), but service was a tad slow for a Saturday night.
(4)
Rob T.
As a fellow Asian, I want to support Sunda and give a glowing review. But I can't. The good: service was quite good. The bad: the food is overrated. Both the American-style dishes and the Asian-centric dishes were ordinary and portions were small. Sushi was fine but mainly forgettable. For the price you pay, I expected more wow in my palate. Instead, it was just more wow in my bill. That wow included a $20 cake cutting charge that was more than the cost of the cake itself.
(2)
Matt C.
What. the. hell...is that "Ridiculous" desert made of? If I had to guess I'd say...unicorn horn and mermaid tears? Certainly something not of this world. Best desert of all time, from the Bing Bang until now. I won't go too much into what it consists of, just take my word that if you eat it you will transcend time and space. The food was all good, stand-outs were the Pig Sticks (how could a stick of pig meat not be good?) and the Ox Tail Gyoza. I felt the Tale of Two Tuna roll wasn't too spectacular - seemed to me just a plain, slightly spicy tuna maki. The short ribs, while delicious, were too fatty for my taste - though the presentation makes you feel like Fred Flinstone devouring a dinosaur leg. Also the service had much to be desired. The girl we had seemed like she just wanted to end her shift and bust the "F" out. We overheard a server the table over that sounded awesome though: explained the menu, talked about the best dishes, and even talked about the awards the Chef received. I guess we just got a dud; definitely not a reason not to check Sunda out. (Read: Get the "Ridiculous" dessert.)
(4)
Akta D.
No, not at all. I wouldn't even want to try it again. The staff was disinterested, the food was overpriced and plain. Their choices weren't unique. If you're a sushi fan or even a fusion fan save some money and try some other places.
(1)
dina d.
The mochi ice cream desert is amazing.
(4)
Shelz B.
Love the food and service, beware of large groups and seating, they tend to make room when there are small spaces. Rock shrimp & the beef lollipops are Delish!
(4)
Melissa F.
Sunda isn't the best restaurant in Chicago, and not even the best on Hubbard, but it's pretty good. The atmosphere is cool without being pretentious, and the service is always very friendly and attentive. (We had a British waiter once. It was exciting.) The salads here are incredible - the brussel sprout salad is crispy but light, and the bang bang salad with shaved mango, cucumbers?, jicama, and similar veggies is refreshing and delicious. The sushi roll with bacon is pretty good and definitely unique, while the golden child roll (white tuna, mango) definitely works in practice even better than in theory. -1 star, though, because some rolls are not super flavorful - I have been underwhelmed by the Sunda special spicy tuna roll with sticky rice, since it really doesn't taste like anything! Also, I went on a Sunday night, and although I shouldn't have been surprised (thanks to Anthony Bourdain), the fish did not taste very fresh. I'm very far from a sushi and/or fresh fish expert, and it didn't taste rotten or unsafe to eat, but it didn't taste super fresh either. Even so, I would come back to Sunda, especially since they have a variety of items on their menu that seem amazing and, to a large extent, have proven delicious already.
(4)
Sarah C.
A really good date kind of place. Lots of items for sharing & really good cocktails. I had the blackberry limeade and the Grass Tiger - that one is jalapeño; the perfect amount of spice. The Brussels sprout salad was awesome and the oxtail dumplings were also surprisingly delicious.
(4)
Nania L.
Great contemporary Pan-Asian food with Latin inspiration! Our server was friendly and energetic, and almost everything we had was delicious! Some of the food was a little on the greasy/salty side (i.e. the green pepper appetizer) but items like the Brussel Sprout Salad and the Oxtail pot stickers had great, unique flavor! We made a reservation through OpenTable and I'm glad we did because the place was packed! The restaurant itself is very loud, so it's not the ideal spot if you;re seeking relaxed atmosphere or quiet conversation... but if you're looking for a fun night out with friends or your significant other, this would be a great choice! (Lots of eye-candy, too.... patrons and waitstaff alike.) :)
(4)
Mark T.
Thank goodness for discount deal coupons. If it wasn't for them, I would never get the chance to visit places like Sunda. Purchased a Gilt City voucher a few months ago for Sunda for a five course meal; decided to cash it in for lunch recently. When you walk in, you are immediately transfixed on the gorgeous decor of the space: a large dining room that had different spots for sofa areas and long tables in the middle of the room. Sushi bar was on one side and a private dining area in the back. Everything about this place screamed high class. Now for the menu. As mentioned before, dined on five courses: warm spinach and mushroom salad (the olive oil topping on the salad gave it a lot of flavor); chicken and mushroom shu mai (dumplings...yum), Summer of Sunda roll (liked the avocado in it); Pancit Canton (nice mixture of the egg noodles and roasted chicken), and finally a plate of mochi for dessert. I believe that the Pancit was the best dish of the afternoon...their interpretation of a classic Filipino dish and probably as good as what my Mom usually makes (and that's a high bar to jump over). Another bonus is how the service treated us. I've had many experiences where restaurants would give you less than stellar service if you flash a discount voucher in front of them, but not here. Angie, one of the managers came by early in the meal and welcomed us and assured us that we would not leave the place hungry (which, judging by the boxes of leftovers we had to bring home, was definitely true). Our waitress was polite as well, and when I came to her to ask about an overcharge on the check, she apologized and gave us the correct one. Genuine and no attitude. This place has immediately shot into my top five fave restaurants in the city...and i can't wait to go back to try the rest of the menu.
(5)
Liz S.
We go to Sunda about once every 2 months and the food is always great. The standout dishes are the shishito peppers, the pork belly steamed buns, the duck hash, and the adobo pork belly (which we always split because it's huge). The only reason this place gets 4 stars is because of occasionally spotty service. A few times, including our most recent visit, we barely saw our waiter (which was generally ok because runners bring out your food) and we probably sat around for 20 minutes waiting for him to check on us so we could get our bill.
(4)
Partha A.
Food was super oily. Everything from the pancit to the eggs with mushrooms. I don't think I'd go back. Seems like a nice space though for something quick. The seat upholstery was old and torn. The place looked like it needed some loving.
(3)
CJ H.
My husband and I went to Sunda for dinner last night. I've been there before, but this was his first time. We were both unimpressed with the food. The waiter was good, attentive but not hovering. The bus staff was over the top. Before we had finished our food, they were ready to take away our plates. We felt very rush, like they wanted us in and out as quickly as possible which was odd because they were not crowded. We won't return.
(2)
S F.
Ok, so I came back a second time to Sunda, this time for a cousin's birthday and sad to say, my rating of this place has not changed. Couple of highlights from this time's experience: 1. Servers are incredibly busy and may not provide each table the attention it needs - our server took half the drink order and then disappeared to pick up the tab from another table. There were 8 ppl in our group and it was literally 15-20 min between when the first person got their meal to the last person. 2. I ordered the Chilean sea bass this time and was clearly disappointed with the lack of a flavor profile in the fish (and the accompanying cauliflower and tomatoes), felt like I should have ordered the beef long ribs, which were a hit at the table and 10 bucks cheaper!!! 3. Coffee, supposedly from La Colombe, but a friend from Colombia confirmed it wasn't (at least his cup). 4. Finally, given it was a cousin's birthday, we brought in a cake, which was brought out at the end of the meal and served up separately (cut and plated by the kitchen subsequently). Imagine our surprise when we saw a $5 cake cutting charge per person (40 bucks total) on our bill at the very end. When we asked our server why we weren't informed before, she smiled and said it was the restaurant policy. So now, I've had two not so great dining and service experiences at Sunda - I will definitely not be back for a third time!!!
(3)
jay c.
Sunda is an elegant food place. I came for lunch. I wanted to look at a full menu but they only have brunch available. I am a big sushi eater and I had to try the sweet potato sushi. Sushi was okay. The server did not provide soy sauce so I had to wait for it for a while. The loompya was a bit oily, but the accompanying sauces were delicious. The service was okay probably because it's a Sunday and staff was not at full force. Everyone should try the toast with foie gras. It was nice. The place was a bit pricy. Next time though. I will come for dinner and try their speciality Asian fusion entrees which they are known for.
(3)
Lauren S.
Don't go here to have an intimate, private conversation -- the tables are community-style and makes it pretty loud. That being said, the food was amazing. We ordered several dishes and split them among our big group. I recommend the Kale and Seaweed salad, the Stuffed Avocado (hard to eat, but so good) and the Sunda Rainbow. I had the Blackberry Limeade cocktail and it was really well made - rich, but nice to go with the meal. And the sake drinkers I was with said the sake offerings were on point and delicious choices. Overall, a great group meal!
(4)
Kari F.
The rock shrimp tempura was DELICIOUS! I could eat a million. Nom nom nom. Went here for Restaurant Week, again on a random evening, and I have been wanting to come back ever since. It's a pretty swanky place... Nice service, fun food, pretty cool decor, but high prices. I will probably get my maayyne and I to do a date night here sometime soon rather than lunch or after work gathering.
(4)
Ari A.
I recently had dinner here and was really impressed! The server was very helpful and explained everything on the menu. We had the Brussels sprout salad per reviews on here, and it was amazing! The whole small plate concept is interesting (albeit expensive). We also had the lemongrass beef lollipops and a sushi roll. I probably could have done without the sushi to be honest. My only caveat is the noise! It was so crowded that I had to practically yell to talk to my SO. They kept playing Zedd and Swedish House Mafia...I felt like I should have been at a club. Definitely need to change the music. But other than that, it was great!
(4)
Stephanie L.
Still solid...still rocking...still sleek...still sexy....your definitely staying in the game Sunda after the initial glam of being the new kid on the block wore off... I've been back to Sunda several times. They always have a solid showing. Yes, still a lot of communal seating, which can be good and back. I like to be left alone most of the time...person sitting next to me, please stop staring and listening because your date is horrible. I feel bad for you. I actually went straight sushi the last time I was there. Pretty damn good...was it worth the price...meh...it was a special occasion so I guess so. Wine...overpriced, but hey thats the price you pay to be a aspiring alcoholic in the city of Chicago. I actually like Sunda WAAYYYYY better than the new Roka across the street....still a fan...still a fan, Sunda.
(4)
Steve R.
Great ambience and service. I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed with the quality of the food given the hype and price. I get better Sushi at my local spot in the burbs.
(3)
Monique B.
The service was fine. We had a sushi roll and entree. I ordered chilean sea bass, a dish I order and cook often. Unfortunately, the fish they served me was white, but was NOT chilean sea bass. I think it might have been butter fish, something that is similar in texture and taste to chilean sea bass, but significantly less expensive. It was ok, but not seasoned very well. Unfortunately, I was on a date, and didn't want to seem like a total prick, otherwise I would have complained directly to the waitress, manager and chef. Instead, I'll just notify others on yelp and decide not to go back.
(1)
Christina H.
what we ate- family style ordering for 4 people: Brussel Sprout salad - recommended by waiter and while not something i would have picked out might have been the best thing of the night. get it. Edamame dumplings: very very plain. ginger sauce on the side was good. skip. Braised Pork Belly buns: mediocre at best, pork belly was overcooked and tough. skip. Sunda's Signature Classic Crispy Rice Topped w/ Spicy Tuna: an ok version of crispy rice. served in 4 pieces so was easy to split. your choice but i wasnt impressed. yellowtail and jalepeno: i love yellowtail and jalepeno combinations. im thinking nobu here yall. but this was really not good though the presentation was nice. skip tuna two ways roll: probably my favorite of the rolls we got. get it. firecracker roll: awful. just tasted like deep fried nothing. we didnt bother to finish. definitely skip. red dragon roll: had potential but overall was basically an overhyped shrimp tempura roll. i had 2 pieces of it and one of them didnt have any eel in it. fail. skip. stir fry noodles and shrimp: greasy and nondescript. skip so... with all of that food, the only things i would order again are the brussel sprout salad and maybe the tuna two ways roll. not a good showing sunda. my cocktails were just ok- sakitini and berry limeade (i preferred the berry one by far). restaurant was incredibly loud so much that even at a back corner table we could barely hear each other in our group of four. service was ok but i felt that were not adept in clearing plates / cleaning without being very intrusive into our space and conversation. it was frustrating. i'm guessing people like this place based on the overall 4 star rating and how packed it was last night. but i wouldnt bother coming back!
(2)
Erica G.
Phenomenal Asian fusion restaurant in river north. I made reservations for 8 girls for a bachelorette party. The server recommended ordering family style which was perfect! We were able to try lots and it was very reasonably priced. The total came out to 320 and that included a bottle of wine and 5 cocktails. Here's what we tried: Brussels sprout salad - phenomenal chopped sprouts with crispy shallots in a salty/spicy nuoc Cham sauce. Lemongrass beef lollipops - tender meat with some spice. Good but there's lots better on things on the menu Rock shrimp - one of my favorites! Very similar to honey walnut shrimp on Chinese menus Spicy tuna rolls - simple but tasty Stuffed avocado - amazing presentation of Tuna tartare wrapped in a fan of avocados bathed in a Japanese ponzu sauce. Delicious! Chicken pad Thai - my least favorite dish of the evening. It was ok just a bit bland. Oxtail potstickers - loved the tender meat, definitely a great twist on the typical pork potstickers. The server was very friendly and helpful. He brought out a cake on the house for the bachelorette and made sure we were enjoying everything. The cake was dry but it was free so wasn't a big deal. The food came out quickly, it was about 1.5 hrs which is great for a large party. The decor was very modern and contemporary. I will absolutely be adding this on my list of restaurants to return to.
(5)
Brian G.
Sunda offers more ambiance and a happening scene than it does food so go in with this expectation and you'll have a great time. The food is quality. The menu is pan-Asian with singular dishes that hail from specific countries like lumpia from the Philippines to Asian fusion dishes that borrowed flavors and ingredients from a variety of Asian cuisines. Our favorites were the seared tuna sashimi, lumpia, duck hash, and kobe beef sushi bites. Many of the dishes like the rolls and sashimi were just ok on the other hand. I would suggest staying away from the more classic type of Asian dishes and trying more of the unique Asian fusion type of dishes. Most of the dishes are intended for sharing so it is great for larger parties and groups. On a Saturday night, this place was brimming with a unique mix of young-ish couples to older parties in their 50's to families with kids to gaggles of girls out for a night on the town. The sound level is not quite stratospheric, but don't expect to be having a quiet conversation with your boo unless you're going to be sitting on his lap and whispering things in his ear. Our server was helpful and patient and we even had to give props to the management team for taking care of us when there was an issue at the table. Fine dining Sunda is not, but for a fun atmosphere with good food Sunda is a great find in Chicago.
(4)
J T.
This is my second time here. The food is to die for. I love the inventive takes on traditional sushi rolls. Yum! The restaurant itself is not for everyone. The loud, hip, happening feel can be a bit off putting for us older folk who are just wanting to have a good meal and not pick up a hoochie. The service was lacking slightly this time, but the food made up for it by far.
(4)
Francesca S.
Twas a pretty penny Sunda was. Not sure it if it's all its cracked up to be. It was a GNO: Girls Night Out and SUNDA was our first stop. Our waitress was super helpful in picking out our cocktails. Anything with LYCHEE and my second love, ST. GERMAINE liqueur I knew the Lychee Luxury Drop was going to be my choice of cocktail for the evening. Our waitress recommended the Pear Sake. MMM was that great. Both drinks weren't too sweet or too strong. Presentation for both made it even more appealing. My girl and I were debating whether to take advantage of Restaurant Week and their Prix Fixe menu or their house menu. We were given Miso Soup already because the waitress had thought we were going to go with that menu. When we told her we would go with the house menu she said sorry and said the soup was on her. That was incredibly nice of her. The sushi/nigiri menu was so tempting we had to order one of each. Of course we ordered the No You Didn't... The Ultimate Handroll. And yes, we surrre didddd and it was sooo fiiiiiinnne! I wish the nigiri came with more than 2 pieces because the Escolar was so fresh. The flavor was in the truffled shavings and the potato chip as well. Being Filipino I couldn't pass up Loompya. Their version was a high class egg roll. It ain't what my mama makes. What was incredibly disappointing was their Pad Thai. I don't recommend it. I wasn't anything special. We had to send it back because the noodles were undercooked. The second batch was a bit better but we were full by then and not in the mood for it. I was curious on how their Adobo tasted so I had to get it. My friend isn't a fan of pork so it was too much big for her. It also was her first time trying Adobo. I guess the texture and flavor isn't for everyone. I have to say I was quite pleased. The pork belly was so tender, you didn't need a knife. It wasn't too sweet, saucy, or how some make it too sour. I needed white rice with all this meat of course. It sucks it didn't come with the dish so we had to order it. I rate it a 3 star kinda place only because we were treated so well from the moment we walked in. Service here was top notch! If I were to go back I would definitely drink more cocktails and maybe stick to starters and the Japanese menu.
(3)
Brandon T.
Really like this restaurant, and that says a lot as it is in River North. I was slightly disappointed that my date's first choice of entree and my first choice of wine were both unavailable, but the other options were delicious. I will definitely be back here as the ambiance and feel of the restaurant were both above par. Great sushi, and pad thai. Enough said.
(4)
Roxy H.
I love Asian Fusion. Therefore, Sunda, you have stolen my heart. Where do I start? First of all, Lindsay our server was awesome, sweet and very cool! This place was filled with beautiful people. The crowd kept coming. We were in there till almost 11:30pm and the place stayed busy. We ordered a bunch of small plates. Every. Dish. Was. AMAZEBALLS! The pig sticks, the kale and seaweed salad (sooooooo good), sashumi, ox pot stickers, shrimp (can't rememeber the name but they tasted like bang bang shrimp from bonefish girll), truffle brown rice.... All great!! We had other dishes but the names escape me. There is a gluten free menu, Awesome. The drinks were excellent! Strawberry Fields ( I believe is the name) and this is bad but I can't remember the name of the other drink I had either. Definitely visit Sunda. It's great!
(5)
Jack T.
The food at this place is great, but the 13 year old hostesses need to be replaced. They are neither friendly nor attentive. We asked 3 different people about seating, and got 3 different answers. Four stars for food, two for ambiance
(3)
Brenda C.
Hands down amazing experience! Our server, Ben, took excellent care of us. Like, he was probably the best server I've had all year and I eat out a lot. We selected a couple of dishes on our own and then had Ben choose a few others to round out the meal. Outstanding dishes: crispy brussel sprouts, escarole with truffle, Kobe beef on crispy rice, and some kinda tuna-pork belly-mango delightfulness. Even the drinks were great...my muddled blackberry adult beverage was delicious. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Kristin S.
I met a business associate for a 6:00 PM dinner at Sunda this past Tuesday night. We were seated and our server immediately introduced herself and offered still, sparkling or tap water. The start of the evening was terrific. My friend had wine by the glass and I tried the Walnut Bourbon Manhattan. The Manhattan was smooth and left a lovely, lingering walnut taste. My note to self was to try to recreate this at home. The menu is unique and the night's special, red curry sauce over noodles, cod and shrimp sounded great. My friend ordered the 7 spice Duck and I ordered the special . Both meals were as promised. The food and service at Sunda is terrific. But sadly, we will never be back. About 45 minutes into the meal we realized we were screaming at each other and yet, could barely hear each other. We left as soon as our dinner was done although we would have preferred to stay, have another glass of wine and perhaps dessert. This was early on a Tuesday night and it was unbearably loud. The decor is beautiful but all the hard surfaces only amplified the noise. Sorry Sunda, great concept but once is enough.... my ears are still ringing.
(2)
Marissa W.
I've been here a couple times for client dinners. The atmosphere is lively and chic, and on a weeknight it think you could get away with dressy jeans. The food is AMAZING. My favorites are the rock shrimp tempura, pork adobo fried rice and their famous brussel sprouts salad. Everyone raves about the beef lollipops, and while they're good, the unique presentation trumps the taste. Service is excellent and Sunda is ideal for large groups.
(5)
Jamison E.
I went to Sunda while on a business trip. The concierge at my hotel had recommended it. The restaurant had a great trendy vibe and since I was alone I sat at the sushi bar and watched the guys make the sushi rolls which was interesting. My waiter was very helpful in giving recommendations of what to order and very knowledgeable about the dishes. I ordered the Bang bang salad (raw ribbons of shaved green papaya, carrots, zucchini, chayote and jicama, tossed in a citrus chili dressing with toasted peanuts and coriander) which was huge and really yummy! I also ordered the Firecracker roll. The highlight of this roll was that it was served with side of what was essentially guacamole which made be laugh but it really worked well with the roll. I'm from Texas and I love guacamole so this was a winner. I guess that's part of the Asian Fusion.' I also ordered a green tea with a hint of wheat? It that was served loose leaf in a personal tea pot. It had a great unique taste. Definitely worth a try. Prices are slightly on the higher side, but definitely reasonable and not over priced considering the quality of food that is being served.
(4)
Denise M.
I came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon and while I could appreciate the decor and the atmosphere was very nice (also points for the sleek server uniforms), my meal was .. not great. They do place bowls of Chinese-style chips on each table which is great, so yummy! Don't be afraid to try them even though they look like packing styrofoam, they've got an amazing texture! As for the main course, I ordered miso ramen and was severely disappointed -- broth was not flavorful at all, noodles were weirdly thin and overcooked and rather mushy, and the slices of pork were really big to the point of being unwieldy. And I'm a proficient chopsticks user, I swear!! But yeah, probably the worst ramen I've had ... ever. 10cent Maruchan and Cup Noodle excepted. If you love ramen, avoid Sunda's. I give it 2.5 stars and round up. My rating might go up if I happen to stop by again and order something else -- it seemed like everyone else in my lunch party enjoyed what they had, but weren't amazed. I doubt I'll be back again, though?
(3)
Zhiyou D.
The food is very good, so is the atmosphere. But the price? Oh my god, it's so expensive! And the portion is small! I like their pork crispy rice and pork belly something.
(4)
Joseph D.
This place is balls out AMAZING. Every time I go there I get the bill and think, "wow, that's more than I planned to spend and it was worth every penny and I can't wait to come back. If you get to Chicago this should definitely be on your list. The brusle sprout salad if incredible. I am picky and high maintenance and this place blows me away.
(5)
Mary T.
4th meeting of the Co-worker Birthday Lunch Group (aka my birthday lunch). I wanted to try Sunda for some time and was excited that it was my turn to pick the place. I love these lunches because it's a nice opportunity for some girl talk and a little indulgence. I'm lobbying for the celebration of half birthdays, 6 lunches a year doesn't seem like enough. We started with the rock shrimp tempura and spicy tuna signature sushi. The sushi was fantastic, served like pieces of nigiri; the tuna was minced and served over the glazed rice. There was a nice slow heat to dish and the glaze created a nice, crunchy texture. Sadly, the rock shrimp let me down. The shrimp, served with glazed walnuts and a honey aioli, was too sweet for my liking; I think I would have enjoyed it if there was some spice or savory to offset the sweetness. For my meal, I waffled between the Sunda Set Combo and seared ahi banh mi. I went with the banh mi and had a bit of buyer's remorse watching one co-worker enjoy her combo. My sandwich was fine; the fish was fresh and perfectly seared and the bread was nice and crunchy. The problem was that I didn't glean any flavor from the pickled veggies and spice butter also on my sandwich. I was expecting some complexity of flavors, but was disappointed. The dressing on the accompanying salad was also extremely bland. Like I said my meal was fine, but something I'd make tracks to Sunda for. The combo is quite the steal, for $18 my co-worker got a choice of side salad or miso soup, 3 pieces of sushi, and a choice of 7 hot entrees with rice. There was a ton of food, which all looked quite amazing. The rest of the group got sushi and starters and seemed quite happy with their choice. The space is beautiful, very sleek and modern, but service during our meal while friendly was a bit off. There was a long lag between ordering our starters and our lunch and at lags during other parts of our meal too. It's definitely not an in and out lunch place (or a place you should go without a reservation). We were never offered dessert before the check was dropped, which was disappointing as it's something we usually enjoy indulging in. Overall, I'd give this place 3.5 stars. It didn't live up to the anticipation I had created, but I'm rounding up because I'd definitely come back and give it another crack.
(4)
Jessica N.
Sunda is a solid destination for Pan-Asian. Sushi - really good, fresh (though limited selection) Entrees - Unique dishes with good portions for a "scene-y" place Must Try's *Rock Shrimp Tempura app - never fails *Scallop Sashimi - Some of the best scallop sashimi I've ever had, REALLY fresh *Chicken Katsu Curry - Nice spice level, well cooked noodles Service can be spotty depending on server and time of day.
(4)
Neha M.
Over-hyped and we waited INCREDIBLY long for everything from the minute we walked in the door. If you have a reservation..waiting 30 minutes for your table to be ready is just ridiculous. The food was no different and came out at a snail's pace and our waiter seemed completely indifferent to us even being there. The food wasn't even anything great..I can't believe I'm reviewing the same restaurant as some of the others before with rave reviews..it was mediocre at BEST! I understand that it was busy, but I've been to busier restaurants than this that have still managed to maintain their overall quality. Very disappointed. Will not be returning if I can help it.
(1)
Jeanie P.
3.5 starsish? I love the modern vibe at sunda but I guess there are so many other places to try-- no rush in coming back given the price? I would def try to share all the entrees because the meat entrees just comes out with just meat so it's not well balanced unless you order other dishes. My favorites were the miso cod and braised short rib (sort of tastes like kalbijim) Roasted duck hash was a bit on the oily side. The crunchy pig hidden lobster roll was kinda texturally strange. Diverse menu so plenty of new things to try next time!
(3)
Kori E.
I have been to Sunda several times now and each experience is just as good as the last. They have impeccable food in a awesome atmosphere! Today was the first time I dined there for lunch and they have such a great lunch menu! We stared off with the specialty sushi and it was pretty good. Not as much flavor as I had hoped for. We also had the pot sticker type things and those were far better than the specialty sushi. Tons of flavor! For my main, I had one of their box lunch meals! What a great concept. For $18, you get either a salad or miso soup, a spicy tuna or California roll and a choice of a main. I had the miso and the spicy tuna and both were excellent. In fact, I think it was the best miso I have ever had!! I had the Chicken and Pork Adobo for my main and it was absolutely delicious. Very flavorful with onions and peppers. The portion was quite large and I had enough to take home! Definitely a great place for any occasion! Such a fun, trendy vibe and the food is well worth the hype!
(4)
Michelle N.
I went to Sunda for the first time last night based on a friend's recommendation. When you walk in you are immediately impressed with the decor. Very cool setting. The menu has so many great options -- it is hard to choose! I ordered sushi and loved the freshness and quality of the rolls. I must say -- he had at least three people come by asking if we were enjoying dinner. The wait staff is extremely attentive! I would recommend Sunda and look forward to going back the next time I'm in town.
(4)
Yuan Z.
The cho-men that I ordered was the best among all that I've ever tried in America.
(5)
Plant Strong D.
I'm a Veggie Girl & Sunda was the perfect dose of the Chic Chicago Scene that I needed! I eat predominantly vegan and Sunda was no threat to my plant based diet. It's refreshing to know that one of the trendiest restaurants in the city has plenty of innovative options for a veg head like me. I'm seeing a lot more of this as I travel and eat out at some of the nations hottest spots. Veg is in. And when restaurants turn their heads, they are the one's missing out. Sunda's sprawling dinner menu presents no less then 10 dynamic veg friendly plates that include an eclectic combination of exotic flavors, paired with ingredients from all over Eastern Asia. There are, of course, plenty of meat & seafood centric items available as well. Everyone wins. My full review is below. Enjoy! plantstrongdiva.com/apps…
(4)
Patrick G.
My loved one and I were traveling from Cincinnati to attend a fashion show on the Navy Pier and were advised by a young fabulous couple to visit Sunda. Good looking out, people! I'll cut to the chase. We enjoyed (shared) a large (off-the-rib) Rib Eye (cooked medium) which was phenomenal. In addition, we each had our own rolls; she had a Scorpion roll and I had the Sunda Salmon roll. Superb. The drinks were simple. I had a Patron Sour. It was a lil strong, but I needed strong - it was gonna be a long night. My lady had the Peared Sake. Our server assured her that it was only a "splash" of sparkling Sake (She wanted no parts of Sake) and that other than that it was standard fare Grey Goose (pear infused), with the Pineapple and such. (Nice cinnamon rim). We both agreed that the soapy taste of the Sake made the drink just *blah*. Other than that, we saw handsome people, great atmosphere, and a very on point staff. Check out Sunda when you are in the Magnificent Mile area. You'll dig it!
(5)
Molly C.
There's nothing that is that special about this place. Their sushi is very Americanized and you can get much better sushi in Chicago for a better price. The sake list is standard here. The one thing that was memorable was the service.
(3)
ben w.
We went here on Valentine's Day for a family meal, with our 4 year old. No problem, the staff were great. Chef Mike even made kids chopsticks for her. The food was excellent, awesome flavors. The sushi was great, moist. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity. Service was great, excellent ambiance. Eat here!
(5)
Brandon B.
Excellent food and experience. Had a great server Christin who really took care of us well. She was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and there when you needed something. Basically what you would expect from a nice restaurant but too infrequently receive. Food line up: stuffed spicy tuna, white tuna, oxtail pot stickers, brussel sprout salad and braised pork belly. My wife hates brussel sprouts but we tried it at the suggestion of the server. Awesome, should be a required food item for all 6 year olds so we do not get tainted on brussel sprouts at such a young age. Would certainly go back again. It is a bit on the pricey side but well worth every penny.
(4)
Clayton B.
I visited without a reservation on a Tuesday night and had the option of sitting in the lounge or sushi bar. I didn't want to order sushi so we chose the lounge area. This is a true lounge space as the tables are too low for a meal and the chairs were quite uncomfortable. That being said, it could have been avoided if I made a reservation. The food was excellent. We shared the pork belly steamed buns to start. The buns were fluffy and moist and the pork was juicy and tender. For my entree I tried the Malay style Chilean sea bass. SO good. The fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce was light enough to taste the fresh quality of the fish. The fish was a decent portion I just wish the plate would have included rice or some side to make it more filling. Our server definitely treated us like it was the lounge area. She visited the tavle maybe three times the entire meal. However, everything came out fine and we had what we needed. I will definitely be returning to try the sushi here soon!
(4)
Phill C.
Our server told us that a lot of food was coming and he wasn't kidding. The 5-course Gilt City tasting menu was loaded with so much food. Yup I left at the end of our meal with a food baby. We started with the chop chop chicken salad. The salad was light and the peanut jalapeño dressing was tasty. By the size of the salad, we knew we were in for a lot of food. They happily boxed up anything we couldn't finish. If we had actually finished everything, I would've slipped deep into a food coma before dessert. The next course were the apps. The rock shrimp tempura was a really good version of honey walnut shrimp from my favorite Chinese take-out place. Crunchy small nuggets of shrimp with glazed walnuts and a creamy honey aioli. We also got the lemongrass beef lollipops, which were ny strip slices wrapped around some lemongrass. The beef was very tender and was good with the spicy chili sauce. Stomach capacity = 50%. Then the sushi course - a Mushroom Lover's Roll and a two-way spicy tuna roll. One roll for true mushroom lovers and the other for spicy fans. Both rolls were good and very filling. I'm now at about 80% and our main entrees are now rolling out. The Chicken Tobanyang was good, but my favorite dish of the night was the Adobo Braised Black Pork Belly. Hell yah! Two huge mouth watering slabs of pork belly in some tasty adobo sauce. It was pull apart fork tender with crispy edges and I wanted to eat more and more, but had to tap out. The leftovers made for an awesome lunch the next day, followed by some food coma. I had no idea what the dessert would be, since it was chef's choice, but I was happy when I saw the mochi ice cream platter. So full, but must... eat... balls. The mochi was super soft and were filled with some green tea, vanilla, red bean, and strawberry ice cream. My favorite was the vanilla mochi with the hot caramel sauce. At the end of the meal I was at 110% stuffed. The service was great and very attentive. Also as part of of our tasting, the chef de cuisine stopped by our table while we were feasting on the pork belly. I saw that crispy pata on the regular menu and I definitely want to come back to try some more porky deliciousness.
(4)
Jasmin V.
Came here for my bday. Reservations at 5. Got really busy around 6. Strawberry Delight - yum I LOVE strawberry drinks. not very strong though Blushing Geisha - good stronger than strawberry drink. Beef lollipops - comes with 5 lollipops. good not the most amazing thing ever. Rock shrimp tempura - basically honey walnut shrimp. very good i love this dish but i wish the shrimp was bigger. i've had bigger for cheaper. Sisig - best dish i had here. not on the menu but ask for it you won't be sorry. basically pork belly with fried egg in the middle. soo good but a bit tiny! Garlic Rice - $5 but SO good. nice and garlicy! perfect with the sisig Ridiculous dessert - good but mostly ice cream covered not much carrot cake. i would get it again though Good birthday dinner overall. I do want to come back but I don't have cravings to come anytime soon.
(4)
Ash K.
Quality food & drinks, if you are dining out there in chitown it's a must stop for good sushi & Thai food. Ordered miso soup, bang bang salad, ginger tofu - all delicious & well prepared dishes. They have valet parking outside although staff did not suggest parking. Ridiculous dessert was well done! Servers were accommodating.
(5)
Ashley V.
I've been looking all over Chicago in search of great, authentic Southeast Asian cuisine and am really surprised to have found that in Sunda. I usually try to steer away from Asian fusion or any fusion cuisine in general since I tend to favor the original cuisine better. Sunda really does it right though and I am pleasantly surprised! The decor is absolutely beautiful. It feels quite lounge-y at times, especially on weekend nights. I love the set up and there's a lot of different table settings you can choose from (community table, sushi bar, regular table,etc). Now on to the food. Here are some of my favorites from Sunda: - Rock shrimp: crispy bite size shrimp smothered in creamy sauce. And although I used the word "smothered", the sauce is actually used fairly sparingly so you don't feel like you're just eating globs of cream. - Kobe beef sushi: my favorite! Really succulent Kobe beef on top of pan fried sushi rice. Get this everytime I come here! - Pork belly: very soft, very juicy. Always hits the spot. You can order it either as an appetizer in a bun or as an entree if you're greedy and want it all to yourself (and I don't blame you for being greedy, it is delicious) - Crispy Brussel sprout salad: done right. Just get it. Solid South East Asian cuisine. Go try it!
(4)
Barry W.
Excellent pan asian cuisine. Some very interesting twists on old favorites. Terrific Pho with multiple meats was a great treat. On the noisy side.
(4)
Rachel B.
Have been frequenting Sunda since it first opened, love this place. The Rock Shrimp Tempura is completely unreal. Recently went to Buddakan in NYC and sampled their version...failed in comparison. Literally have dreams of this dish! The Baked Crab Handroll tops the charts as well! Ambiance is equally as appealing. Chic decor with a trendy crowd to match. I wouldn't rate Chicago very high as far as a good scene is concerned, but Sunda is certainly a slight exception! Highly recommend both for a girls' night as well as date night!
(4)
Faris T.
Great overall meal for brunch, the Crispy rice with steak and spicy tuna was excellent. I highly recommend eating here. Service was prompt, friendly, and overall provided a great eating experience.
(4)
Jin L.
Living in LA spoils you on many things. One of the biggest things is the access to great Asian food. With the hype surrounding this place, one word I'd use to describe this establishment is, "Overrated". Sunda is your typical "asian fusion" place that sells "chic" and "cool" environment at the expense of overpriced subpar asian food. Food: 2/5- We tried was the adobo braised pork belly and it was not good. It looks impressive, but taste wise, it was way too salty and lacked other flavors to balance it out. I don't remember anything else we ordered. Service: 4/5- Everyone from the hostess to the servers and bussers were nice. We had a good time, but were ultimately disappointed by the food Environment: 4/5- It's a nice restaurant. If you're more into eating out at a nice environment over the taste of the food, this place is for you. Value: 2/5- Pricey for what it is. Again, you're paying for the environment, not the food. Return? No
(2)
Carmen N.
Truly a fan of this restaurant...and so is all of Chicago! High energy, trendy and lively Asian fusion restaurant delivers beyond expectation. The food is amazing and serving staff very knowledgeable and provided great recommendations. Because of its popularity, be prepared for the noise as the restaurant is usually hoppin'. Plan ahead for reservation purposes.
(4)
Aamir S.
Atmosphere and environment are awesome! Food is decent, they need to so a better job highlighting their signature dishes, not the Nobu knockoffs or the Crustacean garlic noodle copy cat.
(3)
Courtney W.
My boyfriend and I have been wanting to hit up Sunda forever! We are huge sushi buffs and heard this place was extremely unique and interesting. Our server recommended the Peared Sake to drink. I like sake but I wasn't sure how this would taste. I ordered it and man was it good, I could have had five or six. Made with Grey Goose La Poire, Zipang Sparking Sake, pineapple juice, ginger syrup, and a cinnamon rim it was a fantastic mix of flavors. At $13 it was a little expensive but hey, it was my first time here. My boyfriend stuck with a good glass of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. We started with Rock Shrimp Tempura made with glazed walnuts and glazed honey aioli. We love the rock shrimp at FIsh Bar and this did not disappoint. The serving was quite large and I was pleasantly surprised with the result. The star of the evening? The Lobster Wagyu Roll. Outstanding doesn't even come close to describing how amazing this roll is! I have never tasted anything like it and probably never will again! I've had Wagyu beaf at Roka Akor but when paired with lobster it was like nothing I have ever tasted. The scallions, jalapeño, wagyu sashimi, creamy lobster, and truffle-foire aioli was the perfect combination of excellence. We also tried the Escolar which was under the category "Topped Nigiri Sunda Style". The Great White Tuna came with truffle shavings, a potato chip, and chives. Was it good? Yes. $9 for two pieces? Unacceptable. Macku does better topped nigiri for less and for bigger pieces at that with more creative toppings. I wasn't impressed with The Number Ten roll. It was a tempura roll with shrimp roe, avocado, scallions, cream cheese, unagi sauce, and wasabi aioli. I just wasn't too impressed overall but my boyfriend loved it and I trust his judgement. We also had some signature sticky rice with beef on top. I'm not sure the exact name but the server made sure to point them out. The rice comes with other types of meat and fish on top as well. Generally, try what the server recommends but be prepared to pay. Nothing is cheap here but it's worth a shot. Dessert was also great. We had a wonderful dessert martini made with Effen vodka that our server so kindly split for us without our asking. For dessert we had vanilla bean ice-cream basked into a slice of carrot cake. Absolutely outstanding! Four stars for some amazing signature dishes and drinks. The service was great and attentive and I appreciated the speed at which the dishes were paced. One star reduction for the price and quality of some dishes.
(4)
Roxy A.
Updating my review for Sunda! I went here this weekend for Easter brunch and I think the verdict is that I like this place much better in the daytime than at night. Made reservations for brunch here for the fambam to celebrate Easter. (I highly recommend using Open Table to make reservations, plus you can score the points too! woot woot!) It was pretty cool because they sat us at the "Chef's Table" even though we didn't put any special request for it. The starters were really tasty, as a special they had Roasted Pork Bao and it was super tasty..I didn't care too much for the dipping sauces they offered with the bao but when we asked for hoisin sauce it was super delish. We also ordered the Pancit Canton which is a great dish to serve family style. I was really happy with what I ordered...it was so damn tasty. I ordered the pork belly on crispy rice patties. The meat was so succulent and the crispy rice added a nice crunch to it..but once you break into the yolk of the perfectly poached egg that sits on top of the dish...it's over...it just melts in your mouth. Another great brunch dish I'd recommend is the Loco Moco..it's one of my favorite Hawaiian plate lunch meals, but it's perfect for brunch..it's kind of like an islander version of steak & eggs...but better because it comes with rice and is ladled with gravy aka fatty yummy goodness. Another plus for brunch is that they have a bloody mary bar where you have the choice of vodka or soju, they bring the glass to your table & then you head over to the bar to add in any garnishes of your liking (I say bring your glass plus your appetizer plate because they even had kimchi, sausage, tofu, asparagus, and other veggies/items you wouldn't find on a typical bloody mary bar). Sunda is also great for lunch, if you're coming with a group GDine is also a great way to make reservations, they have great prices ($15/person for lunch with a prix fixe menu).
(4)
Patrick S.
Absolutely amazing. Loved the set up of the menu, & our server did an awesome job guiding us through it. We went with one or two items from each section & left there completely satisfied
(5)
Shruti W.
4.5 stars! This place is worth checking out. Great service, awesome food, and swanky ambiance. It is fairly pricey ($25-30/person with tip), so keep that in mind. Came here with a group of 8 on a Saturday night after making a reservation through the yelp website. We were seated at the Chef's table, just behind the sushi bar. We ordered a lot of food, and we were pleased with all the dishes we ordered. Here's the list of dishes we got: Kale and seaweed salad Crispy brussel sprout salad (highly recommend!!) Oxtail potstickers Duck bao (meh, the one thing that wasn't amazing. especially did not like that they just cut the bao and put the filling inside like a burger instead of cooking the filling in the bao) Malay style sea bass (mmm, the curried cauliflower that came with this was so good) Pork belly (one of the standouts, definitely recommend) Miso glazed lamb rack (also highly recommend) Crab lo mein firecracker roll (unagi and spicy tuna and other yummy spicy things) We definitely over-ordered, and still spent just under $30/person with tip. Yes, it's a pricey place, but the food is worth it and the service is stellar! The place was super busy, but our waitress came by often and was very helpful. I would give Sunda 5 stars if not for my need-to-try-a-place-at-least-twice-before-giving-5Â-stars rule. Next time I'm in Chicago, I'll have to check out their happy hour!
(4)
Elizabeth C.
Went here on Sunday and sat at the bar, service was a bit stressed out, could've used probably one more sofa. The food was great, and our server was super awesome and nice and smart, just you could tell she was a bit in the weeds in the beginning of us being there. Overall, would be back and would tell others to go. Service was great despite her being clearly stretched thin, but that's a management issue of not scheduling enough people, I'm assuming, but who knows.
(4)
Ellen C.
A little pretentious and overpriced, but good sushi. Wish the portions were a little bigger. Nice ambiance for a 'fancy' night out.
(2)
Rita W.
Go for happy hour! It's a great deal! Amazing kale salad. My friend and I got one to share and we liked it so much, we decided that next time we would each get our own! (This was a pretty good portioned salad too!) Really good ribs. We ordered several rolls (um yea it was only my friend and I...don't judge, we like to eat!) Our bartender was our server and he was very nice and attentive. This is going to be my new happy hour spot!
(4)
Robert R.
Although recently I've been burned by the trendier eateries in Chicago (I'm looking at you Picolo Sogno) I'd heard enough about Sunda that I thought I needed to at least try it. What better time to do that, than my anniversary. I'm a huge fan of Asian cuisine (and my s.o. isn't) so whenever I get the chance, I try a new place. I did some convincing and viola! Sunda. Here's my review. DÉCOR: The decor is sleek, trendy and clean, yet warm and inviting. Fully reflective of the 'fusion' cuisine. Someone took great care to ensure that sight lines were clear of restaurant apparatus (i.e. wait station computers, dish bins etc.) and that the room was properly lit and kept at a good temperature. SCENE: I'm a firefighter, so this isn't the 'scene' I'm used to, but I felt welcome. Sure, there were the obligatory girls teetering on too-high heels and the suit-clad power ties but the clientele was very diverse and that was something I was glad to see. There were tables of girlfriends out on the town, businessmen and couples of all stripes who looked as if they were enjoying their experiences. SERVICE: When we hit the door we were greeted warmly and attended to like we were family. From the moment we were seated we saw a nice (but not overly frequent or pushy) parade of folks from the gent delivering sushi to someone who I assume is a floor manager of some type. Each one nicer than the one before. Our waiter was knowledgeable, informative and funny. Giving us suggestions about the menu and ensuring we had the best possible experience. FOOD: Here's the reality, I'm not a connoisseur of Asian cuisine, I'm a fan. I like a lot of different things, and as a foodie, even some that make the average person squeamish, but by no means am I hardcore about it. That said, overall, Sunda provided the best meal I've eaten in the last 10 years. I will follow that up by saying in those 10 years I've been to 5 countries and no less than a dozen Caribbean islands, one of which is the culinary capital of the Caribbean. I'm not just whistling Dixie here folks, the food is THAT good. Here's the rundown: To start we shared the crunchy pig hidden lobster roll, which was unlike anything I've had. Yes, it's fairly basic (save the soy paper v. nori) but the flavors we're absolutely on point. I had two pieces of the Escolar super white tuna...then I had four more. They were perfect; cut on the proper bias, a good thickness and the proper amount of rice (nigiri style). If I had one complaint it would be that the rice didn't hold up to the chopsticks 100%. To me? Forgivable. Then we moved on to the Rock Shrimp Tempura. I've had it before, but never like this. It was wonderfully done; sticky caramel from the candied walnuts mixed with honey aioli and tempura shrimp. Then, the main course. Malay style Chilean Seabass, in a 'rub' of coriander, lemongrass, miso and chilis, on a bed of curried cauliflower puree. We both had the same thing, and thank goodness, because there would have been a fight. Hands down the best seafood dish I've eaten anywhere, including the islands. It was as good as any lobster or crab I've had (including the storied Hurricane restaurant in Kennebunkport) and served perfectly. We ended with a complimentary dessert to celebrate (which was a hazelnut fudge cake with cream cheese buttercream) as well as the one we'd ordered, which was the 7 spice pumpkin bread pudding with Chantilly cream and orange caramel. The bread pudding was beyond delicious, the cake was average. If any one asks, they SHOULD put the bread pudding on the menu, at least until spring. Seriously. All in all, I am a Sunda convert. I love, love, love this place. It's worth every penny (which wasn't all that bad, frankly) and is definitely worth your time. Oh, and because it was a special occasion, we were given a very nice card wishing us happy anniversary that also included a gift certificate for our next visit. Which will be sooner than later.
(5)
Richard H.
I've heard reviews from people I trust that were all over the board. Personally, I thought the experience was impressive. Not quite five star impressive but I left satisfied with the experience.
(4)
Christine M.
So, I was came to the beautiful city of Chicago to visit my sister and can't help but always anticipate new places I'm going to be grubbin at. I came here based on recommendations from my co-workers who came here during a business conference. They just raved and raved about how this place was the best culinary cuisine. So, I said "ok, I'll go see what this place is all about" and sure enough I wasn't disappointed. Dinner (more like sampling) The Beef Lollipops - were carnivore YUMMY. Mmm...I can still taste the sweet marinate on the meat. SO good!! And it's quite the popular dish because I saw a lot ppl ordering it. The Firecracker Sushi roll - Two thumbs up with a kick a spicy kick that is. The Escolar "the great white tuna" - it was good but $9 for two small pieces (?) I'll pass next time. Dessert Ridiculous - Yes, that's what it's called because it's really quite a unique carrot cake dessert filled with Ice Cream. This was my highlight of the evening. Calories on this bad boy - who CARES! It was sooo freakin good that it was worth taking a picture but I chowwed it down before I remembered to take it. LOL! The only con to this place is the prices for the small amount of food you get. I would recommend going for happy hour because a lot of their popular dishes are HALF the price. Ambience was cool! Very energetic and great people watching place.
(4)
LARRY k.
This place is terrific. Everything we had was delicious and creative. The short ribs were tender and full of flavor, the 7 spiced fried chicken and the Malay sea bass were also very good as was the oxtail pot stickers. The devils basket had fried squid with more chilis in one dish I have ever seen. Could have had less chilis and more squid but that's all I can say as a criticism. The squid was excellent but they could have put more of them in the dish. Then the desserts were served. All I can say is try the mango tiramisu. Amazing! It a bit loud but all in all the food will compel me to return.
(5)
Rachel V.
Sunda is AMAZING. The food is excellent - At first when I saw the menu I thought I'd never find anything I liked b/c I'm a little picky, but when you really start reading and talking to the server you will find tons of delicious sounding items. Everything tastes really fresh and actually HAS taste and flavor - you can just tell it's high quality food. The sushi was outstanding and original without being over the top crazy. Also, for such a new, busy "hot spot," our service was excellent - we had a party of seven people and were a bit needy, but our waiter was patient, had great recommendations for food and drinks, and was really friendly...except that he wouldn't tell us Adrian Grenier was there while we were! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Mike S.
What? Who? Huh? It's always so loud in this place and the music played has got to be some of the most maniacal I've ever heard. Our waitress never came by, the moron pouring water doesn't have the sense to NOT pour water while reaching over your food, and the food comes out cold. I should've tipped less.
(2)
Charlotte B.
Sunda's got a lot going on... but I'm not sure it all comes together. The space and the food definitely have a case of ADD. This would all be fine, expect the prices are pretty high and the food is just ok. I probably won't go back.
(2)
Benita T.
Our family finds Sunda to be one of our favorite places. The atmosphere is wonderful, the sushi is great and the cocktails are fantastic. Even the Moschi ice cream was good and I had my doubts. The mimosa kits are a definite. Homemade juice purees make you feel like you're drinking something heatlhty!!! On our most recent visit our server was great - friendly, smart and helpful. She made several great recommendations and took great care of us without spending too much time at our table. We really love this place.
(5)
Vivian B.
Food was great. Especially the kobe beef. It is expensive and a bit pretentious but the food was great. The tuna sashimi I had melted in my mouth. I would recommend reservations as it gets pretty crowded. Overall delicious!
(5)
J W.
Sunda is typically a place that I avoid because it's ultra-trendy and awash with VIPs, but I was really pleasantly surprised. The food was solidly good. A few dishes were stand-outs, like the brussel sprout salad which was excellent (and I don't even like brussel sprouts that much!). The pork belly dish was quite good as well. Cocktails are interesting and pack a punch. Service was good natured and attentive despite the huge crowd in there. It was very loud as other reviewers have said, but overall, I'd certainly recommend it.
(4)
SeaChi N.
Came here with a big group. Place is great for large groups. Waitress was accommodating and helpful. We let her order for our table. The waitress kept raving about the James Beard winning fish the chef was known for... Our table thought there were better dishes. Overall the food was good but not great.
(3)
Leng H.
We came here after my best friend recommended it for my birthday. Everything was great while we were there. It wasn't until the next day that my husband started feeling very ill. I also had a stomachache but he had the whole nine yards if you know what i mean. My sister works for the FDA so we reported this incident to prevent other people from getting sick. Please do not be fooled by their "delicious" food/service/atmosphere, etc...
(1)
Andrew S.
I went to Sunda for dinner on a Friday night with a group of 4, and we had a great night. Our reservation (which we made online through OpenTable) was for 10:30pm... it was all that was available and we thought it was going to be a bit late, but it proved to be the right call. The restaurant was very busy, but the service wasn't compromised. The food was delicious (Rock Shrimp was the highlight) and the vibe was great. All-in-all, a great start to the night and something I've already recommended to friends who are going to be visiting Chicago. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Derek C.
we've been here a few times and have loved it every time. the food and drink is great and the service is excellent. what makes it even better is that you can order items that aren't on their menu. apparently the chef is filipino so you can order things such as seesig (not sure if I'm spelling it right) and they can make it for you!
(5)
Matt F.
I went to this place after learning of the chef on the Travel Channel. The food was really good, but also really expensive. Their Shishito pepper appetizer was very delicious. I had never had that type of pepper before, but I will definitely be getting it every time I go back.
(4)
Ke M.
Surprisingly varied menu with influence from a few different Asian cultures. I think the experience at the restaurant varies based on what you order (then menu could be a bit hit or miss). I think I'd like it even more if I go back again and have a game plan on what to order. The sushi is high quality and we really enjoyed the pancit. The drinks were good, too. All in all, a unique experience.
(4)
Noopur L.
I've been to Sunda several times and my favorite is to just sit at the bar on a week night before 7 pm and order HALF-PRICED appetizers/sushi and the drink special. This is such a steal! You can order quite a few plates and split amongst a few others and feel full enough not to have to sit down for dinner! My favorites are: - Toast and Jam - a wonderful version of shrimp toast...I can never seem to get enough! - Rock Shrimp Tempura - two orders for the table please...so tasty! - Chicken and Mushroom Siu Mai Seriously... if you're planning to go to Sunda, skip the reservation and find a nice spot at the bar/lounge area. You'll save yourself a lot of money!
(4)
Mo S.
I didn't even get to eat anything. I sat at the sushi bar waiting 25 minutes and still no waiter showed up, even after asking several times. So u went to the Japanese restaurant across the street where I had an amazing experience. I am a food snob, but the staff in this place seem to be all super snobs.
(1)
Rachel R.
I hosted clients at Sunda for a business dinner on May 6th. All I can say is WOW. The food and the service in this place is impeccable. We asked our waiter, James, to keep bringing out their best dishes until everyone had had enough. He also made sure no one's wine dipped below half a glass. He was amazing, the rest of the staff was amazing, the bathrooms were amazing..I just can't say enough good things. This will definitely be a go-to the next time I'm in Chicago- I can't wait!
(5)
Selena L.
While the ambience and decor are great, the food was simply underwhelming. The best thing we ordered was the Sunda Rainbow roll and that was average at best. We also ordered: Lemongrass Beef Lollipops, Longevity Garlic Crab Noodles, Summer Garden, Scorpion roll, and the green tea donuts. The noodles were insanely salty! I imagine I would have enjoyed it otherwise. All-in-all a disappointing experience. I simply would not recommend Sunda.
(1)
Tim N.
I really enjoyed Sunda. The service was excellent. The menu is very large and varied so it helped our server explained everything and how it was served. The drinks were good and the food was very good but not excellent. However, the prices are expensive. Therefore, 4 stars. I would go back.
(4)
Dalia M.
They have pan-fried rice topped with spicy tuna. I could eat this all night long! We had cocktails before sitting down - a yummy, saketini concoction. We waited for our table a few minutes past our reservation and then we were seated. Johnny was nice, attentive and patient with us two silly girls. Along with the tuna, we had the steamed buns with the pork belly, salmon skin roll and spicy edamame. Washed this all down with a bottle of sake. I was obsessed with the decanter he used for our sake. It's a trendy, city hotspot with attractive people, loud music and dim lighting. Fun spot to hit before a night out!
(4)
Saji P.
Nothing bad. But nothing really good either. For the money you're plunkin down, you'd like to have food that is memorable in a good way. Menu descriptions were really enticing. Flavor of the dishes just didn't deliver and live up to it. I wish it were better.
(2)
Sean F.
By far the best filet mignon I've ever had in my life. The service was also really good, and they are very quick to refill drinks. Would definitely recommend!!
(5)
Symone H.
I ate at Sunda this past weekend with my family. It was quite delicious! Lee really enjoyed the Crazy Rice and Drunken Noodles. The restaurant was packed but I imagine that Chicagoans cannot pass up this place! I did have some difficulty making a reservation though. I had to call three times and was placed on hold at one point for 15 minutes. However, my experience at Sunda was worth the difficulty.
(4)
Greg S.
Great sushi, and nice atmosphere. Server, Allison, was friendly and upbeat. Would have like the music turned up a little as there is a lot of crowd noise, so you really could not here the music except in the stairwell.
(5)
Sejal P.
Went to Sunda with group of 14 for my birthday celebration and it was amazing. Excellent tasty food - we had sushi and some Asian noodles. No doubt shrimp tempura was best and dragon rolls. I would come again, just a little $$$ so not as often.
My friends and I were in town for a birthday celebration and had high expectations for Sunda! However, we left a tad underwhelmed. The restaurant is low-lit, trendy, and modern. But the service and food left something to be desired. Food: We got a bunch of small plates to share... so maybe our mistake was not going for any of the main dishes, but nothing we ate was super memorable or amazing. The ones I can remember are: - Steamed duck buns: This was probably the best dish I tried. Loved the traditional Chinese duck/hoisin flavors. The bun was perfectly soft and warm. - Lemongrass beef lollipops: thin sliced steak wrapped around a stick. Not memorable. - Tofu pad thai: Very good. One of the better pad thai dishes I've had in a long time! - Lobster and wagyu sushi roll: Good roll, but not outstanding as you'd expect the ingredients to reflect. And at $23, not worth it frankly. The service was rather annoying... we told our waitress at least 5 times that it was our friend's birthday, expecting her to come out with a small dessert/candle. Yet every time we reminded her, she'd come back and ask if we were ordering dessert or needed anything else, almost like she'd forgotten again. It ruined the surprise and the birthday girl caught on fast that we were asking for a special birthday dessert for her. No bueno. Overall, nice ambiance, decent food with plenty of variety and options, but underwhelming.
(3)
Reg W.
Came here with a friend I haven't seen in a while. We were underwhelmed. First, there is no waiting area. Second, moment you walk in, the noise volume hits you in the face like no other. We couldn't barely have a conversation. We're here to dine, not to be in a club. Third, I ordered the salmon and it was overly salty. It could have came with a bowl of rice if they intended it to so salty. Gross. My friend had the pad thai and it was okay. The tofu in it tasted like plastic. The coating they had on the tofu was unnecessary. Forth, it is way overpriced. I would go elsewhere.
(2)
Tony D.
Food was great, but I'm not familiar enough with Sake to tell you if it was good or bad. That being the case, next time I'm going with a mixed drink instead of drinking in straight. Rolls were a little pricey, but really good. Red Dragon was the table favorite. Tiger shrimp appetizer was big enough for 3 people to share. The brussel spout salad was also great. By far the star was the crab pasta dish...simple and excellent. Also had the green tea donuts...not a fan. We were so pleased with the meal, the dessert just weighed us down. They were doughy and heavy. I suggest you resist the urge for dessert.
(4)
Alice T.
I normally don't feel the need to review places outside of Seattle, but I made myself write a review for Sunda (even though it has been a few months now) so that I can share my love for Sunda's brussels sprouts salad. We had a few dishes (one noodle mushroom dish, uni nigiri, maybe another thing), but this by far stands out as one of the most memorable dishes I've had in my life, and that's not hyperbole folks! The brussel sprouts salad was prepared such that many of the "leaves" of the sprouts were freely floating (they were no longer attached to the stem), which made the dish light and airy. What tied it all together was the dressing, so flavorful with sweetness and acidity that worked delightfully. If you like brussels sprouts, this is a dish you CANNOT miss. The other dishes were well prepared (but you know which dish was my favorite), the ambience was hip and new, and the service was friendly and attentive; what you would expect of a restaurant that looks the way it does with the price points they offer. It was all on par with my expectations, except the brussels sprouts salad blew me away (if that wasn't obvious).
(4)
Jenny D.
Sunda was well worth treking half a mile in the cold, windy city for dinner. I had their lobster roll with wagyu beef on top plus garlic noodles with crab, and end the meal with their delicious Sunda sundae. I cannot eat a whole piece of sushi in one bite, so I took half a bite, and real lobster fell down to the plate. Scooped that up real quick with my chopsticks, and nom nom. I appreciate that they didn't put the imitation stuff and call it lobster roll. It is brilliant to put the best of land and best of sea meat in a roll. Garlic noodles dish has plenty of crab in it. That is one thing I love about the east coast, you can get actually real crab meat in abundance. The garlic noodles was a little wet and not enough seasoning for me. I had to add soy sauce to it. Personally, I prefer garlic noodles at Anqi in Costa Mesa or Crustaceans in Beverly Hills. Sunda sundae, which is their version of Philippino halo malo is out of this world. I never had avocado ice cream before. So many flavors to enjoy. It nicely rounded up my dinner in Chicago.
(4)
Susie C.
Reservation for brunch here for a Saturday = easy. I had brunch here with a friend on Saturday at noon. It wasn't crowded so seating was easy. This is a cute and hip restaurant in downtown- I enjoy the atmosphere. Our waiter was nice. I was meeting my pen pal for the first time here so we stayed for awhile to chat. The restaurant started to become crowded around 130pm which I was very surprised. For our entree I ordered the smoked salmon crab cake benedict. It was DELICIOUS! I was craving it hours after eating it. It only came with one benedict and a side of salad.. It was a bit expensive but the taste was worth it! I wished I ordered one to take home. My pen pal ordered the crab noodles which he enjoyed as well. My 5 star rating is only limited to brunch..but I definitely will come back to try out the dinner menu (if I can get reservations since I hear it is very busy for dinners). I really like this restaurant so far!
(5)
Jennifer C.
I went her last week for my stepdaughter's birthday and we had a lot of fun. To drink I had the blackberry limeade which was a delicious alcoholic beverage. We got the red dragon roll with more shrimp tempura on top instead of tuna and that was delicious. My husband got the duck for an entree and I got the short ribs they were both ok. Overall I would go back for drinks, sushi, and apps. Those are really good, but I would skip the traditional entrees.
(4)
Tiffinie F.
This was one of the most amazing times I've had in a long time. We went in a group of 6 friends. Food was great! Our waiter Johnny was attentive and sweet. Eduardo kept our table flowing too! We sat at the Chef's table an tried some amazing dishes. The brussel sprouts salad was great. Nigiri plate was fresh! I had so many things I didn't know the exact names of as the chef brought them to our table however I can't say I had anything I didn't like.
(5)
Alana W.
Our server Wendy was a delight. She was very knowledgeable with our food choices and drinks. She made our experience better then what we expected. She recommended the tiger shrimp, spicy crispy tuna rice, and waygu roll and by far exceeded our expectation. We will back for the great service, food, and drinks.
(5)
Isaac S.
We were lucky to get a reservation for Sunda on the Sunday (haha) after Valentines Day. We started with the Kalbi Wraps, which were unbelievable. The roti went perfectly with the Kalbi. This first dish gets a 4.5/5. I ordered the NY Strip Steak and my girlfriend ordered the duck fried rice. The steak was ordered medium and it was just perfect. Not many other adjectives to use for it. The accompanying dipping sauce was a great marriage as well. 5/5. The duck fried rice was very good, but not a standout. I recommend ordering this as a shared dish and not a solo entree. This dish gets. 4/5. Come to Sunda. You will not regret it.
(5)
Aaron L.
4* Beef Lo Mien 3* Lemongrass Beef Lollipops 3.5* Rock Shrimp Tempura 4* Miso Soup with Oxtails 2* Summer of Sunda Roll 3.5* Number Nine Roll
(3)
Marisa T.
Discovered this little gem while in the need for sushi. This place was perfect. The decor is beautiful! My friend and I were dressed casually; however you can also dress to the nines and not feel out of place. It was quite pricey...definitely a place you would go for a special occasion. However, I cannot wait to be able to go again!
(5)
Naz G.
can we please talk about the Brussell Sprouts salad...to die for! Being that i'm from LA where you have amazing sushi restaurants everywhere, i must say i was disappointed with chicago's sushi selection..just not enough great sushi spots. Glad to say Sunday is among my top 2 favorite sushi restaurants out here...im here too often.
(4)
Sam H.
The food was great the service was excellent but also was ridiculously expensive I would think twice if you live on a budget.
(4)
Rosa W.
Our server was impeccable along with the guy helping her serve and clear the table. We were here for my boyfriend's 30th birthday with his best friend who flew in, his siblings, and parents who are the very traditional type that rarely eats out at a restaurant and if they do, it's usually a causal place. The sisters wanted a new place to try so I was the one who picked this place, thinking it would be something the parents and everyone else could enjoy. Sushi was okay- I could prob get sushi anywhere like that for half the price. I did enjoy the lemongrass lollipops (something diff that you don't usually see), very moist and the dipping sauce was a great accompaniment. We ordered two of everything - tiger shrimp tempura (I think I ate more walnuts than anything, but the sauce was good, not too sweet as some are), bbq grilled kimchi octopus (flavorful, nice charred taste), coconut sea bass (great fish, coconut juice wasn't as flavorful as I thought), adobo braised pork belly (very tender and this was the dad's favorite), smoked salmon rice crisp (just typical, not something I would recommend, no pizazz about it), steamed buns, pork belly & duck (a lot of sauce, not enough meat), drunken noodles, crazy rice, and pork adobo rice (all were great, esp the crazy rice since it had the lobster - fried egg on both those rice dishes was perfect). There may have been a few more dishes, but I cannot recall now..we ordered a lot! A few of us also ordered miso soup, I did not but the mom said it was so salty and kept pouring water in everyone's soup. I just thought maybe she was over-exaggerating but I got a spoon full of my boyfriend's and it already had the extra water and I have to admit - that thing was suuuuper salty! I'm not sure what happened with their soup. On to the cake, that I picked up at a Greek bakery. As soon as we walked in and the hostess greeted me, she saw me with the cake box and told me off the bat that there's a cake cutting/serving fee of $3/person. I do appreciate the fact she told me upfront but I obviously couldn't decline and run the cake back to the car (since this was clearly a b-day dinner). At the end of our face stuffing feast, the server brought the white choc mousse with raspberry and choc cake out with candles that I brought and then she took it back to get it cut and we waited over 15 mins for it be brought back out. We were all getting antsy and kept wondering what happened to the cake. Both the server and her guy helping kept wondering where our cakes were bc they looked over at our empty and cleared out table and we looked at them for the cakes and then they kept looking back towards the kitchen.. So then our server finally runs back and she came out and told me there was misunderstanding from the kitchen and they were waiting for her to go back there but she told them to go ahead and bring it. She then apologized for the wait and said they would only charge the cutting fee for half of the people. Keep in mind, we had 10 people in the party - 9 adults and a 3 yr-old who waited so long for the cake, she actually passed out in her mother's arms by the time cake slices came out. So we were charged $15 instead of the $30 to cut the cake. I do think it was a bit absurd, but at the same time I can understand something like this. They did however, take the fruit off the top and placed it on the slices that were served, so that shows that actually put some effort and justice in the cake cutting/serving fee. In the end, they also gave my boyfriend a $10 GC as a bday gift - nice gesture! To conclude, positive vibes to the server and her helper and how tentative they were with clearing out the table and drink needs. Some food was mediocre, salty, and some were superb. I just know what to order and not to order for any future visits if any.
(3)
Leang E.
Another spot on my list that I got to cross off, and this time I'm glad I waited. I brought my friend here for a birthday lunch on Saturday and it felt like we got the whole place to ourselves. We had kick started everything with the Mimosa Kit, and went to town trying all the different juice combinations. We ordered up the Bi Bim Bop, Sweet Potato Caterpillar, and the Firecracker. My friend actually spotted the sous chef, Rijay, and knew him from high school and so he came over and I got to meet him. He told us about what he'd been up to and what the restaurant is like on the evenings and other days. He served us up the Signature Crispy Rice dish in addition to very refreshing sake drink. This was on top of our already fabulous meal. This Signature dish was pretty amazing and nothing like I've had before, such a small change but a huge difference. My friend and I couldn't stop talking about having to come back, especially at night with a different ambiance.
(5)
Stephanie G.
Very cool atmosphere. My husband and I had dinner here on a busy Saturday night. The following are the items that we had, which were all soooooo very good: Tail of Two Tunas (a must!) Chicken Pad Thai (some of the best in town) Adobo Braised Pork Belly Chilean Seabass Pineapple Cake We shared everything. There was a ton of food. Our server was attentive and was great at explaining the dishes and making suggestions. We were staying at the Hampton Inn hotel on illinois, and this place was very close and within walking distance. So glade we chose Sunda for dinner!
(5)
Chris W.
INCREDIBLE. Come hungry. The menu is amazing. I'm going eat myself into a food induced coma. There's so much to choose from. As I write this, I've only finished my appetizer. The atmosphere is amazing. Place is packed and for good reason. Sat at the bar (which is full service). They have a great list of original cocktails. The bartenders are mixologists here. Try the Sunda Old Fashioned if you're into bourbon. I had the shiitake dim sum. I inhaled it. The crispy brussel sprouts come highly recommended. There is so much to choose from. Did I say that already? I followed it up with the Lobster/Wagyu Sushi roll. OMG!! Seriously. It's the most amazing thing I've tasted. The Escolar was a 2-piece, delightful and most unique sushi I've ever tasted. I'm now running it back with the Crunchy Pig / Hidden Lobster roll due to the peer pressure of the person sitting next to me. It put me over the edge. Thanks to Dom behind the bar. He really knows customer service. I can't wait to come back again.
(5)
R B.
My favorite restaurant in Chicago!!!! The food is consistently good! I know I will never be disappointed when I am going there to eat! I love the vibe, it gets really loud in there but that kind of adds character to the restaurant! They have amazing cocktails and what stands out most of all is that their service is excellent!!!!! The staff at the door and the servers are all polite and friendly ! This restaurant has class without compromising on service ! I know how a lot of places have these pretentious people working for them! Not this place!
(5)
Jason N.
Got this as a recommendation from the Concierge desk at the hotel I was staying at and decided to give it a try. Was able to walk in and sit at the bar with full dinner menu available. There are also small tables at the end of the bar that would allow a small group to sit and eat. The staff at the restaurant and bar were great. They were helpful, fast, and attentive. Much better than most places with dinner service at the bar. However, while the service was great I was a little disappointed on the food. I went with the seared duck great with the kimchee drizzle. The duck was well cooked, the sear created a good crust with retaining a juicy interior. The kimchee drizzle was ok but nothing specie or outstanding. As a side note since the kimchee is water based and duck fatty there is a fair amount of spatter from the hot plate it is served on, white clothes beware. The foie gras was creamy and well made, but not super rich. The nigiri was okay. I went with a few of my common choices that I use to judge sushi service. Tako was firm but not chewy, well done. The maguro, uni, and sake was fairly standard, nothing special either good or bad. The ikura was firm with a good amount of salt and rich flavor. Rice was average with a su that was fairly midline. The saba was slightly mealy and tasted more of vinegar rather than of the mackerel. Overall the duck was a good serving and well cooked but nothing special. The sushi was hit and miss, the ikura was well done, others average. The price was higher than what I would expect given the quality of the food. The service was excellent, but I would not return for the price and the food.
(3)
Emily J.
I've been to Sunda on a few occasions for work. The owner of Rockit Ranch Productions (which Sunda is part of) is also a board member for the organization I work for, the American Liver Foundation Great Lakes Division. Every time I've been to Sunda so far, I've been for a board meeting and eaten in their private upstairs room. The private upstairs room can comfortably seat 40 people yet it's still comforting and inviting. I'm sure you could fit more. There's a bar in the corner and usually one or two staff members work it during our meetings. They are always super cool and very attentive people. I've never met a staff member at Sunda that I didn't really like. There's a flat screen on one end of the room which is perfect for sharing presentations or videos. The space is great for any meeting - it's secluded so there's no lingering noise creeping up from the downstairs dining room. Now on to the fun part....the food! As we go for board meetings, they usually serve us a prix fixe menu of sorts in a family dinner setting. We're all just passing around dishes and serving ourselves. The table service sets the perfect tone for the meeting as it's closed-door. That said, we have the best board members so doing a family style anything doesn't feel odd in the least. It makes for a great and intimate setting. On to my favorite menu items.... - lemongrass beef lollipops - brussel sprout salad - any sushi they put in front of me (I am never the one to choose the menu if the staff get the opportunity. Thank God, I have colleagues who enjoy good food as much - or more - than I do!) To be honest, I've never really noticed the main dining room as I'm always just walking through to get to the private upstairs room or to leave after the meeting. I've only ever really noticed how crowded it gets between when I enter the restaurant and when I leave. Obviously, it's that good!
(5)
Danielle J.
Best sushi EVER!!!!! Super cool atmosphere with great food. The spicy edamame is a must try!!! Got in pretty quickly even though they were very busy. Highly recommend and wish I could go back!!
(5)
Jamar T.
Sunda is probably my favorite place to eat in Chicago and I will miss it! The food and drinks always consistently good. The service is fantastic and I really enjoy the environment overall. My most recent visit here was with a large group of friends for my farewell dinner. I called and reserved seating ahead of time and we were seated at the chefs table. I don't remember our servers name but he was awesome and very attentive for such a large group. The head chef also came over to introduce himself and brought special appetizers for the table which was really nice. It was a really great experience! Sunda really has their business figured out and left a lasting impression on me. I will continue to recommend them to everyone I know visiting Chicago!
(5)
Kat R.
I made reservations for nine WELL in advance (January) and the service we received regarding our reservation was ridiculous. At 9, the rest of the party was running a little late and we were informed that we would be seated as soon as half of the party arrived. At 9:05, six people had arrived and we approached the hostess to inform her that half the party was here-- she bluntly informed us that she was now refusing to seat us because she had just given our table away. When she was questioned regarding her statement that she'd be seating us as soon as half the party arrived just five minutes ago, she shrugged her shoulders dismissively. Unacceptable. Do not say one thing and do another, especially when it's only been five minutes since our reservation time. We were forced to wait one hour for a table, and multiple times the hostess would point at random tables and say 'just wait until they get up, then we'll seat you'. Yeah, none of those tables were going anywhere anytime soon. Once we were seated, service was slow. Our waiter was barely there-- we received better service from the bussers. The food was excellent; the crispy rice with tuna and jalapeño were amazing, as were the firecracker rolls and edamame. However, the rude service regarding our reservation and unapologetic attitudes (they didn't care that they made us late for our next reservation) are keeping me from ever booking with them or returning to their restaurant, especially for the money we spent there. One star for the food, that's it.
(1)
Rajmohan R.
Great food great ambience !! If you wish to try authentic Asian food this is the right place . Having said that the price is bit on the higher range but it's worth for the food they come up with ...
(4)
Vaibhav V.
While this restaurant boasts an amazing vibe and a perfect date setting, we go to restaurants for the food -- and the food definitely falls short. Expect overpriced, small portions (even relative to other fancy restaurants). Shiitake Edamame Dumplings (5): 4/5 -- This was a pretty solid choice. Pretty flavorful, and the accompanied sauce was excellent. Crazy Rice: 2.5/5 -- The crazy rice wasn't crazy enough. The dish combines lobster, crab, and chicken in an flavorless manner. You would think they would add more spices to this dish or something. Red Dragon: 2.5/5 -- Again, not the best sushi in the world. If I pay $20 for a roll of shrimp tempura, I expect a wow factor and warmth (I mean tempura means fried after all). Unfortunately, I got neither. If you want incredible sushi at good prices, there are many other places (I'm thinking of you, Kai Sushi). Definitely won't be here again.
(3)
Gaby G.
A last minute choice on a Sunday night. We were not disappointed! The mushroom salad was absolutely amazing! Hearty and filling. We had the sweet potato roll and the "tale of two tunas" roll and they were both perfectly crafted with a clean yet flavorful finish. The Thai ice cream desert was well worth the hefty price tag (grape ice cream was to die for!). I will definitely be back to try other specialty sushi, nigriti and futomaki...
Great lunch option too - not as loud as dinner time. Have a full gluten free menu with many many options! Awesome sushi!
(4)
Chi N.
I got the signature crispy rice with tuna and kalbi wraps. The crispy rice was good, though not amazing. However, the combination of kalbi on roti bread in the kalbi wraps was bomb, beautiful and delicious. Asian fusion never disappoints me. 4 stars because it's a bit pricey for the portion
(4)
Anthony M.
SCENE & BE SEEN This is one of the cool places in Chicago. Reservations are highly recommended unless you want to try your luck & just show up. When you first walk in you immediately notice the decor and it looks rustic elegant. The hostess station is under this giant circle light which I thought was really unique. As we were taken to our table, we walked by the beautiful sushi bar. The sushi chefs were prepping for a big night & all of the fresh fish looked amazing. The sushi bar looks like it would be a fun place to eat at. I love to be where all the action is in a restaurant, so maybe next time. Our table was a cute small round table perfect for the day after Valentine's. Our waiter Michael came over & gave us a quick overview about the concept. He mentioned that the dishes were smaller like tapas & meant for sharing. This was great advice & we decided to order with that in mind. I must take a moment to point out the service. Our waiter Michael was fantastic. He was the highlight of our dinner. His knowledge of every menu item was simply amazing. He not only displays this professionalism with our table but with all of the tables around us. It was fun to listen to his flawless descriptions. Not once did he stutter or stop to think about what to say. They are very lucky to have a dedicated waiter who showcases their dishes extremely well. I MUST say thank you to Victor who kept our table clean, water glasses full & napkins folded. Victor is a gem. He politely asked if we were finished with our dishes before ever making a move to grab them. He also refolded the cloth napkins if you got up to go to the bathroom. That is so old school. After returning from the bathroom, I looked at my wife and said, "What happen to my napkin?" And she informed me how Victor came over to fold it. He mentioned to my wife, "It just looks better!" Thanks Victor! It is this type of service you pay for and expect from any fine dinning restaurant. Michael & Victor made our experience amazing here and should be the model for every restaurant to copy. Prior to coming here I checked out the menu & read other reviews. I also sent out an email asking for advice and the one item that kept coming up was the Rock Shrimp Tempura. I must say it was delicious. There was plenty of shrimp & they were really tasty. It was probably the freshest tasting shrimp I have had in a while. I really loved the creamy honey aioli. It wasn't over powering but just the perfect amount of creamy sweetness. The dish worked on so many levels including the candied walnuts. Next we wanted to go with some sushi. This was a task because the sushi list is quite extensive & unique. We kept running our choices by Michael. He was completely honest with us, which I love in a waiter. We finally decided on the "Spicy"Tail of Two" Tunas". The roll has Yellowfin with pickled jalepeno, escolar, fried shallots on top and a spicy mayo. We love stuff extremely spicy so we requested to have extra jalepeno added in. The chef added it but he removed the veins and seeds where all of the heat is located. That was a little of a let down but we will survive. I loved the suggestion from our waiter Michael. He told me about wrapping the sushi in soy paper and not seaweed and I loved it. I'm a huge fan of soy paper now. I loved the pace of our dinner. We were never rushed to put our order in. We kept one of our menus and kind of decided where to go after eating our prior dish. This made for an enjoyable dinner. I hate when a table gets slammed with a bunch of dishes. It's hard to enjoy and appreciate each dish. Since we had been doing all surf we decided to hit the turf. Another highly recommend dish was the lemongrass beef lollipops. It is NY strip beef that is wrapped in lemongrass with a ginger citrus sweet glaze. The steak was very tender with a dipping sauce I enjoyed. I must talk about the presentation of the food. Every dish was laid out like a piece of art. I did snap some photos but the lighting wasn't the best. So hopefully you'll have a chance to enjoy them. At this point we were completely stuffed but highly encouraged to get dessert. We went with the "Ridiculous" which is vanilla ice cream wrapped with ginger carrot cake tempura. It's deep fried, then topped with walnuts & carmel sauce. It was the star of the show for us. It was the most delicious amusement park dessert ever and I say that with great respect for the dish. It was everything we anticipated but more. The smell & taste were complete perfection. I would stop in the lounge here just to have this to end my night & I'm not a dessert person. It's the perfect spot for a date night or group dinner. It's a place that's cooler then you & still let's you hang out. It's a place to be seen and Scene!
(5)
Monica B.
I've been here several times, but recently came back with a big group of friends. The scene is trendy and the people are beautiful. Lighting is dim and music is loud, but not too loud where you can't hear each other and hold a conversation. We had a 9pm reservation on Saturday for 9 of us, and were seated 20 minutes early at a great long table in the middle of the restaurant. Our server was great (forgot his name)! We started with cocktails and I absolutely loved my Lychee Luxury Drop. Combined with St. Germaine and lemon juice, it wasn't extremely sweet, just how I like my drinks. The hint of wasabi was great, although, one of my friends wasn't a fan. We shared a ton of dishes: Oxtail Pot Stickers, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Garlic Crab Noodles, Stuffed Avocado, Yellowtail Jalapeno, Spicy Tail of Two Tunas, Red Dragon, Firecracker, The Number Ten and several others that I don't remember. Everything was delicious and perfect for sharing. We even ended our meal with a couple desserts: the ridiculous and the coconut sorbet. I'll keep coming back!
(4)
Bryan B.
-Even if you think that you don't like brussel sprouts, order the brussel sprout salad. They're shredded and it will definitely be a one-of-a-kind experience. -Very cool look and feel to restaurant, as well. -The sushi is solid -Bad acoustics
(4)
Joe L.
Great food. Not great service. Ordered Steamed Pork Buns and then the BBQ rib bento box for lunch. Buns never came and the server didn't even apologize about it when she dropped off my Bento Box. She then didn't come back to check on me till I was almost done eating. The ribs were great, and it may just be bad luck on my service experience, but it's true that good service can make up for sub par food and not the other way around. Cause I am leaving feeling not very taken care of (which is the point of dining out as opposed to cooking good food at home.)
(3)
Tyler L.
Absolutely amazing. The drinks make it a little expensive but otherwise one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Highly recommended
(5)
A K.
I had high hopes for this restaurant but in the end was unimpressed. Based on other reviews and the crowd, one would think the food was spectacular. I felt it was just so-so. My wife would have given it four stars. And our waitress would receive 5 stars because she was attentive and friendly. We started with the fried brussel sprout salad. The flavors were just ok, not great. We followed with the duck dumplings. They were not at all what we expected. It was essentially a roast duck sandwich with fluffy breading. The breading overwhelms the flavor of the duck. I ate the duck by itself. We then had the seabass in a coconut curry broth. It was served tepid and the flavors were just ok. Finally we had a dessert that was the strawberry rhubarb cobbler. It was not tart enough to taste the rhubarb. If the place were a 1/3 less expensive, I would have enjoyed it just a tad more. But earlier in the day we had a Vietnamese meal in Chinatown and four dishes left us extremely full and very happy for the price of $21. Our meal at Sunda cost us 5 times that and about half as happy.
(3)
Simeen A.
Eh... it was ok. Came here on a recommendation. For starters, we had a reservation and the table wasn't ready. That's fine, but points off for the snooty front of house staff. I asked about our table, and the hostess said, your table isn't ready yet... and then she turned away. No suggestion to go to the bar, no apology- and FYI there's no place to sit in the restaurant by the hostess stand so we just stood around. When I checked back in again 15 minutes later, she said, the party at your table hasn't left yet, and "we can't make people leave." WTF! Yes, I realize that, thanks. No need to be obnoxious. Anyway so we finally were seated eventually, and we had a nice server. Food was good but I thought very expensive for portion size- even the mains were teeeeeny tiny. We ordered a bunch of food (because that's how much it took to fill up two adults!) and the bill with tip was over $200. With zero alcohol. I would rather take that money and go somewhere better. Anyway the food was tasty but I probably wouldn't return when there are so many other better places in the city.
(3)
Maxie H.
We came here for dinner on a weekday, and it was jammed packed. This modern restaurant puts a delightful spin on asian american dishes. We ordered the Bang Bang and Crispy Brussels Sprouts to start. Each salad was impeccable and large enough to split between 3-4 people. I highly recommend both as an option for salad. The Tiger Shrimp Tempura is their version of Walnut Shrimp, and it's amazing. We also ordered a side of salmon sashimi, and it was super fresh. Hands down, one of the best sashimis I've ever had. For our main entree, we had the Malay Style Chilean SeaBass, and it was cooked to perfection. We couldn't leave this restaurant without dessert, so we ordered the Sunda Sundae and the Ridiculous. The Ridiculous is exactly how I would describe this dessert. I can't wait to come back to this restaurant again! Not only was the food wonderful, the service was great!
(5)
Minjee Y.
The food here tastes phenomenal. But I am a new grad RN student who is broke as hell so the price range here for drinks and food is no bueno... I would definitely come back if I wanted a fancy dinner. I believe this place is more family style/tapa style. The tables are all very small, but then again the dishes are as well. The only thing I remember having that was very good here was their duck dish and some of their sushi. The lychee martini I got from the bar was really good! P.S. I came in with a large group of friends. Over 20 of us. That was probably not the best idea. so I would advise that this is not a good place to come with a group of more than 6-8 people.
(4)
Melissa H.
The ambiance is really fun and trendy. Overall the food is great! It is a bit on the pricey side and very few sushi options however all in all greats drinks, good food and fun crowd
(4)
Lindsay M.
I'm late to the party on trying this place, and perhaps that is my downfall b/c it seems many of my fellow Yelpers have rated this place much differently. Living in LA for a few years, I worked at one of the top sushi/asian restaurants in the city... I would like to say that I have a pretty solid pallet for asian food and know a high-quality meal from a mediocre one. That being said, this was very middle of the road for me and man, am I disappointed. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday - made the reservation ahead of time and told them it was my big 3-0... I mean.. 2-1. We arrived on time and had to wait - our table wasn't quite ready, no biggie. The menu is pretty huge... and we took total advantage of this ordering a few different dishes from every section - hey, it's my bday we going all out, san! Before I dive into the dishes here, I'll say that our server was OK. Friendly enough, attentive, etc. However, it was a little disappointing that he didn't look at the reservation notes or say anything about my special day as the server next to us did for their table. Guess I am not as special as that person. Now, for the food - we started off with a salad, the BANG! BANG!, which was actually one of the highlights of our meal- and that never happens and I'm not sure it should... I appreciate the quality of the greens - but the other food should have trumped the salad.. I mean c'mon! What I was most excited for out of the many dishes, was the spicy tuna on crispy rice and the sea bass - I FREAKING LOVE SEA BASS. And sadly, these were my least two favorite dishes of the meal. I have seen people ranting and raving over the crispy rice on Yelp, and I want to know - were you all drunk? This was the most disappointing crispy rice I have ever had. It lacked in flavor and when you say crispy rice - then it should be CRISPY rice, not a soggy, tasteless blob. Wah. I'm still sad over this. The MALAY-STYLE CHILEAN SEABASS, which costs you $35 freaking bucks, was sadly seasoned and overall underwhelming. The curried cauliflower puree definitely over shadowed the fish. None of the rolls were anything to write home about - flavors didn't always work well together and they really lacked in having that burst of flavor you wish to get when you bite into a roll. The wagyu beef is not true Japaneese wagyu beef, it's the American's sad version of it. Don't pay that kind of money unless you're getting the real thing... you dig? Before I leave you with only negativity here, let me tell you that there were two dishes that stood out from the rest - those being the tatakis. The SALMON TATAKI and the BLACK TRUFFLE TUNA TATAKI were definitely delish. If I was to return- I would steer down that route for the majority of my dishes again. Over all - I feel like I wasted a decent amount of money on dishes that were not worth it - such a let down.
(3)
Kelly K.
Awesome experience all around! I was here for the first time last week with two of my friends. Richard was great, greeted us at the host stand and walked us over to a really nice table. He chatted with us for a little bit to explain the popular menu items....the Brussel sprout salad was delicious. Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Jackie M.
I came in for sunday brunch and the menu is different then the regular weekday lunch. I had a great time and attentive service. The braised pork belly with crispy patty of rice was good. The pork was tender but bit too salty. I rcmd eating together with the crispy rice. The soft shell crab benedict was good but Nothing special. The salad that came with the brunch was delightful and it was spicy. The salad portion was very generous. The steam bun with duck and pork belly was very enjoyable and came with 4 bun per order. The bun was soft and the meat was tender. Lastly, the sunda sundae was amazing. It came with 3 small scoops (2 inches diameter) of ice cream which was the perfect portion for 2 girls. It was avocado, ube (taro),and sweet corn/cheddar ice cream which the flavor was light. Ice cream was complimented with coconut jelly, red mung beans, jackfruit, and bottom was slush that taste like passionfruit. Had a great time and will return for sunday brunch.
(4)
Srishti K.
I went to Sunda for lunch with a coworker, and it was solid experience -- APPETIZERS/DRINKS - Spicy Edamame: This is so good! And, it is not for the faint hearted. They spice the edamame to perfection. Definitely a must have. - Watermelon Juice: For some reason, I just wanted a more natural drink. The watermelon juice was absolutely refreshing ENTREES - Chicken Pad Thai: Some of the best Pad Thai I have ever had. I had pad thai that is dry and this place did not disappoint. The pad thai was saucy and the chicken was soft. - Veggie Q rolls: These weren't bad, but they also weren't good. I would give these a pass. SERVICE Sunda has outstanding service. The waiters constantly check on you, and there is little lag in service time. Tips/Comments: + Pretty busy, so make sure you get a reservation + Order the Spicy Edamame + I noticed that they have different lunch/dinner menus. Their dinner menu is much more expansive, so if I went back, I'd opt for dinner over lunch.
(4)
Elizabeth C.
AMAZING....plate after plate was always delicious never one better than the next. All just so finger licking good!!! Had the oxtail potstickers, firecracker roll, drunken noodles and adobo pork belly. Yum yum yum. Highly recommended!
Excellent. The room has a lovely Asian-inspired vibe. Service was good. It got rather noisy. There were a number of big tables for large groups--and we saw several big groups come in. This is a good place for sharing lots of small plates. Portions were bigger than I expected. We had the ginger tofu--the tofu was cooked nicely with a little crust and the ginger sauce was very good. Also, the steamed buns--also good. I would have preferred more hoisin but hubby says I am a hoisin addict. Oxtail gyoza were good--tasted the least "Asian" and the most fusion of all we tried. I had the signature crispy rice--with spicy tuna. I loved this dish. The rice had just a little crispy--and the tuna had been softened with a bit of spiciness added throughout. Yelpers! There was a free chef's choice with check-in. Ours was a little salad--very tasty--with fried tofu in it.
(4)
Kate G.
There's a reason I love traveling and this restaurant defiantly is an incredible example of why. Not only is the atmosphere inviting and cool the food is an exploration in gastronomical flavors, textures, and blends. Definitely one of the top places to choose for food alone. The wait staff is also excellent and always there with great suggestions if you are overwhelmed by their menu. Our waitress Lindsey was top notch and very enjoyable to interact with through our evening. Definitely recommend this restaurant when visiting Chicago!
(5)
Jennifer P.
The best meal we've had in years. We started with the brussels sprout salad. It was a good portion and very tasty. Next where the beef lollipops, just delicious. Third was the Hamachi, it was very fresh and unique with the plantain chips. We finished with the red Dragon and lobster/bacon roll. The last roll was most unique and favorite item of the entire meal. The red Dragon was our least favorite item yet still good. For dessert we went for ridiculous, yes that's what it's called. It really was ridiculous definitely suggest getting it. The Lychee wasabi drink is also amazing!!
(5)
Sue E.
This place was great! It has a great vibe, great food and service. Sunda was great in accommodating our large party (10)people and our kids. Since we were a big group, we got to sample a variety of food. I highly recommend starting off with the Escolar "great white" which has shaved black truffles on it. The two compliment each other and has great texture. You also have to get the Brussels sprouts salad and the grilled ahi tuna and pork. Both were amazing ( if you like salty/sweet/spicy stuff, get the ahi tuna and pork!) We had a big bunch of sushi and all were good. The Unagi/foie gras was surprisingly delicious. The miso sebass rocked Pork belly skewers were fantastic. Pork belly adobo was good The foie gras and duck breast were heavenly! They don't have a kids menu but the kids seemed to have liked the edamame and steamed pork buns. I was too stuffed to order dessert and I totally regret it now. People said I should have tried the Halo Halo. So make sure you save room for dessert!
(5)
Karen D.
The restaurant itself has a very trendy and modern feel. Our group of 5 was quickly seated at the chefs table by the sushi bar. I ordered the lychee luxury Cocktail with a hint of wasabi -- but it was way too sweet. We started with the spicy edamame, oysters, and Brussel sprout salad. The oysters were just typical, but the edamame and salad were delicious!!! Highly recommend them! The chef brought us out a special lobster wrapped tuna roll... Really great too. Also recommend the soy glazed ginger tofu and the sea bass. We were told we were going to meet the chef since we were at the chefs table but it never happened - bummer. Overall, great ambiance and the food was unique because of its twist of flavors on traditional Asian cuisine.
(4)
Sunny K.
Make reservations! I love sushi and live two blocks from Sunda, so it was an easy choice. It's a dressier restaurant than most. Nice decor and ambiance, food pretty great, kind server, pricey bill. I prefer to go there rather than order delivery.
(4)
Sarah N.
When I hear Asian fusion I think PF Chang's, however this place is truly fusion cooking. The service was exceptional and we ordered based on our waiters recommendations. Everything was fresh and well made. The combinations of ingredients and traditional favors will bring me back again. A must try place.
(5)
Nick B.
Came on Friday night. Pretty busy even with dinner reseverations at 7pm and to wait at the bar for 30min for an open table. Service was prompt. Got a nice mix of things. However the sushi was to die for. A bit pricey for what you get but a nice night out is what you get here. Want to try it again
(5)
Heidi H.
This place is great! Customer service and ambiance on point. We had the BBQ octopus with kimchi wasn't my favorite but cooked well.. The pho was outstanding! We loved everything about it. Very rich, meaty and filling. Definitely my fav. The Sunda hand roll was good. Overall we will return and do the pho again for sure.
(4)
Melissa N.
I've heard mixed reviews of Sunda, but my experience here was spot-on. The ambiance is great: trendy but comfortable. Service was excellent the whole night. Our table started with a bottle of Prosecco, skipped appetizers, and moved right into the small plates/entrees. I only tried the crunchy pig hidden lobster sushi (yes that's right, I said CRUNCHY PIG HIDDEN LOBSTER SUSHI!!!) and the flaked pork adobo fried rice. The reason I only tried these two things is because they were both so freaking amazing that I could not stop eating them!!! For dessert I shared the green tea donuts with a friend, which were good but nothing spectacular. My French martini was fabulous, though, so it compensated for the lackluster donuts. It was a great dining experience overall, and pricing wasn't too inflated. I will definitely be back here.
(4)
Scherjang S.
This was our second visit to Sunda and we were not disappointed. Since the first time we sat at the chefs table, I was keen on trying out their other items on their menu and WOW! We tried their roasted Brussels sprout salad with a sweet chili sauce and I have to say it's a "must get starter". The portions are large so if you just got the salad it's more than enough for 2 people. Also tried their sushi rolls and pork belly steam buns.. The buns had a little twist with pickled veggies (I liked it) in them. Finally we had their green tea sugar sprinkled donuts with chocolate on the side for dessert
(5)
Jen K.
This review would be a 2 if the owner wasn't so incredible. I had a 9:00pm reservation with a group of 10 women on Saturday night. At 9:25, we were not acknowledged by any of the many, many hostesses. When the owner walked up, he immediately apologized and offer us a round of drinks. After the drinks we waited for another 25 minutes and then we were offered free appetizers when we were seated. Around 10:05pm we were finally sat. There was already appetizers at the table for us. The brussel sprout salad was my favorite appetizer. We order several rolls for the table for everyone to share. The "tail of 2 tunas" was my favorite. The meat and lobster was my least favorite. It had a good flavor but it was too heavy to be considered "sushi". Overall, I thought the pricing was high for each roll. We were also comped dessert, so we can creme brulee and green tea donuts. The donuts were light and fluffy. The creme brulee was unique to say the least. It had jelly beans on it... Overall, prices are steep, food is ok, and the people that work there have a bit of an attitude. However, the owner is fantastic and made up for a lot of flaws.
(4)
Kosmo Z.
I had a chance to eat here when I was in Chicago. It was a pleasant surprise, since fusion places are usually a hit or miss from my perspective. I really liked the Peking duck because the sweet bun tasted soft and fluffy. The seafood was also fresh with a good portion. The oxtail potsticker was another highlight of my meal. I requested Jasmine tea and they gave me a fancy little honey wand and tea pot. The service could have been slightly better, but overall satisfying experience.
(4)
Stephanie S.
Very disappointing experience here, which is a shame given our prior visits. Food was solid, particularly the kabocha rice and bang bang salad. However, the service really let us down. Food was slow arriving despite a less than full dining room. To make matters worse, the mushu duck was not properly cooked. We notified our waiter who explained that it was cooked as it was intended to be, but several bites were chewy to the point of being inedible. We received a re-made (properly cooked) dish and a visit from the manager, but when the bill arrived, no adjustments were made. If you'd like to pay $6 for a Bud Light and eat rare, chewy duck, then this place is for you!
(1)
Mironda R.
I've only had the good fortune of coming here for dinner and it's been an amazing experience. I believe this restaurant is best enjoyed with a group of at least 3-4 since it is family style. It gives you the opportunity to try a variety of things without filling up too quickly on too few things. Some of the items we had were: Kale and Seaweed Salad Bang Bang Salad Rock Shrimp Tempura Miso Cauliflower Chicken Fish And a few of the specialty sushi rolls (sucks I can't remember) The bartenders also know what they are doing as well. The craft cocktails are awesome and are similarly priced to something you would have at a trendy bar. My friends also mentioned they had a good selection of sake. Now some inconveniences: The restaurant is "cozy" .. which means you can be sitting next to another patron or be bumped or squeezed between waiters because they don't have that much space to work with. Also if you have to "powder your nose" then don't wait until last minute. It's quite of a walk to get there between squeezing through tables and walking down a couple of flights of stairs. The food is soo good that it's still a 5-star experience. Now is this a regular eat, maybe not.. unless you go with a group. The price can add up fast.
(5)
Stuti J.
Loved it.. This place can get very busy... On a wednesday night it was packed. Being vegetarian - I got the following (which are all highly recommended): Crispy cauliflower, garden (speciality cut rolls), Veggie Q. I loved the Japanese beer - hitachino (almost like blue moon) Must go for a sushi lover...
(5)
Mark B.
I sat at the sushi bar over the christmas holiday. This place is a little full of itself....having said that I really liked my server. She was pleasant and sincere. The front door could have been little more welcoming. The shishito peppers were good, prepared simply. I loved the Sweet & Spicy Seafood Futomaki: Crab, Shrimp Tempura, Mango, Asian Pear, Avocado, Chili Sauce. The tale of two tunas was good also. For dessert I had a deconstructed apple cobbler. Met my expectations, nothing mind blowing but it was delicious. Would I go back? There are so many great places in Chicago and especially this area. Truthfully it was my very first impression, the interaction with the door, that will probably not lead to a return visit. I usually hate reading reviews that concentrate on bad service. If you're a young hipster dressed to kill, you would have probably received a smile and some attention. I'm an older guy and was wearing jeans. (I did have my burberry cashmere wrapped around my neck and I carry a Goyard wallet, dammit!) Can't always judge a book by its cover...(She probably doesn't even know what Goyard is...) Still, my server was great and I enjoyed the food.
(4)
Andreas D.
Went for valentines day had a great time. The service was great and the food outstanding! We got the basil shrimp roll my girlfriend rarely likes shrimp and she loved this roll, also got the Zen garden roll was really tasty. She even said the shrimp was one of get favorite rolls she's ever had Tako taco was really good as well perfect octopus. The drinks were really good as well got the hibiscus lemonade and the old fashioned. Ended it with the special dessert of the month which I can't remember the name but was a great chocolate cake Definitely coming back and would recommend to anyone looking for some out of the ordinary Asian food!
(5)
Tammy N.
On the first day of my visit to Chicago with my lover and friends, we were taken to this spot by our friend who lives in the city. There was a total of six of us which is nice because we all like to eat buffet style. I can't even remember everything we ordered, but in the end I was sooo happy that we ate here. It was delicious. I also just really love Asian food and am pretty easy to please. We had the lobster wagyu roll (which was my favorite I literally day dream about this roll all the time), the lobster spring rolls (they were okay in taste and were not wrapped tightly enough so it also fell apart easily, definitely get something else), duck fried rice (SO good, such a small portion TT___TT), rock shrimp tempura (super noms, can't go wrong), spicy jalapeno with tuna on crispy rice (good, but probably won't order again because I'd rather explore the menu), 2 or 3 other sushi rolls, noodles (wish I remembered the name, but they reminded me of pad see ew), and other plates that I don't remember. We really wanted to try to longevity garlic crab noodles, but I suppose it was a seasonal plate that they no longer served during our visit. Everything came out in good time, our server was attentive and answered any questions we had and was very helpful. I really enjoyed my meal. Probably my favorite stop out of all the other restaurants we tried.
(4)
Manda Bear B.
********************* 1112 ******************** Sunda is a swanky, modern, New Asian and modern Japanese restaurant. It's a popular spot in Chicago and it's literally across from Roka Akor which successfully opened in San Francisco recently. We had RSVP and came in. We thought we go the table for 2, but they said my default OpenTable prefer chef table, but no one ever called me to confirm what I prefer. And Sushi counter is not a chef table, unless the chef was there which he wasn't. The hostess didn't bother to ask what would we like to do. She flatted out to tell us NO. Then asked us to wait for a 5 minutes, came back and offered us a high top at the lounge, seriously? I didn't think so. It was a SAT night. This is why I rarely dine out on SAT night, only when I'm traveling. Sunda is a PRICIER modern Asian and Japanese restaurant, offer dishes from Dim Sum to PHO, from Thai soup to Sushi/Sashimi. If you come here to eat just rolls, you will be filling up quickly but if you order more finer dishes, dinner for 2 with 2 cocktails would take you to average $250. Now if you order a bottle of Opus One here for additional $400, it'll be over the top. We weren't happy with where we were seated, but we ordered plenty of food anyway. HIT - UNAGI/FOIE freshwater eel tempura, seared foie gras, yuzu unagi sauce - this was a nice dish, reminded me of the late Japonaise in Chicago back on its hay day. - SUNDA'S SIGNATURE CRISPY RICE pan-fried sushi rice glazed with soy sauce and topped with SPICY TUNA jalapeño - you see this dish in a lot of Modern Sushi places now. This was a solid dish. - BAKED SNOW CRAB HANDROLL Alaskan snow crab, tempura crispy, dynamite sauce. My friend loved this dish. I love the soy paper wrap, it makes a different. - Uni from Japan, fresh, nice texture and tasty for only $10 2 pieces sushi. - Torched Wagyu beef was delicious, thinly cut, and perfectly done the way we requested. - Miso glazed black cod was cooked perfectly, moist and almost raw center, tasty, and nice. MISS - Miso Soup with mushroom - salty - CITRUS SCALLOPS - Hokkaido scallop sashimi, avocado, rice cracker, lime, banana sauce - this was a really off dish, overpowering by the sauce, I could barely taste the fresh and sweetness of Hokkaido scallop. - SUNDA'S YELLOWTAIL JALAPEÑO Japanese salsa, extra virgin olive oil, ponzu - too much sauce, it killed the dish. - Escolar sushi was dry. COCKTAILS & DRINKS Cocktails is $13-$16 each - LYCHEE LUXURY DROP absolute, st. germain, lemon juice, lychee syrup, hint of wasabi was an interesting. - Johnnie Walker Blue $55, Macallan 18 Yr $27, Yamazaki 18 Yr $30, so you are better off with after dinner libation drinks here. Sunda was extremely loud with the crowd and music blasting. We weren't enjoyed the food and drink as much, but our wonderful server BEN, surely saved the night for us. He got a British accent, handsome, tall guy, look like an aspiring actor/model does this for living while pursuing his dream. He was kind to knee down to listen to us, each time we ordered or requested anything. He was decanted our 2003 Opus One wine correctly. And you know how I'm with wines and "Champagne" (Champagne is a region name, in France, not a type of wine or drink, haha). Ben accommodated our food and drink requests. I'm sure if he was the manager in charge, he could have moved us to a table on the dining floor too. I wouldn't come back because there're plenty of good Japanese restaurants around Chicago and for this price point, I would get better food elsewhere. However, I would come back just for this server Ben. the extra STAR is for his impeccable service. Ben surely made our evening at Sunda. P.S. Their website is not functioning well, a few broken pages.
(3)
John And Marcella B.
An absolute must! This place is amazing! We loved the brussles sprouts, kale and seaweed salad, and dim sum. You can't go wrong with the sushi.. everything is great!
(5)
Sarah C.
Wanted to try this place out for having good reviews. However, I was very disappointed. First of all, price is way too expensive. Ambiance is hipster ish, but wayyyy too loud!! Everybody is basically talking over each other and there is no noise-canceling filter in the restaurant. It is an Asian fusion, but I don't feel like the dishes were innovative and literally just a list of different Asian dishes. Ordered the lemongrass lollipops for appetizer- it was okay, flavors weren't anything extraordinary and couldn't taste the lemongrass, but was unique bc the thin pieces of beef are wrapped around a lemongrass stick. The crispy Brussels sprout salad was good, but too oily. Scorpion roll was okay.. rice was too mushy for a sushi roll. Best thing we ordered was the crispy rice spicy tuna, but price is def not worth it and the rice was not crispy enough. I've had better. Ordered the Pancit Canton upon waiter's recommendation. Oily and salty are the only words I can think of. Too many random ingredients like the few pieces of pork with few pieces of Chinese sausage. I would not return and would not recommend this place.
(2)
Mark K.
First, we have to thank our friend who gave us a gift certificate for this place as a wedding gift. Without that, I'm thinking we wouldn't have come. But we did, and brought other friends, and had a blast. The place is fancy but not over the top. Downtown Chicago, so of course it's expensive, and crowded on a Saturday night. Luckily Sweetie made reservations. We were seated right around the time specified, and started right in. A Yelp check-in yielded a free app, chef's choice, which turned out to be tempura jalapenos. Very good, not very spicy. We ordered some drinks, including a prickly pear cocktail for Sweetie (not bad,) and the day's special beer, a Japanese witbier (big, share-able bottles, pretty darn good.) Let's see, we had so many things. Some unagi, very good. An unagi/foie gras combo, excellent. Citrus scallops: pretty good, slightly spicy according to some of our group. Yellowtail, very fresh. A rainbow roll, one of the table's favorites. Also the Tail of Two Tunas (we ended up getting another) and the pork and lobster roll (again, we had to get another- everyone liked this.) Hm- Red Dragon and Firecracker: decent rolls, but just couldn't compare to those tuna and bacon rolls. We were all stuffed. Luckily for Sweetie, she stopped eating sushi before the rest of us, and ordered the night's dessert special: jasmine rice pudding with mango. She savored it, and let me have a few bites. Yow! It was so good. There was a superfluous crust at the bottom; the creamy rice and fresh mangoes were transcendent. I think I stayed stuffed until the next afternoon. We had a great time. Great service, nice atmosphere (though it was painfully loud, so loud it was hard to talk till people started clearing out.)
(4)
Michael C.
Very surprised at how mediocre my experience at sunda was. Came here to celebrate a friend's graduation and the food at the table was overflowing. Had at least 5 different signature rolls and none of them were very memorable which is why I won't even bother naming them. However the brussel sprout salad and the tuna on top of fried sushi rice were tasty. After the apps, I was pretty apprehensive of anything too Asian sounding and rightfully so. I ordered the beef long rib which was tender and had a delicious sweet sauce. The others at my table were quite dissatisfied with their meals. One bite of the seven spice chicken had me gagging - it tasted like licorice. he chef did a crazy bad job tinkering with the flavors and my friend said he would rather have eaten vegan chicken nuggets. Another patron had the pho which was edible, but tasted nothing like the traditional. It got two visible thumbs down. At the end of the meal, my decision to be "safe" with my order was the right thing to do. Now it's river north and the service and decor were both great but when it comes to food, you should probably look elsewhere. If something looks unfamiliar, it should be avoided. Please.
(3)
Andrea P.
I came here with some friends on a Wednesday night, it was packed and quite loud but the vibe was great. Our server was incredibly friendly and really helpful in giving us suggestions. We were seated in the back so the noise level wasn't as bad and we enjoyed our meals without having to scream across the table. We had some really interesting drinks, I had the pear sake and blushing geisha which were both okay but not my type of drink. They were a bit too sweet for my taste and their flavors were not working for me. My friend had a lychee cocktail and it was amazing, not too sweet and not too salty, just perfectly blended together. Another drink I would suggest ordering is a margarita type drink, it is green in color and has mint leaves, it was really refreshing and tasted like a margarita and a mojito mixed together. Our food was decent but it wasn't the "best" sushi I have ever had, it was really interesting and they had some really unique rolls but there was no, "kick, pow wow" melt in your mouth moment. I would definitely recommend trying this place, it is really unique and the experience is one that is worth having. The service was great, the drinks were unique, and their rolls were "A-OK."
(3)
Marc R.
Braised Pork Belly. I don't know if it really gets any better than that. I would say that my favorite thing about Sunda is that you can get dishes that simply aren't found anywhere else. Places like Gibsons and Joe's Stone Crab are wonderful. Most all of these places (including Sunda) have outstanding service. But the unique cuisine separates this from others. For some, that is not a good thing. We have in Chicago the good fortune to be able to say that amazing steakhouses are a dime a dozen (again, Gibson's, Joe's Stone Crab, Mastro's, Keefer's, Chicago Chop House . . .) Places like Sunda (and Girl and the Goat and Japonais, to name a couple) are what really push the envelope. There are many favorite items that are always on the menu (beef lolipops, though I think they're over rated) they also feature fresh ideas. Sushi is top notch, too.
(4)
Rhonna V.
This place is As Good As It Gets! The food is beyond words. We were greeted by the manager as well as the chef during our time there. We were celebrating my birthday, and the chef treated my whole table to shots of sake! I've never had such wonderful service, and even when we were putting our coats on to leave, the manager came back to say goodbye and even remembered our names. I thought that was a great touch to the evening.
(5)
Farrah D.
I'm probably not the best person to review since I don't like sushi/seafood, but my family really liked this place. I enjoyed everything I had except the pad-thai which I thought was sub-par. Kobe beef was amazing. This place is ideal for family-style sharing so you can try a little bit of everything. The portions are really small so you have to order multiple dishes - fun time at a trendy restaurant.
(3)
Mark M.
I dined the other night with some friends at Sunda, and we decided that we should share our food to be able to try as much as possible. We started with the Lemongrass Beef Lollipops (per other Yelp reviewers suggestions) and the Oxtail pot stickers (suggested by our waitress). The Beef Lollipops were exquisite. The way the beef was wrapped around the handles (of onion, I think) were very attractive. Our waitress warned us that the pepper that came on the handle was a very good, but very spicy pepper. I only tasted a bit, but really enjoyed the flavor of the pepper of the beef, along with the spicy chili glaze. The glaze was so good, that one of my dining companions actually ate a spoonful by itself after the beef was gone! The Oxtail Potsickers were great, very delicate and tasty. They were presented with a drizzle of white wasabi cream on top, which added the perfect contrast to the delicate beef. On to the main course. I tasted only one other person's dish, which was the Spicy "Tail of Two Tunas". It was very tasty with one tuna being in the roll draped with the second tuna. I only ate one piece, but yum! I ordered the Malay Style Chilean Seabass. All I can say is WOW! The fish itself was crusted with a tasty coriander, lemongrass and miso topping, which provide a perfect crunch to the "like butter" fish itself. The fish just melted in your mouth, and was very "buttery" tasting (not like butter, but the texture). It was perfect and everyone else at my table tasted it and we all agreed that I had the best dish of all of us. It came with a side of Curried Cauliflower Puree, which was, as it says, cauliflower, that has been pureed and seasoned with a mild curry (powder? sauce?), and garnished with some grape tomatoes and herbs. Dessert: I don't remember what it was called, but we had the Avocado Mousse dessert that comes in a martini glass with lychee and raspberry at the bottom of the glass. Taking a spoonful of all of the flavors together, I was in heaven. I would come back simply for dessert alone, it was that good. The service: I want to take a moment and say that we had excellent service while we dined, always attentive, not intrusive, and a joy to work with. Overall - I will definitely go back, but the prices make this, for me, a really nice "once in a while" dinner out.
(5)
Sunil D.
Finally crawled out of bed to make it to their brunch on Sunday. I was surprised at the lack of a crowd (maybe because we got there at 2 pm), but it might be because Asian fusion isn't exactly what people crave on a Sunday morning. Either way, the food was amazing as always. As a semi-pro Bloody Mary aficionado, the best bloody mary used to belong to Joe's on Weed (pepperoni, jack pepper cheese and basically a side salad of veggies in your cup) and a touch of Guinness at the bottom really made the difference. The torch has been passed to Sunda though. Not even factoring in the literal buffet of exotic ingredients (red chili peppers, lemon grass, jicama, unagi, shrimp, seaweed, tofu, among the other dozen other ingredients I had to refer to the chart to figure out), the drink itself was unlike any bloody I've ever had. It was refreshing, flavorful and had such a unique flavor. The waitress insisted it was because of their house made mix, but I think substituting the vodka for Sochu (a Japanese liquor) was the real difference maker. Either way its a must try. My partner in crime on our sunday funday had the passion fruit Mimosa and we both agreed that they were hands down two of the top "breakfast" drinks we've ever had in our lives. Needless to say they are a must try.
(5)
Claude F.
I was visiting from nyc, and as always i wanted to continue my quests of the beat japanese restaurant in the US. Sunda with more than 1000 reviews on yelp, deserved a visit. I got there and was welcomed with a warm, hype atmosphere. I sat down at the sushi bar. Right away i noticed the pre-sliced raw fish... For a premium place i would have expected the fish to be cut on demand... Oh well... I listened to the nice waiter and ordered his recommendations. Crispy rice, yellowtail sashimi and lobster/wagu beef rolls. First 2 were ok. Good but not very tasty. The roll was very good, thanks to the truffle. So why a 3? At that price point i expect everything to be very good! Not just good for an average mall restaurant... Still stop by id you get a chance and do not mind to pay a premium.
(3)
Ramya P.
5 stars for the food but they have to learn to cope with the restaurant crowd a lil' better Typical of many of the restaurants in the Near North side, Sunda boasts a nice ambiance, lively atmosphere, local celebrity sightings and 20-something PYTs, but for me the highlight was the vast menu featuring truly delicious food. I was a tad surprised to find so many vegetarian options. We were able to get reservations only at 9pm on a Wednesday when the weather wasn't so good. So I recommend planning ahead and making reservations earlier. Since there are so many small plates featured in the menu, I recommend sharing (if you're a small group) as they are not stingy with the portion sizes. Pretty much everything we ate tasted fabulous and these were the highlights- 1. Amuse bouche - sticky bun with truffle 2. Mushroom n edamame dumplings 3. Ginger tofu 4. Roasted cauliflower 5. Sweet potato rolls For the dessert, we got the 'Ridiculous' named aptly considering its size, the sugar overload and decadence and I was about to scream out with 'joy' as I tasted it... just like in When Harry met Sally. We also got the bread pudding which was warm and delicious. Cannot think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than basking in a glorious food coma... Thanks so much Vaidehi T and Sushant D!!
(5)
Joan L.
I'm rating the Happy Hour. So essentially this review pertains to the appetizers, signature cocktails, and beer / wine list. Happy Hours are 5 - 7pm and there are half-off appetizers. Seriously, sushi rolls for $4 - 7 and this awesome shrimp / egg sauce appetizer for even less. My memory betrays me. I had the Strawberry Delight, an indulgence on my part and it was STRONG and TASTY. Loved it! My friends had gin martinis, cucumber martinis, mai tai's and all were excellent. I also have to admit I like coming here because of the hope that I'll see a celeb with the owner, Billy Dec. Especially now that Shia and the Transformers crew are here in town ;)
(4)
Jeff S.
I visited Sunda after hearing rave reviews about the atmosphere and food from a couple of different co-workers. As I live pretty close to it and my friend from out of town wanted to get dinner at a good Chicago restaurant (read: non-chain or tourist trap), I told her to meet me here for dinner. FOOD: Crispy shrimp "toast" and spicy tuna "jam" - Nice, fun dish. The shrimp were definitely ground up within the "toast", but this was delicious. Definitely something to get instead of edamame for a starter. Miso bronzed black cod - Fork-tender and flavorful, a perfect complement to the pork belly. I really liked this sablefish, and it was perfect with a side of Sunda's jasmine rice. Adobo braised pork belly - I LOVE pork belly. And the serving size was enormous. It was prepared with care. Add all of those up? This is one of my favorite pork belly dishes of all time. Lychee and raspberry sorbet - Light and refreshing, this was a perfect dessert for the time. It was gone before I knew it! Sunda also has great cocktails (don't remember what I tried...perhaps another reason why I think the cocktails are so good??), and it's a trendy spot to hang out on a Thu/Fri/Sat night. SERVICE: Service was fine overall. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable, and gave us good recommendations and suggestions. She was also around frequently to see if we wanted anything else and water service was top-notch. OVERALL: The hype is justifiable in my opinion. Sunda is popular for a reason - consistently good food, a great atmosphere (if not a bit loud), and a solid menu suitable for everyone. One small beef with Sunda - they don't have any "half-portions" like places like Sable have on the menu for its larger plates (although Sunda DOES have a good helping of small plates of their own). I'm the type of person that likes to try a little of everything, not a lot of one thing when trying out new restaurants. But the food quality and taste delivered, so no more complaining. Just more eating.
(4)
Janet W.
I came here for the first time with some out of town foodie friends for a late night dinner and then second time kicked off a bachelorette party here. From having to plan the bachelorette party, I found that group reservations are really tough to make. When Sunda is busy, they are very busy and they won't seat you unless your whole group is present even if you are short just one person. Since traffic in the area coincides with peak hours, we had to delay our reservation and it took a while to gather everyone and get seated. The restaurant shouldn't be blamed for being popular though and Sunda is popular for a good reason. I never thought I'd say this, but you have to try the brussel sprout salad. Sharing the food family style is recommended. Everything from the pad thai to the maki rolls is delicious. Some of the food was a little oily for my personal liking but everyone still loved the food. Billy Dec knows how to put together a restaurant. The layout is cute and sophisticated and the service (after being seated) was great. If you're looking for a posh night out, this is a good choice to start.
(4)
Alli U.
Food: 4 Stars Service: 2 Stars My boyfriend and I went here during Restaurant Week for dinner. They offered a 6 course tasting menu (soup, sushi, salad, hot app, main course, and dessert) for 44. The menu looked delicious online, so we decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the service here was awful. First, we had to ask our server for the restaurant week menu, instead of being offered the menu right away like every other restaurant I have ever been to during restaurant week. The server "strongly recommended" that we supplement from the menu because "the portions were small" (they really weren't...not for a 6 course meal). Then, our first 3 courses were brought out all at once, and no one bussed our dishes...and our waiter seemed to have disappeared. When we finally found our waiter again and explained what was wrong, he was very apologetic, but it couldn't change the bad impression we got of the place. The food, on the other hand, was very good. I don't know that it was worth the prices on the full menu- you can find similar Asian "fusion" food in the city for much less. But, 4 stars for the food! So, I don't think we'll be returning to Sunda. I'm glad that I had a chance to try the food there, but at the regular menu prices, there's more bang for your buck elsewhere.
(3)
Edwin L.
Sunda... oh sunda!!! 5 stars!? Why? Well check it out! Want to know why I'm giving this place 5 stars? Well it's only because they have THE BEST FILIPINO FOOD EVER! well.. so far... (sorry mom, tita, tito, ninang, ninong, lolo & lola) I'm saying sorry to my family for those who are not Filipino 'Mah boi' had his bachelor dinner at a Filipino upscale restaurant in downtown... something elegant before we got stupid drunk and doing what boys do... -- HOLD ON.... TIME OUT!! Is there really a upscale Filipino restaurant in downtown Chicago? Really!? I mean really!? OMG this sounds AWESOME! This is a first! Although this restaurant is an asian fusion and not limited filipino food. if you're here for sushi... your missing out still... If you ask me, the fish is fresh, sushi is sushi. Hence I didn't order sushi. DONT GET ME WRONG... i'm sure their sushi is kick ass! For Sunda I will quickly shutdown anyone ordering sushi. C'mon fine dining with Filipino food! where else can you find that? Philippines? ha! -= Decor =- The decor and patrons are screaming A-LIST of the highest end of the bougy spectrum. If you are looking for a high end romantic setting... this isn't it. It's really loud. Otherwise the the modern and edgily touch will easily be your eye candy while you enjoy your meal; as you yell (or speaking up) at your date/buddies. -= service =- The waiters, food runners and other staff are all ROCK STARS! They are on their game on knowing their food and ensuring you are well served; without over huddling around you. Hands down the best service by far. the owner himself stop by a few times to ensure we were taken care of. Since it was my buddy's bachelor dinner, he order a round of sake shots and had the head chef join us for that shot. WOW! This is truly a first. -= yum yum, ummmm the FOOD! =- We had the following served in family style: 2x Pancit Canton ($16 - crispy pork, lap cheong, shrimp, carrots, cabbage, egg noodles) 2x Loompya or Lumpia ($10 - crispy pork and shrimp shanghai style egg rolls, boston lettuce, dipping sauces) Lumpia are pastries of popiah or fried spring rolls popular in the Philippines-- fried and fresh versions 2x Crispy Pata ($24 - confit pork shank with garlic-foie scented gravy, wilted greens) A giant fried pork shank. So delicious and juicy. 2x Adobo Braised Pork Belly ($25 - vinegar, garlic, caramelized onions, herb salad, mustard greens) Pork belly used in adobo, ummm #WINNING! It was amazing! 2x Adobo Rice ($? - not on the menu) Just imagine the gravy from the Adobo Braised Pork Belly mix with rice... it was awesome! Wowzers! -= in conclusion =- Sunda is freaking awesome times a million to the infinity power plus googolplex. If you want to experience awesome filipino food, I strongly recommend SUNDA!
(5)
Desirae K.
Decent place for a girls night out if you're looking for a place with an energetic atmosphere. Reservations: If you don't want to deal with the reservation hassle, go early 5:30-ish (they open at 5) and sit at the bar. On a Saturday night they don't seem to start get going until around 7 or 7:30. If you do have a reservation, they only hold the table for 15-minutes so don't be late! Cocktails: (+) bd's super fresh sakitin - I'm not even a sake fan & I liked this drink. (+/-) singapore sling - too sweet for my liking Food: Overall the rolls I had were good, but not earthshattering if I go back I'd probably stick to sushi/sashimi. Here's what we had. . . (+) spicy "tail of two tunas" (+) crunchy pig, hidden lobster (+) suzuki (seabass) (+) escolar (white tuna) (+) hamachi (yellowtail)
(3)
Ashley K.
Ahh, my triumphant return to yelp after a hellish 2 months at work where I was forced to dine on takeout and home cooked meals because I didn't leave the office in time to actually go to dinner anywhere worthwhile. Fortunately Sunda was the last meal I had before my dining out hiatus and it was a good one. Aside from the fact that we had to wait about 35 minutes past our reservation time and the hostess was kind of snobby, we had a great time at Sunda. The cocktails I had were delicious - some of the best I've had in recent times. I highly recommend both the Blackberry Hime and the Toasted Ginger Snap. It was my friend's birthday so the chef came out with a complementary sake shot. Nice touch, although the magic wore off a bit when we saw him doing shots with other tables too. Onto the food. It was pretty much a pork love fest. But who doesn't love them some pork? Vegetarians I suppose, but I digress. Two of my friends are Filipino and recommended we order mostly the Filipino items on the menu, though I did stake my claim in two sushi rolls for appetizers. The Crunchy Pig Hidden Lobster Roll and the Firecracker were two of the best (if not non-traditional) sushi rolls I've had in a while. Really good. In fact, I want some of those in my rumbling belly right now. We shared several entrees: the pork belly adobo, crispy pata, and the longevity noodles with crab (I guess you've got to take a break from the pork at some point) with a couple of orders of garlic rice. I try not to think about the fact that when I'm eating pork belly I'm more or less eating a bacon steak. I mean, it's so delicious, who wants to think about the fact that I'm probably gaining weight just by looking at the damn thing. So I put that little detail out of my mind until I can't button my pants anymore (not there yet). I think it goes without saying that this was a really good pork belly. The crispy pata was also a knockout. Get it. You'll like it. The longevity noodles and the garlic rice were nice and garlicky...I sure kept the vampires away that night. After we left, I rolled my cholesterol laden self home and promptly had a heart attack. Well, no not really. But if I did, it would have been a hell of a meal to go out on.
(4)
Eric W.
Excellent sushi in a club-like atmosphere. This can get a little loud though. Also great non-Sushi options
(4)
Tracy H.
So I'm upset with Sudna. I have been here before on two occasion and had a wonderful time. Recently, my BF and I went there for lunch. Not a busy day. We were dressed in casual, but nice clothes. We didn't have a reservation, but it was past one, and the place wasn't that busy. We were asked, as we were being led to the lounge, if the lounge was ok. We said yes mostly because it didn't really seem like we had a choice. Anyway, the "lounge" is a long, dark, sparsely decorated area with a few small tables and bar stools. We were seated literally right next to a cash register by a small bar. I always thought this area was a waiting room. The chairs were uncomfortable and there was NO ONE else there. At all. The entire hour we were there, not one other person/couple was seated there or anywhere near us. I felt like a leper. So when I went to wash my hands, I walked through the main, giant, beautiful restaurant. Imagine my surprise when I see there are lots of people here, yet plenty of open seats. And yet, my BF and I were banished to the eternally empty "lounge." Now, here's the thing, I was upset. I felt "not good enough" and frankly this a is place you go to for the ambiance and beautiful artwork. There is none of that in the lounge. Now, our food was good, although our sushi rolls were falling apart in our bento boxes, and our waitress was lovely. But I was very upset. I wish I would have said something, but I felt weird, like I didn't want to make a scene. Anyway, I felt compelled to email a nice letter to Sunda from contact info I found on their website. That was over a week ago. They never replied. So, yeah, the food is good, if a bit pricey, but this incident really left a bad taste in my mouth. The fact that they did not email me back is quite rude. I felt they could have easily smoothed this over and retained me as a customer, but they didn't even bother and I won't be going back.
(2)
M M.
Been here twice. First time I ordered a chicken fried rice dish that was OUT OF THIS WORLD good. Second time, I tried to find it on the menu and couldnt, so I asked the server, and he brought me something with dark meat chicken in it. Killed it for me. Service is good, and good atmosphere as well-those would get 5 stars in my book.
(3)
Aleks S.
Finally dined at Sunda last Monday for lunch with one of my girlfriends. It was very quiet and only a few tables were taken but you could still feel comfortable in a way that the place didn't feel deserted. We had the hardest time deciding on what to get! The menu is absolutely great and offers something for everybody. We decided on the Wok Fried Shishito Peppers to start us off...and I wasn't able to get them out of my head for the rest of the week! Best snack I ever had! The sauce they marinated in makes you want to eat the whole bowl by yourself! It's a must try. The Bang! Bang! Salad also grabbed our attention so we ordered that and shared as an appetizer. It was delicious! Didn't really understand the presentation of the salad but the taste made me forget all about the oversized lettuce leaves and the hiding green noodles underneath. For our main meal which at this point we didn't even need because of the taste explosion that was already happening in our mouths, we've had the Garlic Crab Noodles and Bi Bim Bop. We shared both and both were just as good. The crab noodles is definitely something for a carb lover who likes a deep creamy taste, I enjoyed my leftovers with the Shishito peppers that night and the saltiness and freshness of them paired perfectly with the noodles. The Bi Bim Bop which is a bowl of rice with steak and vegetables was another flavor explosion on its own. Although we didn't drink, all the tastes hit our pallet in so many different ways it almost felt as if we were intoxicated at the end of our meal! Amazing!
(5)
Madison A.
We were in town for a work conference and were directed to Sunda for some fantastic sushi and boy am I glad! This was honestly some of the best sushi I've had in years, but I have to put it out there that the prices are very high. Most rolls are around $18 and you will want to try a few different things on the menu if you're like me. We dined with a group of 10, everyone has 2-3 dishes and cocktails, and we racked up quite a large bill, but everyone was in agreement with how fantastic the quality of their ingredients were and amazing flavor combinations (surprises like mango and chili sauce were scattered throughout the menu!). I would recommend the stuffed avocado plate; this was by far the most interesting and delicious thing I tried all evening. The variety of sashimi I tried was great quality and very fresh. Give Sunda a try if you are in Chicago and you need fantastic sushi and price is no object. Also I recommend making a reservation.
(4)
Amanda F.
Sunda's menu encompasses just about every asian-style cuisine I can think of (maybe not pho?), so I would expect some misses trying to tackle so many dishes. My one-star deduction has nothing to do with the food, but with the semi-slow service and very high prices. The food is great!! If anything, its sushi is its second fiddle to its appetizers and non-sushi shared plates I was with a group of 6 last night with a 50% industry discount. Granted there was not a lot of cost-conscious ordering, but even with no desserts, one drink per person (two of which were non-alcoholic), and a 50% discount the bill was $35 per person. For the full price of $70 per person, I would expect multiple drinks and dessert regardless of its super swank interior and Riv North zip code. But onto the food.... The hits of the night are as follows: - Oxtail Potsickers are warm little pockets of savoriness. - Pork Sunda Steamed buns are a fantistic mix of doughy bun with dry by flavorful pork and asian slaw served in slider form. yummmm. - Crispy Brussels Sprouts salad was a good portion with lots of charred flavor and not too much sauce. - Crispy Rice with Wagyu Tartare is pricey for the little rice and beef rectangles, but totally worth it. You can really taste the quality beef. Honorable mentions: - Rock Shrimp Tempura was a crowd favorite, but I prefer larger shrimp and seafood that is not fried. It really more of a gussied up popcorn shrimp, but it sounds fancy. - Pad Thai is pretty standard, but at the better end of the spectrum. Its not greasy and only $12. Sushi: We tried a few rolls that all really tasted the same. Good, but similar. The Sweet Potato caterpillar was rather forgettable, but had a nice presentation. The Scorpion and Rainbow were both fresh, but a little on the small side for those prices. Perhaps I was dazzled by the earlier orders of Steamed buns and kobe beef, but the sushi just wasn't very memorable for me. The service seemed just a tad on the slow side. I also would have appreciated a little more thought given to when to bring our dishes out from the kitchen. The dishes came as ready with no real though to when we would want the dish in the meal. I will likely be back, but not without my friend and her discount.
(4)
Melissa P.
Kimchi rice. OMG it's so great. Crispy brussell sprout salad and sticky buns are always a classic. Sushi is very fresh, great service and knowledgeable staff. You definitely get what you pay for so worth the price. Better for groups to share.
(4)
Emily C.
Had a gilt city offer to use. I was pleasantly surprised that the service was excellent and the portion size normal even though we had a deal. The best thing we had was the shrimp tempura bites by far. They were so good. Pork belly was a HUGE portion and delicious. The miso cod was a good light option. The sauce was great. Very see and be seen crowd. Would definitely go back. 148/365
(5)
Kristin H.
*Good fun vibe/atmosphere. *Tasty wine and good service. *So so food: -lemongrass beef lollipops were dry -salmon skin maki was lacking flavor *I'd recommend: -hamachi tartar -'No you didnt' hand roll -head on prawns
(3)
Christa P.
I have been to Sunda many times. But last night may have been my last. I dont think I would reccomend it to anyone. I had a 7:30pm reservation and we were not seated until 8:20. I was there for a business meeting and waited almost an hour after our reservation to be seated. This is not the first time I have experieced this wait. The food is great but not worth the hour wait when you have a reservation. There were about 20+ people that came in after us that all got seated before us. I do not think thats acceptable. And the excuse from the hostess was that "people are staying seated for longer than usual" which i would accept had there not been multiple parties of 3 that came in after us and were seated right away. I really enjoy bringing people to Sunda for dinner but there are many other resturaunts in Chicago that I will start going to instead.
(2)
Brady M.
The staff was nice. Decor looked good. Food was just average. The price was not to bad. (our server did try to tell us and get 6 plates when 3 was plenty.)
(3)
iddells E.
Sorry, Sunda, but we are finished. Food is great...but $18 to cut a cake?? How does cutting a cake into 6 slices justify an $18 charge? INSANELY RIDICULOUS! One other time, the busboy did not know what tap water meant. We had to settle for sparkling water and by the end of the meal, more than two-thirds was still left. $8 wasted on nasty sparkling water!
(1)
Allison V.
Great food. Great service. Fun seating (tall communal tables, short tables, lounge, or outdoor patio). I went with a friend for dinner we shared the short ribs, the pork belly, the steamed buns filled with duck, the firecracker sushi roll, and finally the deep friend carrot cake filed with ice cream. We split a bottle of a fantastic pinot noir and spent the night catching up. Since the friend and I were catching up we spent a lot of time talking and did not rush through our meal. Four hours later we felt as if we were being a bother because our water stopped being refilled. If there had not have been a large number of tables open I would have graciously left, but the place was not that busy. Needless to say we had a fantastic time at a fantastic restaurant. Bike parking out front, cab pull-up in front as well.
(4)
Vaidehi T.
Loved the food and the ambiance at Sunda. Like many restaurants in the neighborhood, Sunda is always bustling and crowded. Even on a week night, at 9:00pm the restaurant was quite full. The ambiance is sexy and so is the food. We ordered the ginger tofu, roasted cauliflower, veggie dumplings to share. All the dishes were fantastic. Great flavor profiles and absolutely delicious food. We also ordered one of their signature veggie rolls, which was quite delicious too. Do not, I repeat, Do not leave this place without tasting their "ridiculous" dessert. Like the name suggests, it is quite ridiculous. Just forget the calorie count and indulge in this sugar-coma inducing dessert. The only thing that they can improve on is service. While it was friendly, it was very slow. We were a group of 3 and our dinner ran over 2 hours... which is quite unusual for food like this.
(5)
Angela B.
Love this place! Get the chef's tasting as it will save $$ in the long run and you get to taste the most favorite dishes! Always wonderful service and exceptional dishes!
(5)
Chris G.
This is another spot we've passed a few times going to our other favorites but decided to check it out for lunch today. Sunda is nothing like I'd imagined because at first, stupid glance... you can assume that it's shallow, pretentious and sans food worth digesting. I am enthralled that was totally wrong about the good cuisine here! I started with a nice glass of Trace merlot and ordered one of the best bowls of miso I've sucked down in about 10 years... ever since my favorite Japanese place near Wrigley closed that used to make homemade sakuri mochi wrapped in toasted cherry leaf. Well this miso isn't overly-salted and is quite generous with the seaweed and tofu. WTF is up with other places skimping on something so cheap as tofu in their miso? What gives? Not Sunda. This is a nice bowl of miso that comes to the table in heavy porcelain. Next up in my lunch special were 3 tasty and most spicy tuna rolls. They're the perfect size for a lunch special and did not have me wanting to reach for wasabi. Didn't have to dip it in soy sauce. Just ate it. Finally, a huge bowl of shrimp and sea bass green curry came to the table and it was so much fish in it that a hungry guy like could me split it with my friend and we both had well enough to spill over our mounds of rice. The dish was kissed with lemongrass, peppers and pineapple in the most sensual way. i wasn't supposed to be having these erotic feelings while on the clock! I'm usually NOT a fan of green curry (prefer red or yellow) but if I can find it the way Sunda offers it, it can become my favorite. We argued about dessert and finally decided to pick both the cookie bites sampler and the thai creme anglais choc molten cake with rice crispies. We made our way through the intensely-flavored cookies bites and found that the tangerine bar (will make u say screw lemon!), molasses and brown sugar tasting cookie and the brittle were awesome. The molten cake was saved for last and I swear to you I wondered if it was New Year's because this cake was so savory, it had a pleasant hint of black-eye peas in it! I know that may seem gross to read or imagine, but this really works along with the chocolate and cream. Never had anything like it! ------ UPDATE: We've since been back to Sunda a number of times for an early lunch and it hasn't disappointed. Andrea has served us a couple of times and goes out of her way to make us feel comfortable. We are definitely fans of their taro coconut bread pudding made from brioche. The LaVazza coffee is great after a nice glass of Trace Merlot.
(4)
Tony A.
One-of-a-kind place. Hip atmosphere, creative Asian cuisine -- familiar food but prepared with a twist. Incredibly special service. No wonder the place is always packed. This is where we bring special friends visiting us in Chicago!
(5)
Tracy L.
It is said celebrities sometimes hang out here. Oh? First impression: Very friendly hostess and waitress. No attitude and pretense. Second Take: Pear sake was fabulous. Third Encounter: Lots of options on the menu. Truffled tataki tuna sashimi was delicious. The two-piece, melt-in-my-mouth white tuna sushi was a nice treat. Longevity noodles were tasty but you can totally make them yourself. Final Glance: Spacious, sexy and suffused with romantic dim lighting, Sunda is definitely a good date night spot. No celebrities needed to enjoy a good meal. Recommended.
(4)
Jennifer G.
I've been wanting to try Sunda for months now - ever since they opened and then were on Check Please. I went in with the expectation that it would be trendy and it would be a tad expensive. What I didn't realize was that the food wouldn't live up to the hype. We started with the Bang Bang Salad. Our first negative was when our drinks didn't come until we were almost done with the salad. Does it really take 10 minutes to make a drink? The salad was then completely lack luster. It barely had any dressing / sauce and just tasted like eating raw vegetables. We then had the specialty Red Dragon roll, and I will admit that it was good. But again - no real spice on the tuna. We also had the Tako Taco - which was octopus in a unique wonton taco shell. I give them kudos for the shell, but the octopus was again dry with no spice / flavor. My husband and I both felt the drinks were lacking in alcohol, too. We ended up eating outside and we're glad we did b/c when we first went into the restaurant - it was crowded and very loud...and it was only 6 pm. We won't be back - for $100 (w/o tip), we should have been full and satisfied with our meal, and we were neither.
(2)
Ann J.
I had attended a cooking class at Sunda that I won through Billy Dec. It was so much fun and quite the learning experience. We made cocktails with the mixologist. We made spring rolls and pot stickers with Chef Jess. Everything came out great and it was super easy to make. I met some of the owners and many of the staff. They gave us gift bags, which included the recipes of the things we made, a Sunda apron, and a gift card. Fantastic. So, now we had two gift cards and we needed to use them. I sent a tweet to Billy Dec and asked if he had any recommendations. He responded and said to ask for Chef Jess when we arrived. So, that's exactly what I did. Although my server kind of looked at me like I was being ridiculous, Chef Jess made his way out of the kitchen to greet us. He didn't stop there. He placed the entire dinner order for us (Chef's choice). He explained the dishes, coursed them out perfectly and basically served us the entire night. It was the best restaurant experience I have ever had. The food was dynamite. The Brussels sprout salad is obnoxiously delicious. The sushi and sashimi are so fresh. The duck breast was cooked perfectly. You really can't go wrong here. Btw, the cocktails are the best way to go. Be adventurous. Oh yah, our gift cards had expired, but we didn't know. That wasn't a problem either. The manager said it wasn't a problem. Thank you to Billy Dec, Chef Jess, and the rest of the Sunda crew for providing such great experiences. It has truly been a pleasure.
(5)
Mike H.
First time at Sunda and it was great!! My girlfriend and I shared a few items and all were great. You have to get the pork belly on a skewer, it melts in your mouth. Save room for the Sunda Sunday for dessert, you wont be disappointed. I asked for the Chef, Jess De Guzman, to come out to thank him and he was very nice. Cant wait to go back to Sunda!!!
(5)
Sally B.
We came here for a special occasion. Excellent. It was fantastic. Just go and have fun. Some of these reviews are way, way off. The Brussels sprout salad is fantastic. Great service. Great time.
(5)
Tricia D.
The good: totally a fan of the drinks! Try the mai tai, rising sun cocktail (with macadamia nut liqueur), or taffy apple! The pre-dinner rice with sweet sauce and onion was a cute take on the typical "bread basket". The bad: took a while for the food to come out. The charsiu bbq pork was dry, but I always love me some white rice. The sushi rolls we tried (crunchy pig, hidden lobster and spicy "tale of two tunas") were nothing mind blowing. A's chicken was ordinary and definitely something you've tasted before. The ugly: I's wine was served in a cracked glass! Danger! The manager was nice enough to come out and bring some alcohol wipes and bandaids and comp'ed the drink though. Like the decor. It's trendy and sleek; just be careful not to run into the glass dividers throughout the restaurant! +100 on Opentable and $12 for valet.
(3)
Seina L.
Went to celebrate a birthday! Our waiter was amazing!! I told our waiter that we had to leave by a certain time to make a show! We ordered two appetizers and the second one was slightly delayed (came out maybe 5 minutes later) which honestly wasn't a problem, but our waiter comped that appetizer off our bill!! The food was amazing - I would highly recommend the kimchi rice side dish, amazing! Then our waiter toward the end of the meal brough a cake and a card signed by the whole staff with a ten dollar certificate in it!! He didn't have to do that, but the service was impeccable! The food, the service and experience was absolutely terrific! We will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Cristina S.
Never coming back here again. Not because I think it was horrible, but I can think of many other sushi places way tastier than Sunda. I honestly do not understand the hype, other than maybe the clubby decor and good large drink selection, including craft cocktails that you would normally not find in the smaller Chicago sushi establishments. We had the crispy brussels sprout salad, it was good. The rolls were meh, not a lot of taste and the fish didn't seem as fresh as I would have liked. We also ordered a spicy citrus scallop dish which was horrid. I could not eat it. Raw slimy scallop, doused in a redish lemony sauce on lettuce and in a rice cracker cup. Texture and taste ughhhhh. This dish just sealed the deal for me. Service was inconsistent. We wanted a bottle of wine and asked to taste it before we ordered the whole bottle. Our waitress seemed annoyed by that and very rushed to get to other patrons. I asked for a gluten free menu and she looked at me like I was crazy (they do have one and its advertised on their website). Towards the end she redeemed herself by being nicer and checking on us a few times. Didn't bother to check if we liked our dishes though, especially the last one which went back almost untouched. Dissapointed :(
(2)
Benjamin F.
Poor Service. We use to come a lot but we change to Roka. Bad service, some food was good, but we saw our wAiter every 20 minutes. I used to make big psrties, not anymore.
Went here on a recommendation from Check Please. Decor is super nice as they said. Food was mediocre at best. Crispy Pata- Was bone dry and lacked flavor. I hit it several times with my knife and I can hear a thud sound. I've had authentic Pata before and it was never dry like this. The sauces they served with it Pata wasn't good either. Tastes like watered down Hoisen sauce. Beef Lollipops-Flavor was ok. But the serving of sliced beef was way smaller than I imagined. It's very deceiving when it comes out. I would say at max about 3 oz if not 2 oz of beef for about $20. Bleh. Dragon Roll-Very uninspired. They tried to serve it nice but the rice was mushy and overdone. Not much seasoning on the rice. Figures all the sushi chefs are of Hispanic descent. Would've expected some Asian folks behind a sushi counter at a restaurant of this caliber. Miso soup-Organic really doesn't make a difference in taste. Adobo Rice (suggestion from server)-It was good but wayy too much burnt/charred rice mixed in that made it unpleasant to eat. Server-MIA for most of the meal had to flag him down on several occasions. We had tons of food leftover and usually the server will ask you if something is wrong with that much food left over but I guess the dont give a hoot. I asked my friend before I went and he told me it was overrated and overpriced...I should've listened to him. :( I'm really not picky I'm really not! :) FAIL
(1)
Wendy O.
Absolutely fab! Possibly your best meal in Chicago. Going back in 2 days. Ryan was awesome server! Oh yes, do not miss the Brussels sprout specialty dish. I hate veggies, but this dish was flat out yum. Upbeat atmosphere. Seattle dining duo.
(5)
Rebecca N.
I went here twice within two weeks. For someone who doesn't eat out all that often, that says a lot. Both times I went with girlfriends for the Sunda Social special which is their happy hour and food special from 5-7 Monday-Friday. This is the way to do Sunda if you are on a budget. The items on this menu (and a lot of their staple items are on it!) are half off. I listed the half-off prices to show what a great deal it really is. Both times it was only $23 a person! The first time I went, I went with 4 other girls and we shared everything. Some of us got the Mah Thai which was their special drink for the day and it tasted excellent. For appetizers we got the edamame ($2.50), rock shrimp tempura ($7.50) and brussel sprout salad ($7). They are pretty large portions--definitely enough to share with 5 people. The brussel sprout salad may be the most amazing salad and version of brussel sprouts I have EVER had!!! The shrimp glaze/dressing that goes over it is absolutely delicious. The rock shrimp is also to die for. For rolls we got the firecracker ($7.50), dragon ($8), tale of two tunas ($8). Firecracker is deep fried which I do not like-- I would not recommend this one. Dragon roll was also good. Basic shrimp and eel--can't really go wrong here. It did not stand out as original, but it was tasty. The tale of two tunas was the best roll of the night. Fresh and a little different than your classic spicy tuna. The fried shallots of top add a great crunch and is different than the basic tempura flake. In addition, we tried the hand cut spicy tuna and jalapeño on top of the crispy rice from the regular menu. This was okay. I thought the tuna lacked flavor and my friend said it was must better the first time she had it-- maybe it was just a bad batch! To end, we got the "Ridiculous" dessert. This was exceptional. Vanilla ice cream surrounded by ginger carrot cake and carmel. I die AND it is HUGE!!!! I came again with one friend who was dying to try Sunda and I was very excited to go back. For appetizers we got the brussel sprout salad and the toast and jam ($7.50). Sharing between two people you really realize how big the portions actually are. The toast and jam has such a cute nostalgic presentation. We tried the chicken and mushroom meatballs ($4.50) which were also outstanding. The hot mustard and sweet and sour sauce gives it that classic chinese flavor in a gourmet setting. For rolls, we went with the golden child ($7) and tale of two tunas. The golden child may be my most favorite roll I have ever tried! For a mango and escolar fanatic, this was my dream. Sweet and fresh. We ended with the ridiculous again and it did not disappoint. This restaurant truly lives up to the hype. I would avoid the communal seating because the benches do not have a back. I would reccomend going with 2 other people and sitting at the sushi bar. The service is absolutely outstanding. Water is filled instantly when your glass is half full and they fold your napkins when you leave. You really do feel like royalty here! The waiters I had both times gave great suggestions and I can't wait to go back again :)
(5)
Joe G.
Felt compelled to weigh in on this gem. Often these Asian restaurants are over thought and the food doesn't live up to the presentation. Service was great. Highlights - Corn fritter Tuna crab cake - bar none best ahi I have had. I will preface this by saying I order it at least 5 times a month. Seabass - also fantastic and a huge portion. Overall a wonderful experience.
(5)
Chelsea H.
Went to Sunda for lunch with coworkers to celebrate a birthday booked our reservation thru gdine.com and we were not disappointed HUGE portions I had the steak and my coworkers had the salmon everything was deelish! Will definitely be back!
(4)
Jean-Paul M.
Went back again expecting another amazing dinner and was a little disappointed. I still like this place and will go back but everything we had was a little bland tasting.
(4)
Tim G.
Just dined here tonight with a good friend after it came highly recommended by a few co-workers. I had youtubed a video on it which really stirred my interest. It's all in tagalog, which I speak, so for non-speakers you might find it hard to follow. But of course, it's all about the food, and that needs no words. youtube.com/watch?v=KTQf… Here's what we ordered: Mizu Martini (Watermelon) Lychee Luxury Drop Martini Appetizers: Ox Tail Pot Stickers Adobo Flake Fried Rice Main Dishes: Crispy Pata Honey-Ginger Braised Beef Shortrib Congee Review: The drinks were to be expected, a bit on the sweet side for the Lychee, but very good. We found the appetizers to be well-balanced. I particularly liked the Ox Tail pot stickers. They were truly different and the ox tail had good flavor. The sauce was similar to Toyo-mansi (for those familar with filipino sauces) maybe leaning more towards a citrus mirin/ponzu sauce. The Adobo Flake Fried Rice was also very good. It was a little reminiscent of the filipino-style breakfast rice dishes (Tapsilog, Longsilog, Tocilog) It was quite garlicky so for those who are put off by that, beware. I'm always a sucker for a fried egg atop rice, it makes me feel at home. Not too sweet, not to sour and definitely not too vinegary as some Adobo-infused dishes can be. Overall a well-balanced dish and flavorful dish. The main courses we found to be quite exquisite. The Crispy Pata was very tender and will be well received for those Lechon (roasted pig) lovers. The sauce it came with was very similar to the Sarsa Lechon that is always served with filipino style roasted pork, but with a slight hint of chili. It also came with some picked radish salad that was decent. We both really enjoyed the Honey-Ginger Beef Shortrib and Congee combination. I'm not a fan of arroz caldo only because I had overkill growing up. My mom would always make it when someone was sick and in large quantities, but this was something else. After watching the youtube video on this, I had to try it. The large quantity of beef was literally falling off the bone, spoon and fork tender, nicely seasoned. Literally, to-die-for style beef. The congee was good, could've used a bit more of it, but its taste complimented the beef well. They make the congee with butter and the drippings from the beef so it is overall a rich dish. Easily enough for two, but some/most will not want to share. Our bill came out to $106 before tip and valet ($11.99+tip). While it is on the pricey end, the food experience was well worth it. We left happy and will gladly come back. I'm actually planning on scheduling a group/family dinner here for my college grad in a few months.
(5)
Jay G.
good place for asian fusion and sushi. it can get a bit loud so be mindful of noise level. we ate the duck fried rice, a few different types of sushi rolls all which were good. id pass on the fire chicken, seemed to be a bit greasy. overall 3.5 stars and id eat here again. we lucked out getting in without a reservation as it quickly filled up and there was a long wait so id highly recommend making a reservation. the server was excellent.
(3)
Erkan Z.
Trendy ambiance. Great, kindly service. Good food, delicious sushis. Crispy Brussel sprout salad (3/5) Maguro sashimi (4/5) Rock shrimp tempura (4/5) Crispy rice with tuna (3/5) Baked seafood dynamite roll (5/5) Red dragon roll (5/5) Lobster and wagyu roll (4/5) Ridiculous -dessert- (4/5)
(4)
Kate S.
I was here for the first time Saturday night working at the Piven Theater benefit...and I will definitely be back. The VIP dinner was upstairs in a private room, and they did a great job accommodating all the benefit guests. As an employee of the theater, I was busy working all night so I didn't get an authentic dining experience by any means, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself even with all the hard work. The cocktails they were serving guests looked and sounded delicious (although gala staffers weren't allowed to drink until after everything was over at 11pm, and this was all happening at 5:00, so we only got to look, not taste). As we meandered around the room mingling with guests and preparing for the live auction, the wait staff were bringing out courses upon courses of food, and it all smelled and looked so good. We were all getting extremely hungry, and very jealous that all these people were getting fed. About 15 of us volunteers/theater employees were in one of the random back hallways of the restaurant on these crazy Asian inspired couches that were super comfy and stylish (there are so many twists and turns in the hallways of this place I still don't understand it)...then suddenly 3 guys in chef uniforms came out with 4 platters of food, asked us if we were the volunteers, and they fed us! Oh man it was great...I don't know if I was just starving from looking and smelling the food all night, but it was some of the best food ever...and it was even presented very well and looked very pretty, but it only lasted a second because the 15 starving staffers were like vultures picking over road kill. We had 3 things to try, including some pork spring rolls with two kinds of dipping sauce (sweet and sour and something that was spicy and green...both very good). There were also a variety of sushi rolls on a platter, and fried shrimp tempura. I am still salivating while thinking of the shrimp...some of the best I've ever had, and one of the first things gone when they brought it out. Unfortunately I was on the far side of the couch from that platter and only got a piece or two, but had I known it was that good I would have trampled everyone else to get there first. Later in the night we came back to pack up some stuff, and the downstairs bar and restaurant was still packed, even around midnight. The ambiance in the place is very swanky...relaxed, but still upscale. Totally my kind of place. And the whole restaurant still smelled amazingly delicious...somehow all the dishes there must really compliment each other. Usually sushi/Asian restaurants smell fishy and the amalgam of dishes leave an unappetizing stench...but not Sunda. I can't wait to come back and try the much talked about brunch (one of the bartenders was talking about the mimosas they have and I made a mental note to come check it out for myself), as well as some of the other entrees that everyone else seemed to enjoy so much during the event. I can't give 5 stars because I haven't truly been a customer yet....but all in good time.
(4)
Marisol D.
My hubby and I ordered an array of items and none were a disappointment.
(4)
Sal D.
Our server was excellent. Lively atmosphere. We ordered sushi and maybe it's because I've lived too long out West but the quality was relatively lacking for such a highly rated restaurant
(3)
Jaimey W.
Stumbled on this place whilst roaming the streets of Chicago and SO glad I did. The food is fantastic - great, FRESH rolls - loved the Summer of Sunda Roll (tuna, escolar, basil, mango, avocado, asparagus, soy paper, ponzu sauce). The Lemongrass Beef Lollipops (skewered on the lemongrass) were also delish! Good sushi is good sushi... however, paired with a great, after work young and sexy atmosphere AND killer cocktails = recipe for a sick day. I will absolutely go here again.
(4)
ZZ K.
Sunda take 1 - The first time we came here it was my fiance, my mom and I celebrating birthdays. Despite the attentive service, we all felt the food was just SUPER salty. I actually felt a bit stiffed, especially when you come here with these grand expectations, only to be drinking down tons of water to get the salty taste out of your mouth after each bite of food. We did mention that we thought the food was salty, but we didn't complain about it...and nothing was really done. Sunda take 2 - Now....move ahead a year and a half later and I'm brought back to Sunda for a company holiday party. Sadly, no spouses, but I felt he could come along and have a drink a the bar ($75 later...). Anyhoo - the food I had this time was really tasty. indo corn fritters chicken and mushroom siu mai lemongrass beef lollipops - AWESOME! Also, there were a number of sushi rolls, noodle salad and ahi tuna. My hubby had a great tasting hand roll called "no you didn't...the ultimate handroll" and pancit canton - a nice noodle dish with pork and shrimp. He also could not help himself and ordered a dessert! He opted for for some kind of pineapple upside down cake (a special) and it was really tasty! I actually had bites of everything he had. So our opinoins have changed in regards to the food. As everyone knows, this place is a total scene. The bar is packed and everyone looks at one another and you may see someone famous, or someone trying to be famous, or someone whose company has been paid for that evening...but that is all part of the experience here. The food really goes hand-in-hand with the scene "experience". Get pretty and go to Sunda.
(4)
Bonnie A.
Goodness, this place was sooo expensive. The food was really delicious though. I guess that made up for it. The truffle tataki was amazing but anything with truffle oil is good. The crispy rice was as good as they made it sound. The adobo braised pork belly was fatty and marinated perfectly. This place definitely deserves high ratings since every entree were scrumptious. You can taste that each entree was expensive.
(4)
Mihir P.
The food and atmosphere is excellent. The service on the other hand SUCKS BIGTIME. Here is why: - Hostess was socially awkward and when seating us, she had no idea where she was going. - Before I met my buddy for lunch at Sunda, I was out Black Friday shopping and bought a new food product so I was showing it to him. The hostess said she has to hold it at the hostess stand. I told her we weren't going to eat it and I was just showing it to him. She insisted on the policy and wasn't polite about it. I used to work in the restaurant business and I understand that restaurants don't want outside food and beverages being consumed on their premises but this is ridiculously anal. - While we were waiting for our food. A food runner was serving the table adjacent to ours. He hit the chair next to me pretty hard and it hit my knee. I said "Ahhh". He just looked at me and walked away. - We didn't receive soy sauce with our spicy tuna rolls and when I asked another waiter, he was pissy about it. - Our waiter was pleasant but service was spotty. Overall, the staff there was miserable. I'm VERY surprised that there isn't better training at Sunda and that hiring more socially confident people is tough in this economy.
(2)
Antoine J.
Great vibe - great food. Went with a group and we had the waiter surprise us. The brussel sprout salad was awesome, as were the dragon rolls. We'd definately go again.
(4)
Olga C.
Interesting and inventive Asian-inspired cuisine. The sushi was not the best, but decent. There is quite a bit more on the menu than sushi and probably worth checking out (as the sushi is a bit overpriced). The decore was welcoming and whimsical, but not beat-you-over-the-head whimsical. The presentation of the food was another plus - a fun twist. Excellent service with knowledgeable staff.
(4)
Crystal X.
dined during lunch hours: not as busy as dinner or weekend. cocktails: lychee martini (great as usual), house saki lunch: seaweed sunomono salad (over priced), hamachi, maguro, escolar over priced menu-- more reason to come back for their happy hour during the week day.
(3)
Nocciola H.
I went here Sunday night and enjoyed myself. The staff is quick to clean the tables after each course, and refill water. I did NOT like how ice wasn't included with the water though. I DID like how trendy and intimate the place was. The food was really good too (not much of a sushi person)... On the pricey side. For dessert we got some type of icecream that i've never had before... it was good. The music was loud, but i could still have a conversation with the person next to me. I would go back! :)
(4)
Adam M.
The ambiance here is great, I loved the Asian decor and it was a very fun place to eat. My girlfriend and I split a total of four dishes and I enjoyed each one (Loompya, Rock Shrimp Tempura, Adobo Braised Pork Belly, and the Firecracker Sushi Roll) I can't wait to go back to try some of the other options; there were so many great things listed on their menu. One dish that MUST be ordered here is the Rock Shrimp Tempura. Our waiter mentioned that it is the most ordered dish and I can definitely see why. One word... AMAZING!
(4)
Stephanie J.
the Peared Sake drink is AMAZING! and I love the brussel sprout salad.
(4)
Chester W.
I'm not a huge fan of asian fusion and Sunda seems to try and incorporate a little something from every east asian and southeast asian cuisine. I've only sampled their sushi and will give it a B- rating. The variety of fish was pretty mediocre and the quality/freshness was decent. Rice on the nigiri and rolls was cold and a bit too wet (meaning that the chefs probably dipped too many fingers in the water when they scooped up the rice). Perhaps the dark lighting did not help the visual appeal of the fish... I feel like really good and fresh fish seem to look very vibrant. The rolls were pretty weird too and definitely had a local influence (who puts BACON on rolls?!?!). If you consider yourself a sushi snob, then I would not recommend this place. Certainly, people there seemed to be enjoying what they thought was sushi... but my table seemed to be the only one that actually ordered nigiri. One great thing was that the servers and chefs there were really friendly and helpful.
(3)
Michelle F.
Ok, so Sunda. I was excited to go here, but I gotta say....WAAAYYY over priced for what you get. Now, I knew going in to it it was expensive, and if the food was outstanding I would be fine with that. But it wasn't. It was ok. First, I was annoyed because we were seated at 7:30 for our 7:00 reservation. Jerry Seinfeld knows how annoying this is.....HOLDING the reservation is the most important part. Anyways, we sit down, our server is nice, but slow. We get a sushi roll and pork belly bao buns and both were delish. I got a Vietnamese noodle dish for my main course and it left something to be desired. My boyfriend's short ribs were very tender, but also bland. It cost me $35 for two drinks. After all is said and done, I will not be returning. You are paying for the hype, and that's about it.
(2)
Andrea B.
Came here on Christmas Day (yikes!) with the bf's family and my mom. It was crowded of course (being Christmas we expected lots of people) but we were seated promptly which was nice (FYI they would not seat us until all of our party was together, so if people are running late, etc. plan accordingly). We refused to pay the $11.99 valet service fee. really? The ambiance of Sunda is nice, with warm lights and Asian inspired decor. However, it is LOUD. I could barely hear myself think. My mom, who has trouble hearing, could barely make out anything people were saying right next to her, let alone the waiter talking about the menu at the other end. We basically had to shout at one another at one table.They had music playing, which in the end, was not needed as people's voices took over any sound in the speakers. gross. They have Sapporo on tap, so that's good. My mom wanted a mango ice tea. Several minutes later, servers set down two carafes of plain ice tea and soda water. They then set down mango and pomegranate syrup so we could mix the flavors into our drink of choice. A nice effort, but there was no explanation of how much syrup to mix in a glass, or why we had to mix our own drinks in the first place. We had to help my mom get her own glass of mango ice tea because she didn't understand the concept, and really...I can't blame her. Appetizers were decent but overpriced in my opinion. Everyone seemed to be raving about the brussel sprout salad, but I...just didn't like it. It felt overcooked but no one else complained, so I guess I have weird tastes. The egg rolls tasted like hot dogs, and the crab dish we ordered came in a pot of cooked hot peppers that seemed only to serve as decoration since the crab itself was not spicy. I will say...the shrimp toast with tuna "jam" was the best thing we ordered. I usually don't eat tuna, but this was amazing and the textures were just right. I recommend it highly! The entrees were better. We ordered chicken, sea bass, braised short rib, and pork. The ribs fell right off the bone and was seasoned nicely. The chicken was decent, but nothing to write home about. The pork skin was a little too crispy for my taste, but otherwise delicious. The bass was cooked perfectly and tasted great (I recommend that one too!). We were pretty full by this point, but we ordered a few desserts to try. My mom insisted on the chocolate lava cake, which was AMAZING. I love chocolate and anything that oozes chocolate, so that was a win. The fried ice cream also gets my vote..for some reason it tasted like something from my childhood, which brought back crazy memories of summer for some reason. The chef's special dessert of the evening was a walnut/caramel cake with strawberry compote and that was...interesting but not my fave; I found it to be on the heavier side than the rest of the desserts. all in all, an enjoyable experience but I'm not sure if I want to return. Too pricey for what you get; and what you get is a loud room with mediocre appetizers.
(3)
Adam G.
This place is four stars for the food. The rock shrimp was delicious and all the rolls were fantastic as well. And this place is two stars for the service. We ordered a mix of appetizers, rolls and entrees (6 in all for 2 people) and all the dishes ended up on the table at the same time at one point. Not well paced and entire meal was done in less than 40 minutes. Don't order all your items at once to avoid the same fate.
(2)
Sarah M.
After reading through the reviews, I was unsure of how my experience at Sunda was going to be. I have been wanting to try this place for 2 years now, but never had a chance. Finally, the day arrived! I was hopeful that it would be a five star, but sadly it was not. I went there last night and got there 5 minutes before the reservation time and checked in with the hostess. The other guest in my party arrived on time, and even though it was the two of us, on time, we watched the hostess seat 5 other different sized groups that came in after us. We waited 15 minutes to be seated even though the dining area was empty, not cool. The interior is chic, and inviting. Once we were seated our waiter immediately came over to take our drink orders even though we were still taking off scarves and coats and settling in. At first he was friendly, but he became forgetful and bothersome by the time we were done. For drinks, my friend had the pear cocktail, it was good. I ordered a Lychee Luxe drop, not my favorite at all. It tasted like shrimp cocktail sauce strangely. We ordered the Bao's with pork belly, just all right, the sauce they were in masked the flavor of the other components. I also ordered the crab garlic noodles, wayyyyyyyyyy too much garlic, it masked the flavor of that poor delicate crab meat. My friend got 2 sushi rolls, she said they were excellent, Sunda Rainbow roll and Salmon Skin roll. We wanted a second round of drinks, but our waiter didn't ask if we were interested and instead brought the check. Between all the pomp and circumstance, I'll go elsewhere in the future.
(2)
Kelly M.
Had a great time! Came for a bachelorette party and they spoiled us with the chefs table, free appetizer and dessert. Food was delicious and atmosphere was fun! Super nice staff too.
(4)
Moe N.
Was there Friday, January 27 with a few friends. Had some of the best Sushi that I've ever had in my life. The spicy tuna roll was really good but the Tale of Two Tuna was even better. Our server was a beast. He recommended what was really good and told us what wasn't. I'm gonna come back here soon, I'm already craving it.
(5)
Graciela D.
This experience was top notch without paying top dollar thanks to "www.gdine.com". The food was incredible, service personable and an overall excellent value.
(5)
Misty B.
I've been to Sunda for numerous occasions. Girls' Night, Birthday (mine), Holidays, Weekends, with reservations and without. It's by far one of the best dining experiences in the city. The atmosphere is lively, upbeat and best of all you are able to have a conversation with the group, friends, date you're with because there isn't obnoxious music playing in the background. The service is perfection... from the Bar, servers, host and chefs! They all extremely knowledgeable about the food & drink selection. As well as VERY helpful and creative for those of us (me) Vegetarians. Just let your server know your restrictions and the kitchen will prepare something amazing! The Food will rock your world... My favorites are the Brussel Sprout Salad, Garlic Noodles and the Veggie Roll. Their Veggie roll is by far some of the best I've had in the city AND I find myself craving the Brussel Sprout Salad! I would recommend ANY food lover to try Sunda... trust me. These taste buds wouldn't send you in the wrong direction.
(5)
Meredith G.
Another great recommendations from yelpers when looking for a cool lunch spot near the Mart. We had to walk in the rain a bit, but it was worth it to get fresh air. I was able to make a reservation on-line which I love and the restaurant called me the day before to confirm. The interior is appealing to the eye and we were seating near the back past the sushi bar and were able to see everything leaving the kitchen and it all looked good. The steamed buns with duck are a must. We each could've eaten the plate of 4 solo. I got the spicy steak salad (take a look at my picture) and it was very tasty. I don't do spicy a lot, so I had to pick off some of the pepper flakes since my mouth was on fire. Over all experience was pleasant, but it got very loud. I can't imagine eating here at night and trying to talk to anyone.
(3)
Jeffrey Z.
Last night was our third visit to Sunda, and it never disappoints. The plates here are made to share, so we always try a lot of different items. The shishito peppers are our favorite appetizer--they're so simple yet delicious. The beef lollipops are great as well. The mushroom and asparagus salad is delicious with just enough freshness to bring up the grilled vegetables and some great crunch. We tried the shitaki and edamame dim sum, which was very good, and the ginger sauce it was served with was superb (I started using it on everything). The highlight for me was the beef short rib, which was fall-apart tender and moist with great sauce. The lamb was great as well, and the truffle mushroom brown rice that came with it was definitely one of my favorite bites of the night. The only thing that underwhelmed me was dessert. We shared the chocolate mousse, which was good, but the cake it was served on was dry. I can definitely let that slide after the amazing food we had. It's a loud place, so keep that in mind if you're looking to get into deep conversations at dinner. Despite the noise, the service is wonderful. Our waiter was great, and the food never took long at all. Sunda is a must-try.
(5)
Sharon L.
Ok, let's get the downers out of the way: very loud (I.e. Had to lip read to 'hear' dining partner across the table), but then again, it was a Saturday night at 730pm. Miso soup came cold. That's it for the downside. Trendy, hip ambience. Groovy decor. Waitstaff and runners amazing. All apps and sushi were very good. Great drinks. Perhaps not "the greatest sushi I've ever had", but the whole experience was overall pleasant, and I would return....jet maybe not on a Saturday night!
(4)
Adam M.
Strolled into Sunda for lunch a couple times this last week after seeing an advertisement for their lunch special. Nice place, good food and relatively quick to get in and out on for a lunch. Only a couple minor complaints. Made the mistake of sitting at the sushi bar, felt like I was sitting at one of my kids school desks. Seats were pretty small and at 6'4", felt a little awkward and uncomfortable in them. Took the community table the second time. Second, a little stingy on the soy. Gave me like two tablespoons both times for two rolls and a few sushi pieces. You'd think there was a soy shortage. Definitely would go back for lunch, not sure however if I'd wait for a table or deal with the crowd on a busy weekend night.
(4)
Tom B.
Had an amazing lunch last week ! Service needs a little attention, but all in all the food was remarkable!
(4)
Roberto G.
Pad Thai noodle Pork buns good Filipino food.
(4)
Sam S.
Jennifer was our sushi guide for the evening. She recommended the Crunchy Pig - Hidden Lobster roll, and it was awesome.
(4)
Christine J.
I have eaten dinner at Sunda many times. The food and service were always excellent. I have had the Crispy Rice with Tuna, Rock Shrimp Tempura (which is my favorite) and the Oxtail Pot Stickers for appetizers. All were delicious! All of the sushi was fresh and melts in your mouth. I love the Chilean Sea Bass and the Black Cod. The scene is trendy and loud. I would go here on a date as well as with a large group .
(4)
Jamie L.
Simply put, spectacular. Great sushi, great entrees, amazing cocktails and perfect waiter service. It's no surprise Sunda has become one of the most popular spots in the city right now, and Michelin recommended. Reminded me of Japonais, but I liked the atmosphere at Sunda just a bit more.
(5)
Yvonne O.
I went here for lunch with a colleague one Friday and LOVED every minute of the experience. Unfortunately, it was during Lent, so I had to skip some of the delicious things I was planning on trying, but I enjoyed branching-out and trying a green curry (SPICY!) I also got a spicy tuna item which was delcious and one of the special sodas that you basically create yourself at the table in a fun beaker. It is not a quick lunch, but when you have a litte extra time, it is well worth the trip from the loop and the time!
I had the opportunity to visit Sunda on a business lunch, and it was as good as expected. We chose to get a few appetizers and a few rolls to share. The Rock Shrimp Tempura was out of this world. I would order that dish every time I walked through the door. The Duck....What...Pork? was also delicious. We went with the pork belly which was cooked perfectly and flavorful. I only wish I could have ordered half pork belly and half duck. Given the name of the dish, I think that would be a natural option. For our maki, we ordered the Spicy "Tail of Two Tunas" and the Scorpion. I love sushi, and I was not floored with either of the rolls. I did not feel like either was a good value nor anything truly unique. Nonetheless, they were solid rolls, but not work the price. Our server was very friendly and patient as we took our time to order the maki. Over all, a good experience.
(4)
Gigi Y.
Why haven't I visited this place sooner? Thankfully I had a good group of individuals who recommended some great menu items for me to try! Below lists what we ordered--and every single one of these were absolutely delicious and well worth the money spent: - Oxtail Potstickers - Crispy Pata (confit pork shank) - Lobster and wagyu roll - The "Ridiculous" Dessert - tempura fried vanilla ice-cream & carrot cake dipped in caramel and topped with toasted walnuts. YES, it was ridiculously AWESOME! Cocktail of choice? The Divine Lychee: Belvedere black raspberry, Grand marnier, lychee, guava puree. I mean, helloo!? Enough said here. :)
(5)
Rits T.
Love everything here. Decor to food to service. Enjoy my brunch. Recommended!
(4)
R P.
Great drinks. Tasty food. Trendy Ambiance. I'd definitely recommend this place for fun date, night out w/ the friends, or in general. Food: Rock shrimp is good. Rolls are also good. And there are a couple of good vegetarian options as well (veggie appies seemed more appetizing than veggie entrees - my friend got the Pad Thai for her main dish, which was fresh but mediocre in taste; but we also got Indo Corn fritters and Eggplant/Tofu veggie appies and they were very good). Finally, I highly recommend the Kobe Beef Tartare. Creative made and very good. Service: Fine, no problems. Servers were friendly / accommodating both times I went. Cocktails: Quite vibrant and at times a bit too flavorful, but I'd still recommend trying the Peared Sake, Azure Dragon, Divine Lychee and Serenity. Well made and refreshing.
(4)
Jim O.
I went here completely based on reviews. I was not sure i would enjoy because i usually stray from the pretentious moniker, or any place that may be trendy to the point of being mistaken for a dance club. So i went early. 6pm. Seriously. Service: All were friendly, our server was attentive and knowledgable and made great recommendations. Food: Insanely fabulous. Braised spare ribs, seared crab crusted ahi tuna and rock shrimp everyone talks about. So good. The rock shrimp tempura was great, spicy and hit with some candied walnuts. The tuna was amazing. It was a fusion on sushi, and was completely solid. I'm not sure what i can say about the spare ribs. I would order it as my last meal on earth. So tender, great flavors. Drinks: Tried a few specialty cocktails and did not disappoint. Very innovative and refreshing. Atmosphere: Asian Fusion, tasteful, sparse. I have a feeling i was happy i got there early, as I bet this place would be hard to have a conversation in around 9pm. Price: I'f you are going here, you obviously are prepared to spend above $100 per person. You can go way higher depending on your entree and drinks. It's all worth it, perfect place for an impressive dinner. I was skeptical. Completely impressed, one of the top 5 meals I have ever had. Go there.
(5)
Mary L.
COCKROACHES!!!! ran on my friends arm!! SUCKED!! Serviice SUCKS!! People sucked!!! I would NOT go there if it was FREE!!! no taste to the food. if you could call it that I would not feed my dog that SH,IT!!! Billy Deck. you should be ASHAMED!! Total CRAP!!!! Distgusting, no toilett paper or soap in ladies room!!! should be shut down inmmediately11111 way over priced1111
(1)
Laura N.
You do not have to eat sushi to enjoy dining at Sunda. But this is a great place for beginners or experienced sushi lovers. Plenty of other great options are on the menu though. This place is swanky by night and is more casual by day. When in doubt err on the side of business casual at the least. Or at least dust off your nice jeans and leave the Converse at home. You won't be the oddball in either a dress or pants here. What you should try: Devil's Basket: wok tossed crispy soft shell crabs (2), dried chilis, shallots, scallions, toasted garlic - Amazing. The crabs pick up the hint of heat from the chilis. If you don't like spice you'll probably be fine. This is a good spice, not a "fire in the hole!" sort. Oxtail Pot Stickers: braised oxtail, caramelized onion jus, "white" wasabi cream - extremely tender, just wonderful. Dim Sum style. Any of the Truffled Tataki Sashimi; the Summer of Sunda Roll, or the Lobster and Wagyu Roll. Or the Firecracker Roll. Delicious martinis; good wine list. Go there with friends, a date, family, coworkers - you'll do well no matter whom you eat with.
(4)
Iman J.
Sunda is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in River North... wait I should say in all of Chicago. I've heard they might start serving brunch on weekends and that sounds like awesomeness to hungover weekends. I think some people give Sunda heat, because they think of it solely as a sushi place.... that's a mistake. The food here is so much more than just sushi. The other night I had the Kobe Beef Sirlion and it wasn't even close to something you'd imagine ordering at a sushi restaurant. I should mention it was absolutely delicious and was paired with whipped potatoes that were great. We also got the Garlic Noodles with Crab and I can say it's hands down my favorite thing at Sunda. No Sunda isn't your 100% authentic Asian restaurant and no it isn't just a sushi restaurant... it's the entire continent rolled into one beautiful restaurant.
Two stars only cause i like the Pad Thai I ordered, other than that, the only thing i can say about this place is i left with my butt hurting Maybe it was our fault for not having a reservation on a Friday night, three of us went and the hostess told we had to sit at the "High Top Table". Not knowing what that meant we were directed to the front of the restaurant to this long wooden high top with stools. Let me back up, the hostess station was such a cluster we didnt know who to follow to where the stools had no backs no bars on the bottom so your legs kinda have no place to go so you are always readjusting because the stool is not padded and your butt starts to hurt. got edemame and dumplings for appetizers, they were good, nothing to write home about, i mean come on its edemame I ordered the Pad Thai, friends ordered sushi my Pad Thai came almost 10 mins before their sushi came so i waited for them to get served and by that time mine was cold. it was over priced, wont go back
(2)
Natalie S.
I was tasked with suggesting a diner spot for my culinary literary agent and her mother, who happens to own the agency. Oh, and she also once cooked dinner for Julia Child. No big deal. Did I mention that I'm a strict vegetarian and my agent is gluten-free and egg-free? Oy vey. So I tweeted a cry for help and smacked myself in the forehead with a big fat "duh" when numerous people tweeted "Sunda!" in response. I've only been working out of the office directly next door since the day they opened. We were seated promptly at 6pm as per our reservation, and were happy to be in the hands of a server who knew the menu inside and out. Not only was he able to rattle off every veggie-friendly dish on the menu, including substitutions that made several seafood dishes vegetarian, but he also got us started with several gluten-free options. If he wasn't sure about something he checked with the kitchen, and he never seemed the least bit put out with the number of times we sent him running. Not only that, but the woman who helped write the allergy guidelines for the chefs came out and spend several minutes with my dining companion explaining all of the options she had. I can't even remember everything we ordered - with so many options we over did it a bit. The warm spinach and mushroom salad was delicious, as were the corn fritters. The pad thai was light and citrusy and we also had these smokey hot peppers that we couldn't get enough of. The only dish I wasn't overly into was the eggplant and tofu toban - but I'm put off by mushy tofu, so that's a personal preference. Overall I left full and happy, and really impressed by how easily they were able to accommodate our requests. I will definitely be stepping down my office steps and hanging a left for lunch again soon.
(4)
Lisa T.
I was definitely hyping Sunda up waaay too much in my head. It has been at the top of the list of "Places I Want to Go" for quite some time now.... and it was just....ok. Don't get me wrong; the restaurant is gorgeous inside.... decor is unbelievably well done and they whole place is quite the trendy scene. Our meal was really the "just ok" part. It's a bit perplexing to me that Sunda encourages a "shared plates" style of dining. Most of their main dishes do not lend themselves to a tapas type meal. Obviously, the "appetizer" type plates and the sushi rolls are great for sharing (duh); however, the main dishes and choices from the grill are plated as an entree for one person. Starting with drinks.... definitely one of the better Saketinis in town. Muddled with cucumber and was unbelievably smooth. Yum. 1 more, please. My friend had their espresso martini and loved it; I loathe espresso martinis so I didn't sample. A fun drink list overall. We ordered the lemongrass beef lollipops, the duck baos, the atlantic salmon "bundles", and the chilean sea bass with curried cauliflower puree...... Lemongrass Beef Lollipops - by far the highlight of the meal. Almost ordered another plate of them. These are the only thing I'd specifically go back to Sunda for, they are that good. Seasoned so well they don't even need the dipping sauce that is served alongside. Duck Baos - They are good, but I also love Baos. I wouldn't order this again; I can get the exact same thing at Wow Bao. Atlantic Salmon Bundles - Meh. Bland. The salmon itself was fresh and tasty, but the crab salad in the middle of the bundles had zero flavor. Skip it. Chilean Sea Bass with curried cauliflower puree - Very good, but again, was absolutely not plated to be a shared dish. A big, beautiful piece of fish, pan roasted to perfection. The cauliflower side dish was a really nice accompaniment. The flavors were all there and the fish was quite perfectly cooked, it was honestly just hard to eat as a shared plate. Server was fine; frankly the 7 other people that stopped by our table asking how the meal was were nicer and more courteous than our server. If I make it back to Sunda, I would probably try to come with a larger group. It's really a "night out" kind of place that would be a fun group meal.
(3)
Learned N.
Food: sub-par, especially for the price. Service: I would give negative stars to the nasty woman who waited on our table. Atmosphere: The place is very well laid out and the people who frequent the establishment seem to be very well off and put together. But, with all its splendor, we were seated on very uncomfortable stools. I felt like I was in grade school. I found previous comments on this place to be spot on. It really does seem like a place to be seen, and is not a top class restaurant first.
(1)
Cindy K.
I came here for a happy hour date with a few of my favorite ladies. Loved the decor and the service was great. All the servers were quite attractive, if that matters. Doesn't hurt, anyway. The apps and some rolls are half off, plus there are daily drink specials. This runs from 5-7 and it's totally worth it. The food is delicious. It was rather heavy for me since most of the apps are fried, but it still tasted good. I just can't take too much fried stuff. The only thing I didn't like was that salad thing that was also fried. Yeah, you read that right. Fried salad. Besides that, everything else was good. We ordered almost everything on the happy hour menu. The drinks are very reasonable and not watered down in the least. I would return again.
(4)
Curtis H.
I'm still trying to figure out why this place is so popular. I ate here last night with two friends that were in from out of town. It was entirely my idea to go here and I was thrilled to have gotten a last minute reservation at 8:30pm. We arrived on time and waited for a half-hour for our table. During that time we wandered over to the bar and ordered a few drinks. We stood there for about 10 minutes waiting, when eventually the bartender who took our order made uncomfortable eye contact with us and suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to pour our $12 drinks! The worst thing about this was that the bar wasn't even busy. So first impressions are important and this was NOT a good one. We were finally seated...in a horrible location I might add. It was a tiny table meant for two but we had three. One of my friends was seated on the side of the table with his back up against a pole. He was uncomfortable the entire time and we could all tell. The service at the table was good. Every time we dropped a crumb or finished a plate, someone was there to pick it up. The food was ok. Nothing special. It certainly didn't make up for the other areas I mentioned in this review. Overall, 2 stars is generous in my mind. This place is not worth the hype!
(2)
Anthony W.
This place was absolutely AMAZING. I had a roll with sweet potatoes!...I know...it sounds gross but it was delicious. The atmosphere was wonderful. It's a bit pricey but it's worth every penny.
(5)
Bethany M.
Fantastic sushi. Great ambiance and killer service. Props to our waitress Noel, every suggestion she made was absolutely incredible. Great White Tuna sashimi with truffle oil is a must.
(5)
Syngin A.
A very seen and be seen place with modern, edgy, Asian decor and the usual, yuppie crowd. I'm just happy to have a sushi restaurant in the neighborhood amidst all the pub fare, Italian, seafood, steak and American restaurants. I was underwhelmed by the dumpling appetizer. The dumplings were served individually in tiny bowls with a drop of broth making me feel like I was having a shot glass of dumpling. Too strange. The $50.00 plate of kobe steak was disappointing because it had quite a bit of grizzle, and after having cut it away, you wondered if that grizzle was $10.00 worth. I loved my spicy tuna, but you have to suppose any sushi restaurant could get that right. I ordered two plates because one plate wasn't filling enough. A glimpse at the dessert menu let me know where the fusion part is. I have a wicked sweet tooth, but the Asian twist on American desserts didn't sound appetizing to me. I can see why the restaurant is popular, but it just ididn't work for me.
(3)
Dan R.
I loved this place. I thought the sushi was some of the more tasty, inventive sushi I've ever had. We had a wide assortment of sushi and apps-- the firecracker roll was delicious. I like the beef-lollipops a lot. Also, the names are funny: there is an "oh no you didn't" roll. Oh yes I did... and loved it. Also, any and all of the deserts are great. We ordered them all. Tasty Mochi. Chocolates with mango and cherry compote (yummola) and an item called "ridiculous." It was indeed ridiculous... ice cream with a tempora shell and caramel on the outside. Perfection.
(4)
Chris N.
I dined at Sunda with one of my best friends over the weekend, and had a first-rate experience. This was just as good as the first time (last summer). We were greeted by a warm and friendly staff upon arrival, which was fantastic. Often times, you go to these hip and trendy restaurants, and the host staff ends up being complete jerks who are more in to themselves, than actually providing great service. This was not the case at Sunda, and I really appreciated their professionalism. Within minutes of being seated, we were offered a complimentary small chicken and mushroom salad (delicious). As for starters, we ordered a couple of Dim Sum dishes: soup dumplings and oxtail potstickers (good, but the least favorite part of the meal), as well as the longevity garlic noodles and baby bok choy. We also ordered the Oh No You Didn't hand roll, as well as the garden vegetable sushi roll. If I could have re-done anything about what we ordered, I probably would've dropped the oxtail potstickers and swapped it out with the chicken and mushroom shu mai. We didn't have dessert this time around, but I've had a couple of dishes before, and remember really enjoying it. The service was impeccable. We never had to ask for any water refills, and as we finished plate after plate, the server assistants were there to seamlessly remove it from our table. Overall, the meal was fantastic and the service was wonderful. Without a doubt, this is my most favorite "Asian" restaurant in the United States and I will undoubtedly miss it when I move out of the Midwest and back "home" to the Pacific Northwest.
(4)
Karen L.
3.5 stars. First off, this place is very trendy and BEAUTIFUL inside. Seriously, if you want to impress, this is a great place to go! The menu is extensive and I loved the variety and everything looked liked it would be SO yummy... but I was a tad disappointed in some of the dishes, I will have to admit. Or maybe my expectations were just a little too high going in since I have heard many rave reviews. Overall, it was pretty good but not exceptional, and it was a bit pricey at the end of everything for what you get. We ordered a bunch of plates to share, which was what was recommended... it is my favorite way to dine! Here is what was on our menu: Brussel Sprout salad - yummy, definitely different and tasty Rock Shrimp - delicious, the shrimp were a bit small but the flavor was great. Sliced Kobe Beef Carpacciao - It is kobe beef, how can you go wrong? So tender and fatty, the way I like it! Pork Belly - WAY too salty. It was almost hard to eat Seabass - The fish was good but not great and the side of cauliflower was just weird... too mushy Green Beans - a nice side dish Oxtail Potstickers - was nicely pan-fried and I liked the tender ox-tail, but I thought it was an odd filling for the dumpling. Maybe just not used to it. Duck Hash - It was honestly just okay... and what was the hash? I thought there would be something with potatoes, and I also didn't taste a daikon cake. It was a good tasting of food for 5 people, and we left satisfied but not totally full. And it is a "night out" place since it is so trendy and $$. I would love to go back but next time I will definitely try the sushi rolls.
(3)
Keri W.
I loved it! Great atmosphere, great service, and very unique sushi/roll/menu options! I love sushi, but plenty of options on the menu for people who are not full on sushi fans. Food was excellent! Very rare to order something, and then want to order it again...and we felt this way multiple times! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Celeste E.
I've wanted to visit Sunda since its doors opened. This is one of the first upscale Chicago restaurants to feature Filipino cuisine. There are many wonderful family-owned Filipino restaurants, but none fusion-ed with such upscale styling. My expectations were not let down! Everyone in my party left completely satisfied and wanting to come back. Great Chicago restaurant for those who want to try something new and non-chain. My best advice is (if at all possible), to make reservations for happy hour, Sunda Social. Weekdays from 5-7pm, a separate, smaller menu is available with sushi rolls and appetizers for Half Price! A number of their best and most popular appetizers are included. We decided to share some so we could have a taste of everything. - Everyone should try the Rock Shrimp (tempura-ed, cooked and glazed to perfection). - More adventurous types will love the Roasted Duck Bao Buns. They coat the duck with that delicious plum sauce. - Though I'll agree the sushi isn't the best Chicago has to offer, the rolls merge creative ingredients, are presented beautifully and still taste great. The Golden Child with Mango is a great summer sushi roll. Deserving of mention is the Number Ten sushi roll for those who like Shrimp Tempura. The restaurant ambiance reminded us of luxury hotels in the Philippines, Asian Contemporary. Sunda has a nice open layout so you can see the bar and sushi bar from practically any table. We saw all types of people, mostly after work business types, but our 5 person party of casual 20-somethings didn't stick out. There were a few families with smaller children there, also. With our discounted appetizers we spent the money on drinks, perfect for martini and wine lovers. I had the lychee martini to complement the Asian dishes. A must visit for foodies, out of towners who like Asian fusion, downtown Happy Hour folks and Girls Nights Out.
(4)
Trish J.
Amazing. Get the pig sticks. Best pork I've ever had in my life. My boyfriend and I couldn't even speak while enjoying them. The sushi was fantastic too ! This place is def on the pricey side, but in my opinion, it is completely and totally worth it.
(5)
Faith B.
I absolutely love the interior design of this restaurant. The food was great! A little on the pricey side, but well worth it. Drinks on the other hand were not all that great to me. Try the garlic noodles. You won't be sorry! Be sure to make your reservations well in advance. This place is packed during dinner hours!
(4)
Gina H.
Went to Sunda for a company party and really loved the upstairs party room, for those of you that are looking for one for some sort of corporate event....as for the food: BEEF LOLLIPOPS!? Love them. If there is one thing I can say I love, it's meat on sticks, but meat on lollipos!? Get out of town.They were absolutely delicious. Also had the shrimp tempura which was very good as well. I definitely want to revisit to try this place out again.
(5)
Peter H.
One of the best Asian Fusion experiences we've had. 10 friends at big fun table splitting salads, buns, noodles and sushi. Great advice from waitress at reasonable prices in a loud but hip setting.
(5)
C S.
Went with a small group, and found everything to be excellent. The salads were normal fair but the following entrees really shined and would definitely return for them. Pork belly baos Adobo braised black pork belly Shaking beef Kobe beef sirlion Lemon beef lolli[pops
(4)
Margaret J.
I dined in yesterday for my birthday celebration with 6 friends. The minute we walked in, we were told the staff was still setting up our table and it would take a couple of minutes so we waited outside. About five minutes later, we went back inside and were seated in the back room which was perfect ...only to find out shortly after that we had to move b/c this table wasn't for us. That was only the beginning...and already it was off to a terrible start. The server took FOREVER to take our orders...we were all waiting for about 20 minutes b4 he decided to come by and ask what we wanted. I ordered the devil's basket which looked like a good choice but turned out that 3/4 of my bowl was filled with hot chili peppers...(certainly not very filling or a good hearty meal)The description read that the basket would be filled with crab and other sead food delights....and it consisted of about 3 peices of it! When i looked around for our waiter to order something different b/c i wasnt satisfied...he was nowhere to be found....what a SURPRISE!. The only reason im giving this place two stars is b/c my friends secretley asked for a dessert to be brought out since it was my birthday and all.... and the dessert was simply amazing! It was fried vanilla icecream with walnuts! So0o0o delicious. & the waiter even wished me a happy birthday at the end so i guess my dining experiance at sunda was bitter sweet.
(2)
Natalie M.
Sunda has great decor, beautiful people, classy atmosphere, AMAZING desserts. Unfortunately what made this review is what Sunda LACKS. I am usually not one to harp on price, as I am willing to spend a good bit on a fab meal, however, my meal here was not fab. $10 for a veggie roll- which is LESS tasty than the rolls I get at Green Tea for $2? $8 for cauliflower? $5 for jasmine tea? After these prices I was expecting an orgasmic dining experience. NADA, nothing happened. My tummy was no longer rumbly, and the food was edible, but....umm...NO. Not terribly pleased. Add that to a trip DOWNSTAIRS to go to the bathroom, acoustics so HORRID that I could barely hear my dining companion, uncomfy chairs and Sunda is left with 2stars. Our server was fine, nice enough, but nothing special. The desserts are the only thing that made my experience memorable, my bread pudding WAS very good- but If was looking for a great dessert place I would head to Hot Chocolate, NOT Sunda.
(2)
Esther Y.
Meh. I'm very meh about this place. I know it's "trendy," "cool," and "hip," but the whole thing is just meh. To be fair, I didn't eat dinner here. I met some friends for happy hour, had some cocktails and had the 1/2 priced bar menu. Honestly, I thought the food was OK, but I'm not really a fan of fusion. It was all pretty good, and I guess I would meet friends here for drinks, but I don't think I would ever suggest this place as a meeting point.
(3)
Jenn C.
Had a fantastic surprise birthday dinner here last night! We got there a couple minutes early and our table was ready, our server was so sweet and helpful, the service itself was great, and the food was DEEELICIOUS! It's a huge menu so we deicded to come hungry and order a lot of items. Started with edamame, the escolar sashimi (Great White Tuna) special with truffle chips, and the Firecracker roll. The escolar was so fresh - some of the best I've had in a long time. Also had the beef lollipops - wow, they were mouthwatering. For entrees, we split the pork belly (it literally melted in our mouths) and the longribs (again, very well cooked) but got through about half of each because we had eaten so much leading up to the entrees. The service was excellent - the timing of each dish was perfect but we never felt rushed. Also, the price was pretty reasonable considering how much we ate (and drank) and it came to $175 before tip. Sunda is quite the happening spot and the only negative is that it's so loud it can be difficult to have a conversation. However, gorging on all the fab food kind of got in the way of talking anyway...
I'm always skeptical of eateries with descriptions like "New Asian" or "Fusion Asian," because it usually means you are overpaying for decor and getting bite-sized potions. Thankfully Sunda avoids the usual pitfalls and does a lot of pan-Asian dishes well. Lucky for me, I got to try this place on the company dime, and they way overordered so I didn't feel bad stealing bites of a lot of little things. The sushi is decent. I wouldn't make this a destination when I'm craving it, but they were creative and made for a good conversation starter. I would pass on the veggie roll - it's like crudo wrapped around rice. Too healthy for my needs. Throw in some avocado or cream cheese and we'll talk. The shiitake mushroom roll was tasty, as was the spicy tuna. Also tried the seaweed and mushroom salads. The seaweed salad was actually awesome. It looked like a big bowl of stringy slim but tasted light and refreshing. The mushroom salad was a bit boring, and could have used a more flavorful dressing. Oddly enough, I ended up not liking the shrimp and wasabi appetizer, which is apparently what Sunda is known for. All I could taste was guacamole on top of fried nothing. On the other hand, the corn fritters were fried but pouring with flavor. I wanted to dump the sweet dipping sauce on everything. There were lots of meat dish that looked great. The one vegetarian dish appeared to be a kind of wet crouton salad, but that was just a cover for the garlic noodles laying beneith. They were really, really good, but I had dragon breath for the rest of the afternoon (even after two rounds of listerine). Not a good dish for date night. Last but not least was...mochi! A/k/a Japanses ice cream balls. I'd never tried them before, and was positive they couldn't be as good as "real" ice cream, but they were awesome. Plus, they came in weird (but good) flavors like red bean and green tea.
(4)
Mei Z.
Ambience: Very trendy crowd but incredibly LOUD. I'm always a fan of a "happening" restaurant scene, but I could barely hear my date. Food: excellent Asian/American fusion although not as mind-blowing as I had been expecting. Obviously very expensive. Drinks: Creative and interesting. Nutshell: Better for a loud bday crowd who are willing to splurge!
(4)
Marils R.
I recently hosted our company's holiday lunch party at Sunda. For the second year in a row we booked the small back room on the main dining floor. The team at Sunda are true pros: Nicole's sales team including Tenae and Kelsey know how to make throwing a party, even on a budget, easy and fun. Once at the event, we were well taken care of by Brian and Shannon, the managers, as well as the wait staff. The food is served family-style, and there are all inclusive options that include drinks, food and dessert. I highly recommend Sunda for private parties, and we'll be back again next year!
(5)
Keerthi A.
Sunda is one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago. The ambiance, the crowd, the food, its just a great combination and never fails. The Chilean Seabass is definitely one of the best dishes here - a must try. It comes on curried cauliflower puree and is just mouthwatering and well balanced with the right amount of flavor. Corn Fritters are very tasty, great for an appetizer. I was very skeptical about ordering the Brussel Sprout Salad but was blown away by it. It was actually yummy and I finished it wanting more. The Oxtail Potstickers are interesting - nothing too amazing unless you are an oxtail enthusiast. The Garlic Noodles with Blue Crab are really good, very flavorful and comforting. Sunda, here I come again!
(5)
Bahi K.
Being a bit of a Japonais snob, I was somewhat reluctant to try this place, but after checking out their bar on Saturday and then dinner on Sunday, I may have to change my ways. The lychee martinis (don't get the divine, just the regular) are simply delicious and not too sweet. The oxtail potstickers were super tasty, and the entrees that I ordered (yes, I ordered two entrees) -- the cod and the pork bell -- were simply heaven. Both dishes were so tender and mouth-wateringly good. To top it off, I had a dessert known simply as "Ridiculous" and, indeed, it lived up to the name. Unbelievable drinks, sublime food and dessert, and mesmerizing decor... this place deserves 5 stars. I've been told that I need to come back for brunch to try their famous Indonesian Nasi Goreng. I can't wait.
(5)
Aimee D.
The food is delicious. That's the best part. While our server was very nice, the fastest item that came to the table was the check. It even took the waiter a while to first greet us, but as I said before, he was really nice. I know this is the place to 'see and be seen' but I can't imagine the noise level in there on a typical Friday or Saturday night (and I'm only 33). We went on a Monday night and they had a good sized crowd and our waiter still had to bend over to hear our orders. I can't imagine working there or trying to have a conversation with more than one person on a weekend. Again, the food is very good, so I would definitely try it - just go during the week... or don't expect to talk to anyone at your table.
(4)
Kara K.
After hearing about the awesomeness that is Sunda for the past year, I FINALLY made it there. This beautiful restaurant was jam-packed on a Friday afternoon and a packed restaurant is always a great sign that the food and service is dy-no-mite! After being seated at a nice table in the back, we ordered a bottle of Ty Ku sake and began salivating over the menu. The sweet rock shrimp tempura, the spicy soft shell crab over a bed of red hot chili peppers (Devil's Basket),and one of each of the Sunda Signature Sushi had our taste buds doing the happy dance. Aaron, the general manager, stopped by to chat with us before sending over a dish that they will soon be offering on the menu. There are not too many foods that I dislike, but brussel sprouts is definitely one of them. HOWEVER, Aaron sent over a crunchy, shredded, perfectly seasoned brussel sprout salad which can only be described as BEYOND outstanding. The chocolate cake was greatly appreciated later that evening along with the other leftovers. I slept well that night. Now I see what all the fuss was about. Sunda lives up to the hype in every way--the sleek decor, friendly, attentive service and especially the food. I plan on coming back at night with a few girlfriends to check out the bar scene.
(5)
Milo P.
We went for restaurant week. Based on our experience, we will never go back there. It's not that anything was bad, it just didn't live up to the hype and wasn't worth the money. The portions were small, and the food was uninspiring and bland. The chef's special sushi, which came with restaurant week, was like kid's sushi! If you've never eaten sushi before, then you should like this. For real sushi lovers, it was BORING- not to mention only 3 pieces. Seriously, it should be GREAT, but it was disappointing. Service was slow even though there weren't that many people in the restaurant. Our server rarely checked on us- he was friendly when he was there. Ambiance was good- seemed like it would have been good for a group. But food is FIRST, and everything else is a distant second. Food was just OKAY. For some reason, Sunda felt the need to charge the higher dollar amount for their restaurant week dinner menu- $44 instead of $33. Usually, this is the case if it's really special- it was NOT. The famous rock shrimp? It's like a knockoff version of walnut shrimp from Chinatown. Any place in Chinatown or on Argyle serves it better. The best thing I ate was the eggplant that came with the cod. But there were only 5-6 small rounds. We also got the short rib- talk about underseasoned! And they serve it with this congee stuff that is bland, and frankly disgusting. Even though it was restaurant week, we ended up spending about $200 with drinks, and I wish I could say it was fantastic, but it wasn't. Not even remotely. SO overhyped! Take your money and go somewhere else!
(2)
Fei W.
Came here for brunch and here's the 411: The awesome: - Bloody Mary cart. For serious, best bloody mary accoutrements I've ever had. This is legit and worth coming for on its own. The average: - Food here is just okay. Think P.F. Changs style. We got the rock shrimp and it was tasty, but let's be real, it's breaded fried shrimp with a creamy sauce. Not exactly something you can screw up. - They have a section called "hot pot" but what they mean is soup. Hot pot for the truly ethnic is Shabu Shabu style. Misleading. My friend ordered the pork belly on crispy rice and the waitress brought the marinated pork version. I tried a bite, and while the pork was tasty and rich, the rice was not nearly crispy enough. Survey says? Come for the drinks.
(3)
Kathria T.
It's dark and loud in here, but whatever, the food is good! That's all I care about. Service is great, too! Recommendations: Pork buns - this was so good we ordered another plate! Halo-halo is different here but in a good way. The calamansi def adds a nice touch to the traditional recipe. But really, I would order a little bit of everything. My group ordered a bunch of dishes and we were in heaven! Every bite was delicious. I would come here again if I'm ever back in Chicago.
(5)
Chris T.
Has easily become one of my favorite spots in Chicago! I've yet to have a bad meal here, thus I keep coming back. This place has a swanky vibe to it: the decor is cool and the patrons are dressed up and looking hot. Most importantly: the food! Stuff you definitely should try: *Dynamite sticks - I could eat 5 servings of this. The multilayer dip they come with is amazing and you'll start using it with every dish you order. *Adobo Braised Pork belly: so much meat! And so well cooked. This is definitely to share between 3-4 people. *The food buddha's classic crispy rice - I could a buffet of just these. *Tempura French Toast - save this for the end of your brunch, delicious way to end your meal. *Miso Ramen - surprisingly good! You'll find better ramen if you search, but in the downtown area this is your best bet. I could keep going but I'd end up naming everything I've ever eaten here...
(5)
Simon R.
Wow. One of the best places I've ever eaten. First off, a couple of things you should know: This place is LOUD. Like, scream-across-the-table-if-it's-more-than-a-two-Âparty-group loud. Your ears may ring after eating there. Also, this place is BUSY. Reserve a table. Otherwise, you won't be eating there without a very long wait. As for the food and drinks, absolutely excellent. The flavor nuances in the edibles were incredible, and by far the best I have ever had from an Asian Fusion-style restaurant. The "fusion" part of the cuisine was absolutely present, pulling together Japanese, Chinese, and Thai flavors perfectly. Everyone in our party of five enjoyed their meal, including the pescatarian in our group. The service was also excellent. Our server payed just the right level of attention to us, spending several minutes at the beginning to explain the menu and make suggestions. The only problem was that a couple of times servers bumped into the back of my chair as they were passing by to serve other tables. It wasn't a deal breaker, but definitely not something I would expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Our server was top-notch, though. If my travels bring me back to Chicago, I will definitely plan to return.
On the hunt for a later night dinner with a festive atmosphere and fresh food and Sunda hit the spot. A little on the pricier side but if you're searching for elevated Asian cuisine, Sunda is your place. The meal is meant to be shared so choose a few plates for the table. The Pho is on point, they even top it off with a half cut bone and marrow. Only complaint, the broth to noodle ratio is slightly off, more broth please!! The avocado stuffed with spicy tuna is fresh and well balanced. I'd stay away from the crab crusted tuna unless you're a mega fan of wasabi. Service is speedy and knowledgeable and the atmosphere is chic and modern. Thumbs up for Sunda.
(4)
Megan W.
Great experience here. Definitely recommend reservations and sharing food with friends. The drinks were great and so was all of the food. The "Crunchy pig, hidden lobster" sushi was great for me because I don't normally love sushi.
(5)
Albert K.
Very hip and trendy place on a Sunday night. Couldn't even get a table so had to go communal. It's a very lovely and trendy place with a sushi bar and tapas sized meals. The garlic noodle is absolutely delicious. The duck fried rice was actually impressive too. My favorite though was the pork belly - large portions of 8oz! The salmon was OK. Felt like a fried dumpling wrapped around a salmon. The best was probably the pancit noodles. It came with pork belly and shrimp and hit the spot. Great venue for friends or a date.
(4)
Kevin M.
In Chicago for the day. Dinner with family, seven of us. Had nigiri and 4 rolls, all very good. Brussel sprout salad was excellent. Also had beef lollipops, beef long rib and pot stickers. Lollipops a little dry for my taste. Rib and pot stickers very good. Service was spectacular.
(5)
Gina C.
Highly recommend the stuffed avocado - listed as a meal, but we shared it as an app. It is a must to try- you will not be disappointed! Our server was very knowledgable and friendly. This is one of my favorite places to go in Chicago.
(5)
Brian N.
Fun place to go with a big group or a date. Food was very good, not incredible, probably costs a little more than it should, but you're paying for the atmosphere/location/interesting menu items, which were all plusses. Glad I went!
(4)
Najah H.
holy OVERPRICED! Dear Chicago, what is wrong with you!? Have you not had better,., real sushi? I dont get all the love.. It wasn't even blow my mind away sushi and if I'm paying 20$ for rolls that's damn right what I expect. It was good, sure. But definitely not that deserving. I dont know if it was a one off case or not but the service was awfully slow from the kitchen. My server tried to follow up three times but seriously how long does it take to bring a bowl of goddamn EDAMAME!! 15 mins for edamame? The whole dinner took 1 hours 45 mins. Uh... too long Perhaps I'm just a sushi snob - but this visit only confirmed the fact that I'm never stepping into a fusion restaurant again. Ever. Where's the real sushi at?!.. Oh right, in Toronto ;)
(3)
Tima D.
Love the vibe and food in this place! I always walk away from here thinking that the food was phenomenal. It gets a little crowded in here so make sure to make a reservation. I knocked a star off because I think the service is a little slow but that could just be due to the fact that I go during peak times (Friday/Saturday night). The chef really knows what he is doing because every dish is so well thought out. The decor is stunning and the service itself is good. The prices are a little pricey especially for the drinks. I guess its true though..you get what you pay for.
(4)
Glen C.
Asian Fusion... the best thing hands down was the brussel sprout salad. I mean... I could have ordered that and been done. The rest of the food was meh. Sushi was interesting... given the way they prep the rice. The canton noodles were mediocre... the ox tail dumplings tasted "meaty". I'm not sure if really worth the price. Place is "happening"... even on a Tuesday night it was packed. Loud, Loud, Loud. Service was solid. Very attentive staff ... for that I'd give them another 1/2 star.
(3)
Ashlee B.
I love this restaurant! The Sweet Potato Caterpillar Roll and the Brussels Sprouts Salad are my favorite! Also, the Green Tea Donuts are amazing and the Cappuccinos are good.
(5)
Terrance H.
WOW! Sunda. I have heard of this place but never stopped by. I decided to eat my last meal in Chicago after being there for 4 long months. I definitely saved the best meal for last. The place was packed on a Tuesday night as if it were the weekend. This is always a great sign of good business. First off they had a great drink menu. I decide to take it easy on the hard liquor and stick to a nice red wine for the night. We started with Tiger Shrimp Tempura... After eating this we knew we were in for a treat! This is a must have. Absolutely amazing. We then had the FireCracker which was amazing and another roll that was had bacon which was also amazing. The bill hit pretty hard but for the experience and the amazing service we received it was worth the experience for sure. I will recommend this place to anyone who is visiting Chicago. It is a must have.
(5)
Michael P.
First, yes, it's pricey, but it's a high-end restaurant in River North, so complaining about price is like complaining about getting wet after you jump into a pool. Second, the service was very good. Friendly, attentive without rushing or being overbearing. Third, the food. Mostly excellent with a few small misses. (Yes, the portions are a little small, but see above.) -Brussel Sprout Salad - a "must get." Flavorful, nuanced, excellent. -Duck Mushu - big miss, flavors were "eh" and the duck was VERY chewy, the fat was nowhere near done enough. Bad dish. Bad. -Pork Steamed Buns - solid. -Pork Belly Skewers - another highlight, great flavor, pork belly was not overly fatty, very good execution. -Seared Wagyu Tartare Crispy Rice - Wagyu prepared perfectly, just enough flavor added to accentuate the beef and not obscure it. -Stuffed Avocado - good, nothing great. -Red Dragon - awesome, how could it not be with those ingredients. Not heavy on appreciation of the fish, but a very enjoyable bite. -Firecracker - a notch below the Red Dragon but still very good, flavorful. -The Great White - the best thing we had all night, hard to savor as it was so good you wanted to just gulp it down, but savor you must. This will be the first thing I order next time I go back. Fourth, good atmosphere, they could space some of the table out just a bit more, but good lighting, wasn't too loud. Sunda definitely earned a return visit.
(4)
Lauren L.
Definitely a fan! I started with a glass of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc which was delicious. My friends and I split the edamame and the Crispy Brussels Sprouts salad. THAT SALAD. It has to be one of the top 5 best dishes I've ever had. It was to die for! I ordered the Longevity Garlic Crab Noodles which were really good. The star of the show was my friend's chicken pad thai, however. Both solid choices but next time I'm back I'm definitely getting my own pad thai. It was so fresh and flavorful. For dessert we all split the Sunda Sundae -- it was so unique and creative. The presentation was beautiful and the waitress was so helpful explaining how to eat it. There are so many components that she suggested we mix it all together before we try it. Strange but it worked and it was really delicious! I will definitely be back!
(4)
Cindy W.
This is a review purely based on the desserts. After a night at Ruxbin followed by a drop in at a Tacqueria, my sweet tooth was craving something. My friend raved about the Ridiculous so it was worth dropping by to finish the night. We ordered the Sunda Sundae and the Ridiculous. The Sunda Sundae was very underwhelming. Out of the three scoops of ice cream, the most memorable one was the corn-flavored scoop. The sundae also had lychee (a bit sour), red beans, aloe vera, on top of this lemon italian ice. I didn't feel like the flavors went well together, and it was definitely overpriced for a dessert that I could have gotten at an Asian mom-and-pop shop. However, I really liked the Ridiculous. It's a tempura/carrot cake wrap on a mound of creamy vanilla ice cream. On top, there's a bed of caramel sauce, toasted sweet pecans, and bits of ginger. The only thing that would make it better is if they chopped up a few bits of bacon and sprinkled it on top for a salty taste. Maybe that's too much to ask for. I loved the bustling environment on a Friday night! The waiters were very attentive and the decor was awesome. Definitely must try their dinner menu sometime.
(4)
Shuang W.
Lively atmosphere. Maybe crowded at dinner time. Great food! Brussel sprout salad, MUST TRY! Also the mochi dessert. Uni there are fresh, tastes great. Sometimes they have crab claws! Overall, love it!
(5)
Stephanie J.
I'm from the suburbs of Chicago so making a trip to the city is a special occasion. I was planning out a whole day of fun for me and my boyfriend to celebrate his birthday, and I knew we wanted sushi. I compared many places and landed on Sunda because of all of the good reviews, and the photos that showed a cool ambiance. I was super pleased, and my bf said it was the best sushi he's ever had! We started off with some edamame and drinks. I got the Hibiskus Hard Lemonade and he got the House of Bamboo. They were both impressive. A little gracious with the ice, but the taste was great and the servings pretty big. Then he got the Red Dragon roll and I got the California roll. My boyfriend has a big appetite, and the Red Dragon satisfied him. It was a nice serving with 8 large slices. My california roll was a bit smaller, but that satisfied me. They were all beautifully displayed. The ambiance was great. Lots of wood details, quiet and classy, felt upscale. We were dressed nicer casual but there were people there in suit jackets, and I felt like you could go either way. Our waiter, I forgot his name, was super helpful and personable. Overall, we definitely plan to come back, and now have a favorite sushi spot in the city.
(5)
David C.
Smart, contemporary Asian fusion dishes. Beautiful cocktails. Fun venue to catch up with friends. Great presentation, great service.
(4)
Brian O.
The honey ginger braised beef here is all you need to order! Oh, and I love the brussels sprouts, it's a real hit here! Definitely a great dining experience. Don't forget to grab a lot of the green asian candy before you walk out.
(4)
Gene H.
Excellent service with excellent food. I would recommend this restaurant to anybody and especially those that travel to Chicago for business or fun.
(5)
Jim T.
Fantastic Asian fusion food and atmosphere. Great bar for pre-dinner drinks. The shredded Brussel sprouts salad was awesome. Rainbow and Firecracker rolls are great.
(5)
D D.
Food was decent - expensive but good. For $9 a bite, it better be tasty. Service - not so great. Sit down, waiter asks, "sparkling or still?" This is a pretentious question in my mind (who actually drinks sparkling water in the United States??), and I am annoyed and say "still is fine", figuring he would bring a Pinterest-shaped bottle of tap water that he would leave at the table. He brings us an $8 bottle of 'premium' (lol) water (which he opens out of sight), and starts pouring, knowing full well that we don't understand that we are receiving. This is poor etiquette, especially at a nice restaurant (well, the prices would indicate "nice restaurant"). Halfway through the meal, the waiter OPENS A SECOND BOTTLE WITHOUT TELLING US, and continues re-filling our waters. You can't bring me something I didn't order! $16 for 'premium' water (for two people) - without ordering it - are you kidding me??? This is bad form at best, and deceitful at worst. The bill arrives, I put down a credit card and a gift card. Waiter sees the gift card, asks "how much is on it?" Why are we talking about money in front of my date?!?! This is a nice restaurant - be classy. Stealthily take the check and figure out what I mean. It's a gift card and a credit card, this isn't rocket science. Just exhaust the gift card and put the rest on the credit card, don't you do this every day? Instead, you put me in a difficult position - I have to weirdly avoid the question or acknowledge in front of my date that I'm using a gift card. Wow. Think before you speak. Have a little tact. Be on my team. Be smooth. Think about what's going on. Never use 7 words when 4 will do. It's obviously a date, just take the bill and disappear. Isn't this all on the syllabus of Waiting Tables 101? I'm being a bit dramatic, but seriously, this move was not cool. The only reason this gets 2 stars instead of 1 - the ambience is great. I went on a Wednesday, and the place was absolutely buzzing. Almost too loud for conversation at times. Probaby the perfect volume for dinner/drinks before going out.
(2)
Giovanna B.
Ambience: Not my thing - I prefer to hear myself think. But, if you are into the whole see-and-be-seen thing, and you are into waking up the next morning with a sore throat from having to yell your conversation during the meal to your companion(s), then you'll dig this place. I found this an interesting contrast to the decorations aiming to give the place an Asian zen-like feel. Service: Fantastic. Everyone was super friendly and accommodating. Food: Okay. We tried the steamed buns, and oddly enough, tasted like steamed buns. They were fine, just nothing out of the ordinary. The short rib meat was tender and had a decent taste, but nothing I haven't had before. The crispy pata was pretty large, but I found it dry, like it had been sitting under a heating lamp for a couple of hours, and it lacked a bit of seasoning (except for salt - it had a bit too much of that). The best part of the meal was a gravy/sauce that came with the pata - I could have had a bowl of that stuff - and the green beans with caramelized walnuts (nomnomnom). Drinks: *thumbs up* If I'm to go back to Sunda, it will be for the drinks. We tried the lychee cocktail (with a splash of wasabi) and that went down dangerously easy. The peared sake cocktail smelled "pretty", like perfume, and it tasted like it too.... it was decent, but not something I'd have again. The 110 and walnut rye Manhattan were both fantastic and I'd recommend them if you're into that kind of thing. I'd get them again. Overall, 3 stars because the place IS a restaurant first and foremost, and unfortunately it just did not deliver. Plus, by 9pm on a Friday night, they ran out of a few ingredients [for cocktails I wanted to try]. Really? Boo.
(3)
N K.
Not bad but fairly overpriced for what it is. The Waygu sushi and drinks were excellent. Everything else was greasy, fried, and overly salty. Also agree with previous reviewers that there are gaps in service.
(3)
Shauna K.
We went to Sunda for my birthday recently and it was DELICIOUS!! Troy was our server and he was amazing!! So attentive and suggested such great food and drink selections. Although, the food was so great that I have to go back for more to try new things. Menu has so many options you can't possibly try them all. But from what I had, I am sure everything else is just as great. Highly recommend going and requesting Troy as your server!! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Steve E.
Excellent! Great service. Killer sushi... Highly recommended.
(5)
Mike B.
Usually, Asian Fusion sucks. Sunda does NOT suck. Sunda is amazing and you should try it. ++Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad - this was the best thing on the menu. It has the most amazing set of flavors I've ever had. You MUST try this. ++Lobster and Waygu Roll - this was my 2nd favorite, it tastes so good! ++Steamed Soup Dumplings - these were very good, the best I've had stateside + Rock Shrimp Tempora - very sweet, but a very good dish + Hand Cut Spicy Tuna and Jalapeno - this was delicious, and went quickly + Duck Hash was good, but I was expecting better (I was completely stuffed when I tried it though) - Spicy "Tail of Two Tunas" - this was the worst item on the menu, had almost no taste - Drinks were around $10 (I guess this should be expected) - Food CERTAINLY isn't cheap + Atmosphere was classy, good looking crowd, place was PACKED on a Monday + Had an AWESOME waitress, she made fantastic suggestions
(5)
Ai M.
Chicken and mushroom dumplings, har gow, and mango iced tea for brunch. Get the shrimp tempura. I also ordered loompya and soup dumplings. I didn't see any adobo. I'd go back to try dessert. I liked the bread with coconut jam, I was too full to finish my loco moco. I should have been more adventurous. The pancit canton won't last the next day. There's nothing Filipino about the potstickers. My parents wanted to go here after seeing the chef on TV. Our table was barely large enough for all our food. The pomegranate tea is not as good as the mango. It comes in a carafe and you mix the syrup in to taste. You won't need any refills.
(4)
B C.
My wife and I were in town for a get away. This place came highly recommended. We sat at the bar to wait for our table and the service was great. They had very interesting summer drinks. The gin and red pepper was amazing. Real attentive service at the bar. We sat for dinner and the food was incredible. Started with Brussels sprout salad and shrimp dish. Both were unique and fun. My wife loves sushi and was impressed. We had a blast.
(4)
Aaron G.
I dined there yesterday with a group of 4 people. They sat us at a table in the middle of the room, with constant traffic going around us. Ambience: Extremely loud. Could barely hear the waitress, let alone the person across the small table from me. After a while you get more used to it, but it's nice to not have a headache after eating. Service: It started off slow, but after a while it became top notch. Food was delivered promptly. Couldn't have asked for more. Food: I only review really based on the food, and this was fairly uninspiring. We had the beef lollipops, duck bao buns, filet mignon, and multiple sushi rolls, including the lobster/wagyu roll. None of the food really made me think, "Oh wow that is delicious I need to try that again." We sent back a sticky rice chicken wrap because it was bland. In all, I won't go back to an expensive, loud dining place unless there is at least 1 item on the menu that I can honestly say I loved. Unfortunately, that was not the case at Sunda.
(3)
Peter L.
The day after going to Japonais, our group ended up at Sunda, which offered an interesting comparison in sushi and Asian food. While Japonais focused on Japan, Sunda was more pan-Asian. Lemongrass beef lollipops and indo corn fritters were fun and tasty. While the sushi was pretty decent, the rice was overcooked and not as well-seasoned as Japonais. Rolls fared better and the firecracker roll was a nice combination of spicy and sweet, crunchy and savory. The dining room is well-lit and surprisingly quiet, which offers a nice contrast to Japonais. Overall, the food while good still had a few basic problems. But if you are looking for pan-Asian in a stylish and fairly quiet dining room, Sunda will work.
(3)
Justine G.
This is STILL my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I LOVE the food, drinks & atmosphere. Kristi at the front is such a great hostess and is so sweet! Although it is sometimes hard to get into, make reservations ahead of time or go in at lunch time for a less crowded scene. If you don't like a fun, loud, & upbeat scene- this may not be for you. The food is absolutely delicious! I can honestly say, I've never had a bad meal here. Some of my favorite items are: Rock Shrimp, Pork Belly Bao Buns, Baked Snow Crab Handroll, Lemongrass Beef Lollipops. (These are perfect on a tapas style basis, SHARE SHARE SHARE & find what you love!) If you love jalepenos and bacon? Sounds weird I know, the Crunchy Pig, Hidden Dragon is a must. The combination of lobster, avocado, bacon, jalepenos, with a sweet chili sauce in this specialty roll is amazing. My favorite drink at Sunda is the Strawberry Palmer, which is a mix of absolut wild tea mixed with strawberries, lemongrass and lemon juice topped off withlemon lime soda. Last but not least: YOU CANNOT go to Sunda without getting "The Ridiculous" - it is one of the best desserts I've had in a long time! It is a dessert that includes, tempura vanilla ice cream with carrot cake, glazed walnuts, caramel, & much more deliciousness!
(5)
Amber C.
I planned a bachelorette party and this was our first stop. The staff went out of their way to ensure our party was well taken care of and that the bride felt special. The chef even came out to greet the bride and wish her well. This was on a busy Saturday night, too!! The food was tasty, as it is in all the Rockit Ranch restaurants. The decor was modern and fun. I left impressed.
(5)
Heidi R.
I've been to Sunda before but this time I came as a work function. We had the private room upstairs for about 25 of us maybe. They had a private bar set up and one large table for all of us. It was a 4 course meal with 4 courses in each course. An unbelievable amount of food! My favorite items were the spicy tuna roll, the rock shrimp tempura is out of this world, the NY strip steak and Chilean sea bass were amazing. We also had the chicken chop salad and a Brussel sprout salad which everyone loved. The bao's were pretty good too - my first time trying and I liked them a lot. Sunda stuffs their bao's with pork belly which is one of my favorite things!! To finish the meal we had an assortment of mocchi with dipping sauces, all delicious!
(5)
Amy D.
I thought the experience at Sunda was amazing! I was with a group and it was encouraged that we share several plates. Everything we ate was so good. The sushi was fresh and really like the amount of roll options available. Also, the entrees we ate - the shortribs and pork belly were so tender, they melted in your mouth. For dessert, there's an item called "Ridiculous", and they weren't kidding. It's vanilla ice cream covered in a ginger carrot cake, caramel and walnuts. Truly ridiculous! The staff was very friendly. The only bad thing I will say about it is the noise level is off the charts. Be prepared to scream at one another, just way too loud. Other than that, I would go back anytime!
(5)
Stephanie W.
I've only experienced Sunda for Sunday brunch, but I'll definitely be back for dinner/drinks First of all - the bloody mary bar? When they say it's all about the garnish, they aren't kidding. I've never seen such a bloody mary spread, with everything from the traditional celery to pickled cucumber to bbq pork bits and everything in between. Yum! Total bang for your buck, and a great way to start off the morning while you wait for the main course. The caramelized goodness they slap down on the table when you're seated is seriously to die for - don't forget to share with your brunch mates! I love the East meets West vibe of the brunch menu you. You've got all the traditional items - eggs benedict, french toast, protein omelette - for the less adventurous, and then a crazy variety of "Eastern" brunch dishes for those ready to explore. We ordered a combination of several and almost licked the plates. We also ordered some dimsum for the table to split. The soup dumplings, shrimp dumplings, and pork shumai were all delicious, but for $9/order, I'd rather go to Chinatown and stuff my face with cheap dim sum Icing on the cake: GREAT service and beautiful ambiance and decor. Can't wait to come back for dinner!
(4)
Kristie C.
yummy drinks, fast service, great ambiance -- food's a bit rich, but good place for a date. notable dishes: - chicken shumai - tuna tataki drinks: - divine lychee drink was a great refreshing drink to go with the food downsides: - service was just okay, host/hostess seemed a little haughty - trendy place but worth it for the $$ / food? not sure - a little loud
(3)
Boones K.
Really enjoyed getting to order small plates to sample more of the menu. The quality and flavor of the sushi and other items was wonderful. The service was great. We never felt rushed and their timing for taking multiple orders and staggering the plates brought to the table was spot on. The only thing I didn't like was that they only have low sodium soy sauce. They did have Tamari and brought some out for me. We did all small plates to share: *Spicy "tail of two tunas - The tuna was excellent with nice size pieces of tuna inside and out *Yellowtail Jalapeno - The yellowtail was excellent. I would have preferred a little less of the Japanese salsa which kind of masked the fish. *Crab cake crusted ahi tuna sashimi - I loved this dish. The combination of the tune and crab cake created a unique flavor. You just wanted to keep eating it. *Lemongrass beef lollipops - Probably the least exciting dish. The beef was tender but the flavors weren't that exciting. *Pork adobo flake fried rice - A must try. I could eat this just about everyday. We also ordered pieces of sushi which were excellent. A nice balance of fish and rice. I feel gluttonous after writing out all that we ordered, considering it was just two of us. I like to think the fresh fish helped balance the evening out. There were other items I wanted to try, but insisted the waiter take the menus away after our sushi order. I guess I'll just have to come back.
(4)
Jane H.
We called for a reservation on a Friday and got in within 30 minutes. They have some communal seating with bar stools which I didn't love, but if it gets me seated quickly I'm cool. We started with steamed duck buns which were delicious and then ordered three sushi rolls, the best of which was ""Crunchy Pig, Hidden Lobster" (HAHA). Sushi with bacon on it sounds strange but TRUST ME. I loved Sunda.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Lin C.
Recent visit was on a Saturday night at 6:00 PM, during restaurant week. Unfortunately, the restaurant week menu only applied to lunch and not to dinner. Never the less, note that there is valet parking for $14 just outside the restaurant and that the establishment is not wheel chair accessible. There are a four steps up to the main dining area and the rest rooms are down a steep flight of stairs. There is also a banquet room on the 2nd floor for events. Please note that if you are using a wheel chair or crutches, this would not be a pleasant climb up or down the stairs for you. With that said, when you walk in you are greeted with a beautifully decorated open space. To your immediate right, the bar area is a gorgeously decked out with sofa, tall tables, and almost floor to ceiling windows. A noteworthy mention, the bartender/ mixolgist Nahm is phenomenal at blending a drink to your liking. Get to know the man. Let the man get to know you. You will be pleased with his craft and get an amazing drink that will leave you dreaming about it for your next outing. And always, tip your bartender well. Moving along to the dining experience... the staff here are friendly, knowledgeable of the menus, and efficient. The only issue I had was that with service was that there was an up-charge with an item, which was not mentioned during the ordering process. Granted it was worth every penny, it would have been nice to not have a sticker shock at the end of the meal. Must try items: Sunda Hand Roll, Signature Crispy Rice w/ spicy tuna and sliced jalapeño on top Pork belly skewers,and Kale & seaweed salad. Each dish was delicately paired with their respective ingredients, giving you the experience of the 5 senses(touch, taste, sight, smell, & hear). Delicious, but could pass on the next try: Seared Crab-Crusted Ahi Tuna sashimi. The combination sounds amazing on the menu, but realistically, the creamy, yet crusty crab didn't work with the raw tuna. The Spicy "Tail of two tunas", also tasty, but not a fan of deep fried shallots. Maybe there will be a revisit just without the fried shallots, maybe not. Pass: The Lucky Scallop, which was the special roll for the night. On paper it sounded great. You have tempura unagi, avocado & cream cheese, topped with seared scallops, tobiko, and mayo. The scallops were small, and not seared to perfection. In the end, it was just too rich with the dairy, the deep fried, and the extra drizzle of whipped delicious fat. The meal was very filling. We would have passed on dessert, but there was a seasonal sorbet that caught our eye. Mango. Yum. It was the right end to a beautiful meal.
(4)Shalizeh D.
We found Sunda on yelp and found reservations on opentable. The restaurant was packed at !0:15 on a Saturday night. Bachelorette parties, dates, girls nights. Sunda was the place to be. The food was excellent but spicy. Plates were meant to be shared. We had spicy tuna, curry, and spicy mushrooms. 3 plates splint among two and we were really full. Again - when the waiter says its spicy he is not kidding. The drink specials they had were also really refreshing. I had the lychee martini and really enjoyed it.
(4)Sallyann Z.
Sigh, I wanted so much to love Sunda... I've had this restaurant on my list of places to try since I've moved here. The New Asian menu has my name written allll over it. Perhaps, I built up too high of expectations. But, there comes a day when you get overwhelmed by the plethora of options and you happen to order all the wrong things. My visit to Sunda was that day :( Before, I jump into the food, I want to note that service was impressive. Our waiter was funny and attentive. He gave thoughtful recommendations and even brought a free slice of cake with a side of birthday singing (we mentioned it was my roommate's birthday). Also, the venue was colorful and fun, albeit a little crammed as some of the tables were too close to each other. Now on to the food, I did vigorous stalking on Yelp to prepare my order for the night (Yes, I'm one of those people). Thankfully, one of my other roommates wanted to share food and let me do all the ordering so I was able to get a bit greedy with my selection: 1. First, the four of us ordered a round of cocktails to start the night off right. I ordered the Lychee Wasabi Cocktail. I consider myself adventurous when it comes to trying daring flavors, but the wasabi flavoring was way too overpowering and refused to let the Lychee shine. For a drink with a description that says "hint of wasabi," I was certainly let down. Not off to a good start, especially at the ~$15/drink cost... But my roommates loved their Strawberry Fields and Blackberry Limeade drinks! 2. The whole table shared the Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad. Wow! My favorite of the night - hands down. The minced shrimp, fish sauce-based vinigrette was killer. We probably would've licked the plate for any remaining brussel sprout, red cabbage, carrot or fried shallot crumb if it was socially acceptable. These are beyond any other brussel sprout dish I've ever had, even Uchi (Houston). 3. Oxtail Dumplings. Saw this a lot on the Yelp Reviews and it was good, but not great. Personally, I thought the filling was kind of heavy and seemed to be an odd combination. 4. Garlic Crab Noodle. The biggest disappointment of the night! This is asian-italian gone wrong. I love garlic, but it did NOT do it for me in this dish. It got kind of mushy and felt so, so heavy. I couldn't relish all the chunks of crab because it got lost in the other extreme flavors. 5. Red Dragon: shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, unagi, jalapeño, avocado, tempura crispies, unagi sauce. Tasty! This was a good roll and had nice crunch and spice from the jalapeño. My other roommate had some sashimi and did not get her bang for the buck. In fact, this phrase applies to the overall experience. Sunda is quite the pricey establishment and, while I know this happened to be an off-ordering night for me, I'm not sure that I'd come back to give it another try.
(3)Rin N.
Came here for brunch twice and both were pretty good. Between three, we ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice, seared wagyu tatare crispy rice, pork belly steamed buns, and flake pork adobo fried rice. The crispy rice came together very well though some of the rice pieces were a tad bit to crispy and made it incredible hard to chew. The pork buns were good and very filling. The fried rice tasted very good. The egg was a nice touch but it was a little too oily for my liking. It definitely was a struggle for us to finish it.
(4)Armando M.
Great atmosphere, excellent service and wonderful food. The tuna jalapeno roll was great but has a subtle flavor so have it first or it will get over powered by the other dishes. The Firecracker roll was also delicious. Great experience and the manager, Scott, was a gracious host.
(5)Naomi L.
Long overdue. They do it right and accommodated, our large group negative last minute. Thanks to Nicole one of the owners my guests are still talking about this experience Yum to the Yum
(5)Nadia S.
Love their brunch here! From the bloody mary cart to the tempura french toast... yum! They also have my fave dish- the rock shrimp tempura- on their brunch menu too and that is always great! And their bibimbap is DELICIOUS! Sunda's def one of my go-to's in Chicago
(5)Nan M.
Just yuck. Duck mushy had nothing but mushrooms in it. 100 dB's in the room. Skip it!
(2)Chris N.
Over rated...I sat at the bar by myself. After all my orders I felt like they were rushing me out of the restaurant. Bartender suggested 2 plates : rainbow roll and firecracker roll. The rainbow roll was whatever...but the firecracker was really good!! Drinks very expensive. By myself bill plus tax and tip cost about $75 which included 2 plates and 2 beers.
(3)Nemcikova C.
Fucking fuck yeah! Best sushi IN THE CITY!!!!! Lindsey best server in the city. They treated me sooooo well on my bday!!!! Blackberry Lemonaid was sooooo good! Crazy rice amaaazing! Black cod was so tasty not like fish like freaking butter!!!! Will absolutely return! They KNOW how to treat clients!!!!!
(5)Courtney N.
The food at Sunda was excellent, but the hostile service here made me wish I could get up and leave no fewer than five times. If I had not been there for a birthday party, I would not have spent a dime. The hostess went out of her way to make us feel like peasants upon our arrival. I lived in NYC for eight years and never encountered this much attitude in a restaurant. It was a surprise party for which we had arranged for the chef's table. We told this to the hostess, who told us that it didn't matter and that more of our party would have to be there for us to be seated. She suggested we surprise her at the (crowded) bar and then be seated. We stood at the bar, next to our large, clean, empty, reserved table (not, unfortunately, the chef's table). At the bar, my friend and I each ordered a $22 glass of champagne after waiting ten minutes to get the bartender's attention. Once we did, he had a bar back pour and serve it. I wanted to close out, but could not get the bartender's attention again. I waved my card at him desperately, then put it away and drank my champagne. One minute later, my male acquaintance who had arrived ordered a drink and the bartender asked him if he would like to pay for our champagne. I shouted (because it was very loud and the bar was too wide for any normal volume call to reach the man) that I would pay. Ten minutes later, I closed my tab. Our server walked away while I was ordering and finally took my and my friend's orders after most of my party had already eaten. My friends and I tried waving him down, but he would nod at us and then walk away and not return. At one point, he brought my friend an expensive drink that she did not order but did not stop long enough for us to say we needed food. I definitely would have stormed out in a normal situation if the waiter was rudely ignoring me and bringing random drinks without stopping, but this was a birthday. The food, once finally ordered, took a lot of time to come out, and we wondered if our server had forgotten to place the order for us. Everyone had completely finished their meals by the time ours arrived. The trend here of making people wait without acknowledging their presence or looking them in the eye really bothered me. There were actually more fiascos, but this review is long enough. Food aside, it was the worst dining experience I've ever had, including the time that I got food poisoning from a movie theater pizza. I never thought that poor service could completely ruin a delicious meal for me, but in this case, I would gladly have traded it for a stop at Portillo's or, better yet, waited two hours at the Michelin-starred restaurant down the block from my apartment. The service will likely put this place out of business if it continues to be this abysmal. I entered happy and left with a burning hatred for, and a borderline enmity with, most of employees there after being treated like I was invisible and somehow not worthy of eating there for hours.
(2)Eric G.
Must get the Lobster roll with bacon! Also. Loud. Very.
(4)Lisa H.
This place is a prime example of how everything deserves a second chance. I came here for dinner and drinks my first time over a year ago. We ordered a bunch of things, but i found everything to be standard and main draw back, over-priced. You can be over-priced, but you better be damn good to charge 1.5-2 times more than other places. Place is super trendy and really rowdy, which is kind of a turnoff for me. Decor and atmosphere wise, it's just another contemporary Asian fusion restaurant. Good looking, hip crowd. I came here for the second time a week ago. We ordered 10 dishes and a bunch of drinks. This time, everything tasted MUCH better and were more memorable. I don't think they changed chefs, so not sure what happened the first time. Drinks here are extremely pricey, on avg $15/cocktail, containing minimal alcohol, which annoys me. They sure are tasty though, so if you're a lightweight, these are perfect. Pity, i'm not. Drinks: Peared Sake and Grass Tiger (spicy kick to it), both were SO incredibly tasty. Food standouts: Crispy Brussel Sprouts. I know brussel sprouts are now offered at every trendy restaurant, BUT THESE, holy guacamole, are the most delicious, burst of flavor, makes me only want more with every bite. Miso Bronzed Black Cod: IMO, best dish they have. It's $35, but you will be blown away. GET THIS!!! You will be glad you did. Meat is silky and just melts in your mouth. I could daydream about this all day. Other memorable dishes were the Malay-Style Chilean Seabass, but i'm not a huge fan of the curry sauce mixed with my chilean seabass. Curry is too bold, and sorta overshadows the taste of the fish. Pork Adobo Fried Rice was scrumptious, a tad oily and heavy, but great portion for the price! Panang Chicken Curry, loved the spices used and the milky broth. Kinda spicy though. Service was exceptional given how busy they are. Our server checked up on us numerous times, filled our waters promptly, and was easy to get a hold of. Presentation was spot on, too, for drinks and food, even for the apps. Warning: Cocktails are way over-priced for the lack of liquor used.
(4)Dragana M.
Very nice place,food is really good a little bit crowded on weekends but I love this place on Sunday night.They have very good Brussels sprouts salads!Serves was very nice too!
(4)Rachel N.
My husband brought me to Sunda for my birthday last month. It was a great place to be for a celebration dinner. Our reservation was at 5:45PM which was perfect because we were going to the Book of Mormon immediately afterward. This was also great because when we first arrived it wasn't as packed or as loud as it was when we were leaving. Maybe I'm a fuddy-duddy but I like being able to hear people at my table without yelling! We ordered the appetizer of spicy edamame. I like spicy food but this was a little bit spicier than I would've liked. The chili's were getting stuck in my throat and making me choke a little. We also got the tiger shrimp tempura which was amazing. It was warm and creamy, and the shrimp with the candied walnuts was perfect. It was a great starter dish and I would definitely recommend getting it. We also got the crunchy pig, hidden lobster roll and the baked snow crab handroll. My husband also got some nigiri. All of the sushi was fresh and tasty. The crunchy pig, hidden lobster was surprising, but in a good way. It had bacon bits on top! I also had a strawberry fields drink, which was just ok. There were some things I would've changed about the experience (some of the servers) and some things that would make us come back (the food). Right after we were initially seated, we were right next to two really drunk men. One of the men knocked his wine glass over onto the floor, and red wine spilled all over me and glass was everywhere. Some of the service people thought that I had spilled the glass, and the gentleman that came with a broom to clean it up was very rude. He kept asking me to get up but there was glass all over the floor, on my chair, in my hair, etc. We ended up switching tables which was a pain for the staff, but we didn't want to sit next to drunks all night. The night certainly wasn't ruined by this, but this server was a bit ruder than he should've been (especially misplaced rudeness). One server came over with two glasses of sake to make up for it (big points for her). All in all it was a good night, great food, and would recommend for a sushi night out.
(4)Emily P.
I'm so happy to have finally tried this place! I enjoyed dinner here on Valentine's Day (as part of a double date). We were promptly seated, most of the food & drinks were delicious, and service was great. FOOD + DRINKS -Signature crispy rice with wearer wagyu tartare: (5/5) DELICIOUS. This dish is one of the main reasons I will be returning to Sunda. My mouth is watering as I am thinking about it. The wagyu tartare melts in your mouth and an explosion of deliciousness awaits! -Lemongrass beef lollipops: (3/5) I think the restaurant makes a lot of these and has them laying around until they're ordered. We received these within 5 minutes of ordering them. They were room temperature and quite dry. They might've tasted better fresh. -Panang Chicken: (3/5) good, but overpriced. I don't think this dish was worth $15... even though it was presented in a cute coconut. The Panang Curry at Tub Tim Thai is $10 and just as tasty. -Adobo-braised pork belly: (3/5) This was the last dish I tried so I was quite stuffed. It was good, but again...overpriced at $28. -Unagi/foie nigiri: (2.5/5) honestly, it tasted like a slightly creamier shrimp tempura. Again, overpriced at $18 -Escolar "the Great White" Nigiri: (5/5) My second favorite dish of the night. You can smell the truffle as it enters your mouth. The crunchy potato chip is a great contrast with the escolar. -Blackberry Limeade: (4/5) mostly tart and slightly sweet. Lots of fresh muddled blackberries. Prepare to chew on a few blackberry seeds as you sip this refreshing drink. -Lychee Luxury Drop: (4.5/5) Clean, slightly sweet. I really liked this (no surprise since I like lychee). **I can't wait to go back and try their other dishes & drinks! SERVICE: (4.5/5) Rachel was friendly, helpful and attentive. We were never left feeling like we waited long before we got helped, yet we weren't bombarded the whole night. Our water glasses were kept filled and finished plates were removed promptly. Rachel recommended the Blackberry Limeade when I was looking for a cocktail.
(4)Steve A.
I had high expectations for Sunda, and they were met in some areas, but not all. The best item we sampled was the Crispy Brussels Sprouts, a superb house specialty; thin slices of broccoli are almost toasted, then tossed with red cabbage, carrots, chilies, fried shallots, and minced shrimp and served with nuoc cham (a rice wine vinegar dressing). I couldn't stop eating this! Tiger Shrimp Tempura was interesting in that it was served with candied walnuts, but the creamy honey aioli was really slathered on and made it very rich. "Grilled Spare Ribs" are actually Korean style kalbi ribs, not my favorite. Sushi was less inspiring. We tried several house special rolls, and none was greater than the sum of its parts. Spicy Salmon Shiso was particularly odd, with very finely ground salmon tartare and a dollop of sriracha on top of a thin slice of jicama and a shiso leaf. The ingredients were fine when picked apart, but the combination was a bit of a mess. The wine and beer list in interesting, with many selections, including some excellent Champagnes, available by the glass. The space is stylish and vibrant, and the service was efficient, if not inspired.
(3)Ken R.
Gorgeous. Loud. Expensive. Inflexible. Slow. But gorgeous nonetheless. After 30 minutes we left having only been served a beer.
(1)Ronell W.
Great service, awesome food. You can't go wrong with any of the pork dishes and the Seoul Fried Chicken is amazing. For dessert, get the Ridiculous. You won't regret it.
(5)Michelle T.
I came here on June 21st for an early dinner with my boyfriend. It was my second time coming here and his first. We started off with a few drinks; Lychee Luxury Drop cocktail and a Goose Island beer on tap and appetizers; Ichimi Watarigani and Spicy edamame, all of which were delicious. We then ordered The Number Ten signature sushi roll which was to die for! It was deep fried and came in 8 pieces, probably the best roll I have ever had. For our entrees I got the Char Siu BBQ Ribs and my boyfriend got the Panang Chicken. His came served in an actual coconut that you can eat and mine was enough for 4 people. This would've given Fred Flinstone a run for his money. I would say we were very satisfied with our meals. The quality and service were top knotch! Thank you for the wonderful experience Sunda!
(5)Lyna L.
I rate 3-star as a disappointed first time guest . Foods are small portions, overpriced. Place was noisy, over-booked, it is just wrong for a romantic setting. The "pho" is unacceptable. They should change this dish's name to some thing else, for their overdoing the taste, the flavor, the way we eat pho.
(2)Aditi G.
This is the most delicious and mouthwatering food I've ever had! My friend who was visiting from Germany and I went and this was one of her favorite meals ever! She is obsessed with sushi and has had it all over the world and this definitely stacked up with all the other places she's tried! We both started with the mushroom miso soup and I don't think I've ever had a more fresh or flavorful miso soup! Such a delicious starter! Then we got the shiitake and edamame dumplings which = WIN! We also got a firecracker roll, salmon roll and some sort of salmon and vegetable wrapped deliciousness that I now cannot remember the name of! It was so good! IDOS aka I dream of Sunda!
(5)Sam M.
Noisy, expensive and very average fare. Dont know that the fuss was all about. The "sizzling" noodle dishes that were served on the wrought iron platters were lukewarm to cold! And this is when I asked the waiter to help me with popular choices. I'll skip it next time. Chicago has way too many better options.
(2)Jen B.
I'm still in a food coma as I am writing this review for Sunda, so my review may be slightly biased. Two of my friends and I decided to have dinner at Sunda earlier tonight, and we were the first patrons for dinner service. We arrived five minutes before their opening time of 5 p.m., and the hostess allowed us to sit at the bar until the tables had been set. I watched as the servers set the tables with great care: plates, cutlery, chopsticks, glasses, and a black napkin. Another hostess then came and escorted us to our table. Our server came and asked if we wanted bottled or tap water, and we chose tap water. Water service was excellent as our glasses were consistently refreshed. We had heard about the happy hour specials, and that had enticed us to come to Sunda instead of Roka across the street. However, the happy hour specials on the Sunda Social menu available online are only available in the bar or adjacent lounge. Our server brought us the social menu, and it wasn't as impressive as the dinner menu. We opted to stay at our table, and ordered three menu items: crispy brussels sprouts salad, summer garden cut roll, and chili albacore sashimi. The sashimi was my fourth "raw" meal in four days, starting with the raw bar at the Hubbard Inn. Knock on wood, I've been in good health, but I'm always a little bit hesitant when it comes to raw seafood and meat. The items were prepared well, and came in good portion sizes for three people to have a three-course "tasting menu." Sashimi with 8 slices of albacore, 3 cups of salad, and 4 pieces of the roll. The salad lived up to its hype: It's almost like eating fried veggies! There's just a bit of a char to the brussel sprouts, and the dressing comes on the side, so you can dress your salad as much or as little as you would like. Our server offered to mix the salad and dressing for us, but I just jumped in and poured the cup over the salad and my friend and I blended the salad with the two serving spoons. We opted against dessert, but there is a new smore-inspired dessert that is served in a mason jar. I recommend Sunda for casual get-togethers with friends, family, and co-workers. Its loud, as many other Yelpers have indicated, so perhaps not the best venue for date nights or to hold a conversation.
(4)Andy R.
Lil pricey but food was tremendous . Drinks were great.the only negative was the Ginger braised long rib was too fatty not enough meat . Overall lovely ambience and friendly tender at the bar
(4)Norm J.
Sunda has been one of my favorite places to dine at for over 3 years. The food and service are always on the spot. I've been here for lunch and dinner and I have never been disappointed with my selections. The only downside with Sunda is how loud this place gets. I don't know why restaurants in River North feel the need to either have bad to no lighting, loud music and/or tables so close together you can hear your neighbor chewing his/her food. I must give a shout out to Kimberly who is a server at Sunda and is awesome! She always gives good drink and food suggestions, has a great personality and each time I've sat in her section I've had amazing service. If you come to Sunda, I recommend you try: - Lemongrass Beef Lollipops - Miso Cauliflower - Seared Crab-Crusted Ahi Tuni Sashimi - Grilled Spare Ribs - Pancit Canton - Crispy Duck Fried Rice - Miso-Bronzed Black Cod
(4)Chris E.
Food is good, good, good! But restaurant is loud, loud, loud! I read some of the reviews about Sunda and most of the reviews are spot on with the food, décor, atmosphere and specifically the noise level. I came here for dinner on a Monday evening at 8pm and the restaurant was packed to the brim, but good thing I had made reservations so my guest and I were seated a few minutes after we arrived. YES, be smart and make reservations for Sunda and don't be a restaurant newbie, like some reviewers, who expect to get a seat without a reservation. Sunda was definitely alive and kicking. The crowd was boisterous, to say the least, and everyone was very trendy looking. Don't take "trendy" as code word for "they have a dress code" though because from what I saw they don't! I saw some individuals with sneakers on and even one with a backwards snapback cap, however a majority of the crowd was dressed "appropriately" for a trendy restaurant. Most men were wearing button-downs with jeans and shoes and women were in skirts, blouses, dress shirts or dresses. As I said, it was trendy, but in no way "dressy". It seemed a majority of the customers were from the after work crowd, looking to grab a drink, dinner and nighttime chat. There were a lot of groups as well hanging out together. As for the food, it's what you'd expect from an Asian fusion restaurant. It looks like Asian food, taste like Asian food, but is a copycat. Sunda does a good job of giving the customers what they want in that the food is Asian-inspired with "Asian ingredients", but it's obvious it caters to the non-Asian fan base. During dinner, we ordered the following: Firecracker Special Roll, Scorpion Shrimp Roll - Fancy looking sushi rolls, but nothing special that I can remember. They were really good and the pieces WERE huge, but I could've easily ordered this at a 50% sushi restaurant. Tiger Shrimp Tempura - Reminded me of Honey Walnut Shrimp with Mayonnaise served at Chinese restaurants, minus the mayonnaise. The shrimp had a small crunchy cackle, but was glazed really well. I probably could've ate 100 pieces of this easily! Sunda Steamed Buns with Pork Belly - The buns were huge and they weren't stingy on the pork belly either. The pork belly was juicy, extremely flavorful and fit perfectly into the bun. Miso-Bronzed Black Cod - The fish was so soft and moist. The moment I dug my fork into it, the pieces would just fall right off because it was so delicate. The flavor was amazing and very fresh. Crispy Duck Fried Rice - By the time we got to this, we were full, but I squeezed in a few bites and it wasn't spectacular. It was unimpressive with the extremely small pieces of roast duck and other side ingredients. I wish they would've did a little bit more with this dish. Sunda Sundae - We topped off the night with this smorgasborg sundae. For those not in the know, it basically is a loose interpretation of a "halo halo", the infamous Filipino dessert. However, it was a bit different in that there was avocado ice cream and cheddar cheese ice cream, which I have NEVER ever tasted before! Other than that, most of the other ingredients, ube ice cream, sweet beans, jackfruit, sweet corn and condensed milk were all too familiar. The creation was still unique and quite picturesque. It was the perfect dessert to end our meal. Despite the deafening noise levels, the food was overall pretty good, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was great! If you plan on having a romantic dinner here, I recommend doing a complete 180 because this is not the spot. However, if you want to have a good time with some friends and have a good chat, this restaurant is more suited for that. Just warm up your vocal cords ahead of time though!!!
(4)Angela G.
Great food! I got the brussel sprout salad as an appetizer and it is as amazing as everyone says it is. Then I got the barbequed octopus. Everything was delicious, and the portions were a good size. Great service, as well. My only complaint was that it was very noisy. I went on a Tuesday and it was packed, so it is definitely a popular place.
(5)Megan S.
Different than expected. A coworker raved about this place so we braved the cold to go. The ambiance is awesome but the little non-traditional for us. It was rather expensive for the quantity of food. The service was great and who doesn't love Apple pay via open table (app). All in all I enjoyed it but I don't know if we'll be back.
(3)Erica W.
This place is clean and spacious. But feels pretentious at the same time. It is in a touristy area and it's a fusion place. Don't expect much.
(2)Katherine G.
I was thrilled to try the Adobo fried rice and the oxtail dumplings and they did not disappoint. We also ordered a hamachi dish as well as a sushi roll. They were good as well. The ambiance was nice. The service was good. We were sat pretty quickly even without dinner reservations. The prices are on the high side but I think they are on point with what you're getting. Dee Snyder was dining there the night we went so that's pretty cool too.
(5)Ha T.
Quiet affordable if you go for the Bento box and 1 chef specialty roll. I chose spicy tuna and expected the typical marinated in chilly power/sauce tuna. IT WAS NOT! Spicy Tuna came out as tuna and chilly. So it has the natural spiciness, not the spike and rough spiciness of chilly powder. Each slice was put in top a tiny slice of lemon which is a game changer for the taste. For 8.88$/roll, this is the best it can be. For the Bento we went for the ribs which also tasted awesome.
(4)Cannie W.
We were a group of 4 and ordered several dishes from different sections of the menus. We loved the fried brussel sprouts, the stuffed avocado and our main courses the duck fried rice, crazy noodles and the pork belly. They were delicious and worth the money. I am not sure if i was a fan of that $18 dollar unagi sahimi that was only 4 small pieces and I noticed on other people's tables that the sushi rolls were quite smaller than expected, if that is only drawback I may mention. Prices are rather steeper on the Japanese food section.
(4)B T.
This place is legit! If your a Bloody Mary fan then you must try the Sumo Mary! I rolled up and got a nice surprise. It's a drink and a meal. You'll be full and have a great drink. Service and atmosphere is awesome.
(5)David R.
I came here 5 years ago and the food was great. So I came back here. Lemongrass lollipop, pho, lobster and wagyu rolls. Duck fried rice, everything was awesome. Definitely will come back to explore the rest of the menu.
(5)Todd M.
Sour grapes. Can't begin to imagine what could have happened to the people who gave bad reviews. Maybe just an off night? Not one complaint. It was attentive w/o being overbearing, sincerely friendly. And as if it needed anymore of a glowing recommendation, the some of the cast of Chicago Fire & Chicago PD were here tonight. Great food & hip, happening environment.
(5)Tristin H.
Went for the first time last weekend. What took me so long? Excellent, from the service to the atmosphere (though a bit loud) and the food. We shared a few plates, with our favorite being the Rock Shrimp Tempura and the Lobster & Wagyu roll. I'd easily go back just for either of those alone. We had to pick from about 10 items that we wanted, so there's definitely plenty to choose from, including several non sushi/seafood options if that's not your thing.
(5)P L.
I was visiting Chicago and my friend took me here for brunch. Ordered the tom kha gai and tocino on crispy rice patty, and loved both. Only 4 stars because I'm not into a live DJ and lounge-y lighting for brunch.
(4)Liz S.
After a crappy dinner at Vinyl, a friend and I decided to sneak out to Sunda! She had been there before and has been talking up a storm about it so I had to give it a try! I just loved the overall ambiance (dim lighting but just enough to know what you were eating, medium volume music, where I could still hear my friend talking). The waiter was knowledgeable and knew what to suggest food and drink wise. Since our tummies were still a little upset from Vinyl (review to follow)--we went light with the Crisp Rice with Wagyu Beef, Shrimp Tempura with Pecans and Baked Snow Crab Handroll. Everything was so delicate and delicious and and and and sooooo good. I can't wait to go back with a full appetite. I know I can put a hurting on some more!
(5)Alix R.
I had a birthday lunch here with a friend last week. The place is classy and well decorated. The staff is professional and attentive. The food was good, but the seared kobe sushi that the waiter recommended was just ok, a little greasy. The rest of the sushi was pretty good and very fresh. We also had an eggroll thing that tasted an awful lot like the appetizer at Rockit Bar and Grill. Methinks they definitely creatively alter some of the recipes to suit both restaurants. The waiter did offer us a free dessert for my birthday and let me say, the "Ridiculous" was, in fact, just that.
(3)Scotty L.
Brilliant. Excellent service- timely, personable. Food is excellent- Gorgeous space. There are a handful of places that really bring quality to the table- pardon the pun, and sunda does it in the most personal, professional way. The manager, Brett, check on our experience numerous times, and jimmy, our waiter was completely attentive and anticipated all of our needs. I was really appreciative of the dedication to the folks in our party who had dietary restrictions- in most restaurants it feels like baggage- but here it was nothing but hospitality!
(5)I P.
Awesome food! Totally unexpected. You have to get the brussel sprout salad. I never order salads usually when I'm out to dinner but this was so tasty. It almost reminded me of the food at Buddakan in NYC but obviously not as fancy. I also enjoyed the shrimp appetizer but it could have had some more spice to the sauce for extra flavor.
(4)Melissa C.
I love Asian Fusion and I LOVE Sunda. Great food, and great service. It's always busy so reservations are highly recommended. Everything we ordered was terrific, and we were lucky that they sent out some additional sushi rolls that were out of this world!
(5)Prince M.
Hand's down THE BEST RESTAURANT in Chicago. They nail it at everything.. Customer service, Food, Presentation, Atmosphere. There is a reason you see so many of Chicago''s elite and visiting celebrities enjoying this establishment. They take fine dining to a new level with their unique dishes and incredible service. Anytime I have friends or family come in from out of town this is where I take my guests to impress them. If I could give Sunda 7 stars I would.
(5)Evelyn C.
Food was decent. Just that. Service was absent. Too much money for too little. There are other places to get a tocino breakfast.
(2)Julie M.
I like this place so much, I've been here about 4 times in the past 6 months. Everything looks so good, but I pretty much stick to the same things each time: the signature spicy tuna with the crispy rice, the jalapeno yellowtail, the summer roll, and the roll with the lobster, kobe sashimi and foie gras (how can you go wrong, really??). I've gotten the miso crusted cod before and that was perfect! Ahhhh, so yummy! The drinks are unique. The place is huge. It seems like they have a little less than half the restaurant for reservations while the rest of the areas (sushi bar, communal tables, lounge area) are first come, first served.
(4)Erika A.
All I can.say is everytime I go.here I am very happy very full and very tipsy. Everything is delicious here. The service always exceeds expectations! I never remember what I order because our server always makes amazing suggestions. They also have a great beer selection and they give great suggestions about that too! I l especially love the soy paper rolls and hitachino beer! A big plus is that it looks awesome in there! Will.continue to go.back. I will add it has a higher price tag so its not a place I go to often but I make it count!
(5)Tony B.
Had 3 very enjoyable experiences there one for dinner two for apps/cocktails. Like the decor and food was very good, I am not single but I would recommend to upscale professional guys there seem to be many groups of women there, not a pickup atmosphere but great place to meet in a cool atmosphere.
(5)Gina M.
Hands down the best sushi in Chicago. Yes it is expensive but I feel like you get what you pay for here. The entrees are delicious as well. Great service, great atmosphere, and a great time. I can't wait for another special occasion so I can return.
(5)Tiffany H.
Sunda is one of my favorite Sushi spots in Chicago. The food is phenomenal. The Rock Shrimp, Brussel Sprout Salad and Spicy Tail of Two Tunas are must haves. They have always been very accommodating of my reservations requests. Aeron Lancero is great to work with. I would highly recommend Sunda for a fun night out!
(5)Eliot G.
Been here for Sunday brunch a few times. Absolutely love it! Incredible bang for you buck. It is a high end restaurant, excellent ingredients, creative and unique dishes. Tempura french toast, pork belly with poached eggs are awesome. Super large portions as well. Solid bloody marry bar. With entrees only $10-$14 you can't beat it! Highly recommend.
(5)Christy A.
5 star sushi joint...I almost can't say much more because it can only be justified by an actual experience but I'll elaborate for the purposes of this review and because YOU ARE WORTH IT! 1. Valet park (it's not worth fighting with traffic unless you want to park and walk a bit) 2. The decor once you enter is beautiful (totally upscale) 3. Have them hang your outerwear (you don't want that coat clashing with your outfit anyway) 4. Have a drink at the bar because you'll be waiting for a seat unless you've made reservations. Even still, have a drink at the bar it's awesome. 5. There's not a bad seat in the house (ambiance is EVERYTHING) 6. The Prawns are to die for (start off with 2 orders) 7. The sushi is beautiful, fish is delicious, rice is fluffy and desserts are mouthwatering. 8. Service is sharp 9. Ladies room is downstairs (don't be afraid, may appear dark & off-putting) it's very clean. 10.Bill adds up be prepared to blow the budget (YOU ARE WORTH IT!)
(5)Maggie H.
The food tastes fine, although it's not super creative Asian fusion per se. A lot of the dishes are a direct copy of something from an Asian cuisine, renamed fancily, and served in smaller tapa sized portions. On food and atmosphere alone I would say it's a four, but have you seen the prices here?? $20 for fried rice?? Give me a break. For the amount you will spend here you can get a much better/more satisfying meal elsewhere. I will sum it up by saying this place is kind of like the hipster tapas version PF Chang perhaps - tastes fine, but not worth it if you've had good, authentic Asian food. If you're not very familiar with Asian cuisine and don't frequent authentic Asian restaurants though, this is probably not a bad place to check out.
(3)David B.
Went for lunch, it was good, the sushi rolls were good, the octopus tacos were not very good
(3)Joey M.
Came to Sunda for a "business meeting" and mostly just had the sushi. I also tried the oxtail miso soup and the spicy edamame. All great choices. I like the decor. It was a tad bit loud and maybe a bit trendy/hip for my taste but over all it was great and I would highly recommend Sunda if you are taking someone on a date. I wouldn't recommend it for a business meeting, however. Go to a quieter place. :)
(4)Zeid S.
Not worth the hype. We were also misled by the waiter who told us that everything is to share. Definitely not to share, as the entrees are made for a single person. The sushi rolls are overpriced and just average. I had the long rib, it was ok. It lacks having a side. I wasn't impressed. The place looks really nice though.
(3)Kate S.
Mind blown. Best sushi in Chicago. And amazing service too!! Seriously... My new jam.
(5)Stephanie S.
Can someone please give me the recipe for rock shrimp? Please??? While this place is a bit pricey, I think the definition of a great restaurant is a place that makes you think and crave the food long after you've eaten there. The rock shrimp, brussels sprout salad, and spicy tuna are all phenomenal. I crave it every day.
(5)Tamara P.
We've been trying to get to Sunda for more than a year and finally had dinner there on a whim. We had highs & lows to our experience, but overall - definitely a tally in the win column and we'll be back. Here's how our 3 hour Sunda tour went (yes, almost 3 hours on a Monday night! Yikes!). We had reservations for 8:30 pm and arrived with a minute to spare. We were asked to have a seat at the bar while they prepared the table. We seized the opportunity to try a couple of martinis. My husband ordered 'The Jaded Heart' (no pun intended!) and I the Lychee Luxury Drop. We both LOVED the green chartreuse flavor in his martini and mine was sweet & refreshing. After about 15 min, the hostess came to let us know that our table was almost ready. Five minutes later, she revisited to let us know we could either eat at the bar where we were or take a table in the lounge. We were most interested in taking in the ambiance of the dining room (thus the reservation!) so we asked if we could wait for a table. Again, she returned just after 9 and tried to sell us on eating at the bar, but we preferred to wait. Miraculously, around 9:10 pm, we were shown to a table (which rocked like the Titanic on its last eve). Our waiter did try to place some shims under the table, which helped a bit; he also offered to move us to another table, but warned us it might be a while until one would be available. We politely declined :) Onto the food! We started with the Dynamite Oysters and the Oxtail Pot Stickers. Both were delish, but the Dynamite Oysters are extra special and I highly recommend them. As for their Signature Sushi, our two must haves next time are the Lobster & Wagyu and the Baked Snow Crab Handrolls. Both were absolutely amazing. I wouldn't waste the tummy space on the basil shrimp sushi. It was just ok, nothing special. And I highly recommend avoiding the calories of the Crunchy Pig, Hidden Lobster. It was mushy & sloppy & not much by way of fresh, distinct flavor. The firecracker was a win too, but didn't rate as highly as the coveted Lobster & Wagyu or the Snow Crab hand rolls. For dessert, we shared the Creme Brulee special, which was really wonderful and had a number of contrasting textures & flavors from the jack fruit & red beans to purple yam ice cream down to the creamy creme brulee base. Definitely a winner & worth the calories! Overall, our server was very nice and made some great recommendations, but the timing of the different dishes was painful! We ordered everything up front, but there were times we waited 15 - 20 minutes in between sushi dishes to arrive. Each dish came separate, which was great and allowed us to experience each individually, but the wait time in between dishes was undesirable (the Sunda team could take a lesson or three from the Girl & The Goat on timing; now there's a place that has it down!). So the timing was a bit disappointing and caused us to be there upwards of 3 hours. We weren't expecting a quick dinner, but would much prefer to be around the 1.5 - 2 hour mark on a Monday night. Also, although our waiter was very professional, some of the other staff were not. While we were eating, several times we had wait staff reach across our plates/table while we were in the midst of dishing out sushi / eating. Once I was mid bite and someone's arm came across mine. Wow! We really enjoy sake, but don't know enough about it to order a great bottle and most often ask for a recommendation. Our waiter highly recommended the Tyku Black. It was very mild and uninspiring. That was a $75 miss for us. Next time, I'll order another cocktail or two and skip the saki since their martinis were so delish! So bummed I forgot to try the Bacon Old Fashioned, but something to look forward to on our next Sunda tour! Despite the length of time of our experience and the misses on some of the dishes, there were some amazing dishes and cocktails that we'll have to experience again. We'll be back!!
(4)Carol M.
Went there with a group of 7 and sat in the back of the restaurant, which was sectioned off by large glass, at a large table. The front of the restaurant was crowded, noisy, trendy, tables close to each other. Very fun looking and happening type of place. We shared so many dishes that I can't remember them all. The rock shrimp tempura was yummy! Would recommend and would go again.
(5)Abdulla M.
If you're young and you appreciate good asian fusion you should definitely come here! the only bad thing about this restaurant is trying to find a reservation! Their food is excellent and their sushi is also quite good! Very hip and young crowd! servers are generally nice.
(4)Tracy B.
Our server was Ben. He was FANTASTIC. Very knowledgeable with the menu & all the different items we were interested in. We started with an appetizer & then ordered four maki rolls, the golden child, caterpillar, dragon, & rainbow roll. All were VERY delicious & FRESH. I would consider this one of my favorite sushi places to go. I haven't tried the other items on the menu, but I absolutely LOVE their sushi. The service was wonderful & I left feeling very satisfied.
(5)Paul K.
Ate there tonight with another couple. More style over substance. The space is beautiful. However, it is very loud. We sat in the corner and could barely hear each other. The food was ok. The noodle dish was ok. The beef shank was bad. The service was very bad. We had to wait a long time to be seated. The meal was slow. Just not what you would expect for the price. You can find just as trendy places elsewhere. You can get just as good or better food most other places.
(2)Antoinette B.
Atmosphere - fabulous, trendy with a modern vibe. Service - no complaints. Food was amazing and inventive! The favorites of the night were the oxtail potstickers, beef lollipops, and the crispy pata. My girlfriends and I ordered dishes and ate family style so we could try multiple items on the menu. Sushi was fresh, but not the best in the city - would definitely come back here again but to try more of their entrees. Cocktails...my gf absolutely LOVED the Kung Pao Mango. Had a sip of it and it was very fresh tasting.
(4)Ange L.
So I went to Sunda a couple of weeks ago on a Tuesday night with my girlfriends. We didn't have reservations, but we were able to grab 3 seats at the bar. The bar tender was very nice and provided good service. Let me say that the food was great! We ordered a variety of dishes and every single one was delicious. The ambiance was quite nice as well. The only reason why I am not giving this place 5 stars is because it takes a long time to get a reservation, but, if you plan ahead of time, I'm sure the planning will be worth it. Will definitely be back.
(4)Beng E.
Ate here for our anniversary. The rock shrimp tempura and baked dynamite roll were really good. The crispy pata was tender but we were disappointed that it didn't have the crispy skin on it. Its just 'pata'. The seven spice chicken was good. Dessert was just ok. We ordered 'Ridiculous' for dessert. We definitely will come back again but will probably stick to the dimsum and sushi items. Oh I almost forgot to mention that they have pork adobo fried rice, that was really good too but something we can make at home.
(3)Mehgan T.
AMAZING! We went on a Monday night at 9 pm and it was packed! Great atmosphere and even better sushi. Everything we ordered was amazing. Both mine and my friend's cocktail was so good and I usually don't drink during dinner. For food, two of us shared the crab wrapped with salmon, the blue crab roll, "tale of two tunas" roll, and escolar (my favorite!). The menu is huge and they had many cooked dishes also. Wish I lived there so I could go back!
(5)Amanda H.
This was my 3rd time at Sunda and all the other times were great, but it's restaurant week and I was so disappointed in our entrees. We got one filet and one BBQ pork. The pork was super fatty and under-cooked and the steak was practicaly raw in the middle. I was really disappointed because my boyfriend had never been there - not a great first impression. I'm bummed because I used to be a fan...
(2)Bao L.
Went here w/ some friends on a Tuesday night. Sunda is a nicely decorated spot that seems to be great for big groups or dates. -Crispy brussels sprouts salad: one of the better brussels sprouts salads I've had. -Pork belly baos: nice steamed buns, good flavor on the pork belly. Liked this more than the duck baos -Duck baos: see above -Lemongrass beef lollipops: all of my friends liked this, but I thought it was just ok...that may be because I'm Vietnamese and have had almost every type of lemongrass flavored beef dish there is. -Chili albacore sashimi: fresh, thinly sliced, and perfect amount of heat and tanginess w/ the ponzu sauce -Lobster and wagyu: a real solid dish (then again, lobster and wagyu is always a great combo) We also got a bunch of cocktails. I had "The Remedy" - a cocktail w/ Yamazaki 12 year. I know some people may say it's criminal to drink Yamazaki as part of a cocktail and not drink it neat, but this drink was very tasty and mixed beautifully. The prices are on the higher side, but the quality of the food and drinks is on point.
(4)Emily P.
This is the best place to enjoy sushi on the city! The service is great, the food is fantastic (seriously... Try the caterpillar sushi roll), and the atmosphere is loud but upscale. While the food is a bit on the pricier side, it is definitely worth it for a night out. They even have trained sommeliers on staff who will help you pick the best wine or sake option to pair with your meal and an excellent gluten free menu!
(5)Ibrahim S.
The food was fantastic. The meat that was served was some of the best I have had. The hostess was very helpful and concerned. Note: Seating can be more comfortable.
(5)Ever D.
Great food, great ambiance and great people watching.... I love the Duck hash salad and the rock shrimp appetizer. All of the food was great, from the sushi to the hot entrees, nothing disappointed me. The waitstaff were attentive and checked up on us in a timely manner. I does get VERY busy, so you definitely will need a reservation for a Friday or Saturday night, and its a great place to dine before heading out. The bar is a great place to hang while waiting for your table. It can get loud, so if your looking for a quiet place for dinner, pick a time early in the evening for your reservation and you shouldn't have a problem. I will definitely be coming back.
(5)Lauren V.
Went for lunch at 1pm with girlfriends. Service at the front door was great. The place was clearing out, but they still sat us at a table in between other parties....not cool. Service at the table by Nicki was sloooow. This is lunch, not a dinner affair. Food is mediocre; I agree with other yelpers about there being more authentic sushi places. Nicki screwed up the bill at the end (when we finally got it); had to re-do it which took more time.....ugh. It's also a tad pricey....if I go back, a) I won't sit in Nicki's section; b) I'll make sure someone else pays!!
(2)HockeyFan W.
Excellent food, great drinks and fun atmosphere. It is a little difficult to hear anything in there though as the tables are packed together. Both my experiences have been good and I will definitely be going back
(4)Dawn D.
A friend and I decided to try Sunda for brunch. Excellent choice! I've been to Sunda for Dim Sum in the Dark so I was familiar with the atmosphere and the food. On to the brunch: we munched on Southeastern Chop Chop Salad, Crispy Salmon salad and tempura shrimp rolls. All divine. The greatest treat of them all was the strawberry-passionfruit mimosa. I'm not ashamed to write I had 3. Um, it was a long week.
(4)Susan F.
What's not to love about a place where you can eat a million different dishes with your friends and not feel over-stuffed at the end? Sunda offers and extensive menu of asian-fused cuisine that most people choose to share. They do have big dishes you can eat on your own, but it's much more fun to just order a bunch of hot or cold apps and dig in. They have sushi, noodle dishes, and innovative salads that make it easy to try and share. The rock shrimp, blue crab noodle dish, crab cake sashimi are fantastic. They also have amazing mochi in a bunch of great flavors. The atmosphere is pretty happenin on most nights and there is a lot of great seating available.
(4)Peter C.
One of the things that I liked about Sunda is the decor. The Southeast Asia region is very beautiful. However, I go to a restaurant for the food, and the food here was just okay. I love authentic Southeast Asian food and this was more Southeast Asian fusion. The price was about $90 for an appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 drinks which is average for being in downtown but not really worth the price for what you get. Our server was actually pretty rude but pehaps she was just a bad apple. Worth a try.
(3)Vanessa D.
Neatural Review... First time to this place on a Saturday afternoon dinner time. We had been downtown walking all day. The place is nice, most people are well dressed compared to us. You never know what affect how you look can affect your service....anyways, the place wasn't packed and we got seated right away. Our server was polite but i noticed other servers were more attendant to their tables vs our server. He did a good job walking us through the menu, however checking on us wasn't the greatest. I ordered a cocktail (can't remember the name) but was very good. We ordered total of 3 different sushi styles (which all tasted good) and a order of "crazy rice" which also was very good. However we waited forever for our crazy rice. And i noticed other people who had gotten sat down after us got theirs sooner. I gave this place 3 stars, and my opinion is 3 stars because it's nice and tasted good but for the price and our personal service wasn't the best.
(3)Tnon A.
Had a chance to go in for lunch last week. I ordered mini soft shell crabs appetizer, some uni and scallop nigiri, and lunch special steak dish. Food were great but the service was a little less than ok. Will go back again but will try not to sit at the same section where that server was.
(4)Od B.
Food was yummy and waiter was very nice. Brussel salad is a must to try. Also pork belly screws were delicious. Very crowded and loud. Hard to talk
(4)Emann B.
Being a bit of the Asian Persuasion, I was looking forward to finally trying Sunda especially since Billy Dec is half-Pinoy and has great Filipino references on the menu. The food was fine, but overall lacked flavor. The sushi rolls were OK, but nothing you can't get anywhere else. The restaurant is beautiful and nicely laid out, and the hosts and servers were friendly, attentive, with nice smiles. Which is why I bumped this up to three stars. Oh, the one crime: they didn't turn over the flatware. I know, I know, it's more green, save the earth, etc..., but I don't really want to see my used knife and fork placed back on the table while they switch out my plate.
(3)David C.
Chicago is a hard place to find good sushi, but this place has it. The fish is fresh. Some rolls are creative, while others are reliable classics. The staff and management are polite and helpful (rare at a busy hot spot). It's a little loud and crowded for my taste, but that's the market voicing its loud and positive opinion.
(4)Terrence C.
Sunda has an awesome atmosphere, and service was pretty good. I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary sushi, but I gave it a shot. I ordered this tuna roll, that came out looking like a japanese spin on a taco. I didn't have anything that tasted bad, and the hip vibe or the place makes it entertaining. I would suggest sticking to things on the menu that are traditional. Everything tasted ok, but the presentation was appeasing to the eyes, but just par on the taste buds If you want a hip place to take a date too. fine. If you want to get down on some good sushi, there are much much better spots.
(3)Ariel L.
Quick summary: Good food (although small portions) at an expensive price. Everything I had was tasty, but nothing blew me away. I was impressed by the large and diverse menu, and good cocktail menu to boot, but the crowd was the too cool for school crowd. The place was also quite loud and i nearly had to yell to be heard at my own table. Would I go back? Probably. But i certainly will not rush back.
(3)Jaison P.
Finally tried Sunda and I was not disappointed. Like others have said this is def a place to see and be seen. This atmosphere may not be for everyone but what a cool environment. I was surprised to see how socially oriented it felt with closely spaced tables and the long community table in the middle but chatting up randoms after a few drinks can be fun. Overall, I had a great first experience. The bar area was a little packed with loud, drunk old douchers but thats what you get at a trendy place in the city. I will be back very soon...I must have another Baked Snow Crab Handroll. The dynamite sauce in it = spicy sex magic
(4)Tracy F.
I've been to this restaurant probably close to ten times. I have to say it gets worse every time. I'm not sure if they're just comfortable with their success, but the food and service gets more "meh" each time I'm there. For the price, it should be outstanding. But, some of the sushi rolls and entrees are just average. I would say their appetizers are by far and away the best items on the menu. And they have a great Asian beer list. If you can get a table in the lounge, go for it - it's a great vibe, though the seats at the low-tops are a little uncomfortable (no back).
(3)Ian O.
Interesting menu doesn't live up to our hopes. When you charge premium prices, everything should be fresh and exciting. Precut sushi fish and other food a little dry. We enjoyed it, service was good. But we won't be back. Trendy scene, more for the over 30- set (like us!)
(2)Brad C.
I'm the first real person to review this restaurant, yeah! Some faint praise: I think pan-asian, by its inherent nature, is mostly awful; this was not. It was not memorable, but probably better than it really has to be. At least this year. The room, as I'm sure someone above noted, is very pretty: black, lacquered wood, etc. I suppose it can best be surmised as capturing the feel of the signature restaurant in an expensive boutique hotel--that is, it looked like a large investment firm plopped $6-7 million into it as a loss leader to burnish an image. Except it's a stand alone venture. And one supposes the layout, naturally set up so that you can leer at other people poking at their food (while staring back at you, of course), encourages you to linger and quaff a few more $14 cocktails. Can't knock the hustle. Service is mechanical but efficient. Heavily staffed, but stiff. They served an amuse of fried duck skin and some marinated cabbage. I could say this had nothing on Sun Wah but the real problem is that it pretty much had nothing: some cracklins and some ribbons of cabbage. Very prescient of what was to come. Our waitress suggested we pick one or two things from every category; there were at least six categories. Good one. We went with a salad, an appetizer, a noodle dish, and split an entree; we took home leftovers. We had: 1) Salad:burnt watermelon and unagi "nigiri" (chili-caramelized watermelon, peppercress, unagi "bacon", mango, lime)--there were five "pieces" for $14. Not offensive in the least; entirely forgettable in a heartbeat. The unagi was grilled and very lightly soaked in a surprisingly not-too sweet sauce, thankfully; I suppose it's called "bacon" because of how thinly sliced it was. The watermelon was neither caramelized or chili-ized; the citrus fruits were non-existent; the peppercress was merely garnish. I ordered this dish because of nod--intentional or not--to the picked watermelon and pork belly dish at Fatty Crab in NYC, a dish I think is one of the more seminal plates of this decade of American dining. There, the fatty niblets of pork mirror the texture of the fruit, and the sweet and tartness of these two ingredients, respectfully, intermingles in a playful and delicious manner. Here, while certainly playful, the joy was lacking: the eel was a bit mushy and the watermelon was a lukewarm thud, with no crispness or snap; because neither had been given a resolute flavor profile, it was like eating two slightly adverse textures. Eaten, but with a sigh. 2) Hot Appetizer: "Toast and Jam"--shrimp toasts and a ramekin of spicy tuna tataki. This may be the most clever dish of 2009 not served at an Alinea-class restaurant, even if it did only comprise two components. Somewhat fun to eat, simple flavor profile, well executed. Dish could probably be improved by giving the tataki a more robust flavor profile than simply one-note spicy, but it's rare to find anyone doing the rare tuna dish in an interesting fashion. Stingy on the toasts. $14 3) Noodles: "hong kong style crispy noodles--double fried with brown sauce char siu pork, prawns, asian vegetables." Pedestrian and (obviously) nowhere near the level of your favorite noodles at _____ (insert Sun Wah, Katy's, LTH, etc.); when viewed in context of the P-A genre and Sunda itself, pretty good. Asian vegetables = bok choy. Who knows if the pork really was "char siu-d." Brown sauce was nicely balanced and not over-salted. $14. 4) Entree: "crispy pata--confit pork shank with garlic-foie gravy, pea shoots." Warning: Objects may appear less delicious than they appear. From looks alone, this would seem to merit a best-of-the-year mention: the dish comes out with a whole pig's foot stood up on end a AND FRIED, with extraneous green stuff surrounding it. Alas, the pork is not up to snuff in the slightest, and the meat's done-ness was not consistent; there was a cafeteria quality to it. The foie gravy was a bad, bad idea: it was reduced to a pasty, sambal-like thickness, thereby robbing it off its transcendent texture and fattiness; it didn't add anything to the foot. Incidentally, the garlic aspect was served as a separate vinaigrette, which ended up working very nicely for the suprise of the dish: those extraneous greens, watercress actually, were very nice. $22 Desserts are clearly an afterthought: gussied-up cookies, banana fritters, mochi, etc. My guess is that Sunda will pull a Mercat and stick to the same menu for the foreseeable future. Crawl, don't walk.
(2)Tony A.
Had a great lunch at Sunda with a client. Earned some extra points with them for a great recommendation! We shared a couple of apps and 4 rolls...delicious! Loved the Firecracker!! Strongly suggest a lunch at Sunda.
(5)Julie L.
Love the brussel spout salad! Definitely order your own...don't split it. My parents are coming to visit and specifically requested this restaurant.
(5)Ariane N.
Went there on a friday night with a few girlfriends. We were seated promptly (even a bit earlier) at our reservation time. We had wonderful service and wonderful food. We were all ranting and raving about how delicious our food was. It was a very enjoyable evening. The ONLY drawback is the loudness of the restaurant.
(5)Mika J.
What can I say that hasn't been said? Excellent food (Uncle Paul's chicken is devine), phenomenal ambiance & drinks that hit just the right note. I'll overlook it's slightly annoying rep as the "place to see & be"...Sunda is just plain gooood.
(4)Scott N.
Wow! So good, a must try!
(4)Matt Z.
Favorite spot in Chicago. Great White is an amazing mix of Super White Tuna, Truffle and a unique kettle cooked potato chip. The brussel Sprout sweet and spicy shrimp salad is AMAZING. I've never had anything I didn't like here!
(5)Haley C.
We went to Sunda at 6pm on a Friday night. I made the reservations over a week in advance, which was good because when I tried to push the reservation back, they had no availability after 6! Popular place. The ambiance was great. Very trendy space and I didn't feel out of place dressed up. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable, he even asked about my allergies before we even said anything which is always great since I have many. I had the peached sake cocktail which was incredible. Probably one of the best I've ever had. We also started with a delicious miso soup with mushrooms and the spicy edamame. I don't think I'll be satisfied with just regular edamame anymore, it was so good. Other things we enjoyed that our table split: pork belly steamed buns (delicious), street corn (pretty sweet but so good), duck fried rice (very good), stuffed avocado (soooo good, never had anything like it). My parents enjoyed the snowcap and firecracker. Me - being a sweet potato addict - of course got the sweet potato caterpillar. I've had better sweet potato sushi but it was still really good. My only complaint about the restaurant is that it got a bit too loud once it was full, but other than that it was excellent! I would most definitely return to this restaurant. Craving it again right now!
(5)Tony P.
Excellent ambiance, good (but not great) food, and okay service. The sushi was quite good; I ordered the cod, and was surprised by the small portion, and so-so flavor. Overall, not worth the price.
(3)Edna P.
Came here for dinner with hubby and we got the adobo fried rice,adobo pork belly and rainbow roll. They were all delicious! The mochi ice cream was also good. This place can get loud but it has a good vibe. Great service and great food, wish they have this in Cali.
(5)Wasim O.
Wow!!! Best $140 (w/tip) I think I've ever dropped on food n drinks! I only tried 2 of the sushi but I honestly think I picked the best 2! If you like sushi hit this place up! You won't be disappointed. The something dragon roll and firecracker roll is highly recommended!
(5)rebecca c.
I must say that Sunda is probably one of my most favorite restaurants in this city! The service is not the best, but the food makes up for it. I do not think I have ever had one thing that I didn't like on the menu. I highly recommend starting off with the Blushing Geisha, it is a tequila based cocktail with agave juice, not sure what else, but it's phenomenal. They have an amazing rock shrimp, sashimi, oxtails amongst many other things I have not had the pleasure of tasting yet. Long story short, Sunda is a must try!
(5)Katie M.
They have excellent sushi here. It tastes really good and the seafood tastes fresh as well. Definitely recommend and will come back whenever I'm back in town.
(5)Steven H.
Excellent food, service and decor. We missed our reservations on New Year's Eve and they held it for us until we got there! The brussels sprouts are a must. Everything we got was flavorful, fresh and really good overall. Their signature sticky rice with spicy tuna on top was also really good and unique.
(5)Christina P.
Go for the scene, stay for the food. Sunda is an experience all it's own - see & be seen, fab cuisine, topnotch service and a killer ambiance. Must order - crispy brussel sprout salad, blue crab garlic noodles, jam & toast and that effing monstrosity of a dessert The Ridiculous. I am dreaming about my return already...
(4)Chermell J.
Best sushi in Chicago! I go back again and again.
(5)Rajan B.
The food is amaze balls! Very good wait staff and food is so delicious. Their noodles was kinda salty. But sushi and sashimi is what makes me want to go back there. From the dollar sign you should already know it's pricey but hey you get what you pay for.
(5)Linh L.
It's too crowded, there's not enough room for food on the table, and the stools don't have a step for you to rest your feet! The stool thing really bothered me. It made the dining experience even worse. The food is ok. It's nothing I never had before. The seaweed salad was exquisite... I'm kidding. They added romaine lettuce. What? Romaine lettuce?? Has anyone else experience the uncomfortable way seaweed and romaine lettuce goes down your throat? The lettuce was scratching my insides and it was hard to go down. Water please!
(1)Eric S.
It's easy to see why this place is still hoping and sold out most nights even then it's been open a while. An inspires menu with some interesting drinks provide fun ordering opportunities. Make sure to ask about the specials since many of them are one night only and truly special. The most impressive thing about this place though was their attention to detail. Everything was looked after and with countless host staff to make sure your experience is great, it should be the same every time.
(5)Carolyn B.
The food was on par, scene trendy, but I've never had worse service in my life. I've been to plenty nice places, but Nolan P almost ruined my night. We were a group of 3 girls that each spent over one hundred dollars and our waiter came over maximum 3 times. Spend your money somewhere else for a night out.
(3)Kathleen M.
By far, my favorite restaurant in Chicago. The service was fantastic. The manager or even the owner will go up to your table and converse with you, making you feel so welcomed. The ambience is romantic but warm. The mix of Asian and American food make this restaurant so unique and better than anything out there. I am Filipino myself, and even though I could be biased I am proud that my culture is represented well at this restaurant. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Lauren P.
Fun, modern vibe for a sushi restaurant in river north. The food is outstanding... I don't think you could possibly order a something on the menu and not like it. The drinks are kind of pricy but absolutely worth it. I recommend ordering the pear sake to drink. The potstickers were also a great appetizer choice. I was slightly disappointed having to wait for a table even though I had reservations, but I would go back in a heart beat to eat there.
(5)Pt H.
Always great - the sashimi is fresh. The rolls are an excellent blend of flavors. Great service and cool space.
(4)Lauren S.
I am a sushi snob and I thought this was the most interesting and innovative sushi I have had in a long time. I started with the crispy brussel sprout salad and it was to die for. Then I had the tartare on crispy rice. So good! I also had a lobster and waguy sushi which was my least favorite but still great. I wish I had dined with another sushi lover so we could share. I could back tomorrow and order a whole new set of dishes. My hubby had the short ribs and they were awesome.
(5)Opal K.
Came here on a weekday with a couple friends. Atmosphere was really nice. It's on the trendy side. We got the kale and seaweed salad. I'm normally not a salad fan but this was really tasty!! I was underwhelmed by the garden specialty roll. The highlight of the meal was the Ridiculous we got as dessert. Really unique and extremely delicious. It's large so I recommend splitting. It's named appropriately. Overall great experience!
(4)Ha H.
V V good sashimi. Tasted like the fish was fresh from the sea! Not easy to find that inland. They definitely pay top $ for produce. Also has great decor and nice staff, who are friendly and knowledgeable. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5. Good job owners!
(5)Raviphol S.
This place has many good fusion dishes from Asian, French and American. The price is okay too. However, their sushi can be a bit let down.
(4)W S.
The food here was good, the drinks were good and the service was excellent. We had oxtail dumplings, walnut shrimp, shrimp pad Thai and crispy rice with tuna. The walnut shrimp was standout to me, and everything was tasty. But I definitely can't say that it was better than what I would get in china town, for a fraction of the cost. All in all it was a good meal, but it was very expensive and I couldn't get over that fact given that it wasn't better than dozens of other Asian restaurants.
(3)J.B. S.
3.5 stars. The best thing I had was the crispy brussell sprout salad which was extremely flavorful and large. Awesome dish! The sushi was definitely good, but tasted the same as what I get in LA and at Sunda it is way more expensive. The wagyu beef sticks were kinda good but they were not hot! I like beef to be hot, not room temp. The prices were WAY too high for the food that I got. Will not be back.
(3)Kevin S.
Sunda is hands my favorite sushi spot in the city. The atmosphere is amazing like all Rockit Ranch spots. If you want amazing food and an incredible atmosphere Sunda is a must! I would highly recommend finishing off your meal with my favorite desert in the city "the riduclous".
(5)Patrick T.
This place is really special. Upbeat and energetic vibe. Nice drinks. Beautiful sushi. I tried the caterpillar roll which is made with fried sweet potato and pear lending an interesting crisp texture. My drink had jalapeño in it which is never a bad thing. I think it was a tiger something or other. The sake selection is diverse and they carry some lovely nigoris. The highlight by far were the nigiri. They are expensive this is a granted. Had the hamachi marrow which is a delicate yellowtail that looks maybe a little seared or torched, topped with delicious roast bone marrow giving the piece a smokey saltiness. Best part of the meal was the escolar "great white," a piece of fish wrapped cylindrically around a ball of rice, topped with a crisp potato chip and black truffle. This is the stuff that hopes and dreams are made of. I just closed my eyes and had my moment for a minute or two. That taste is exquisite and worth a two hour round trip on CTA from Evanston for a 10pm reservation since that's all that open table had left. Must have again//try ALL the nigiri!
(5)Valerie J.
My husband and I went to Sunda after I got back from a flight to Houston, and after a long day of a conference for him a bit over a month ago. Considering the area and the highly-over-rated restaus in said area, this place deserves 5 stars for food, good staff, and ambiance. The trifecta! We've never been here before but loved the idea of interesting Asian fusion. We also got there early enough to beat crowds, but sat at the gorgeous sushi bar for the fun of it. The menu is huge and decidedly awesome. The vastness of it can be overwhelming, but luckily our super cool waiter helped us pick excellent options. Since it's been over a month and I've eaten my way across Europe, I don't recall the exact names of most of what we had. We started with seared tuna in a ponzu chili sauce. It was fantastic and much more tuna than we'd anticipated. For the price, at least you get what you pay for. This theme continued throughout our foodie affair with Sunda. Next we got their "stuffed avocado" which is really a feast for the eyes and mouth. Filled with delicious tuna, fried onions, and a semi-spicy sauce replete with jalapenos, this was quite amazing. Our next course blew us away as it was so unique. It was grilled pork mixed with barely seared tuna (imagine the textures!) as well as different peppers and vegetables, served on lettuce. Everything was good, but this was just so unique and different. Quite the successful dish! We were wowed to say the least. We finished with the 'eel and foie gras' - which we didn't realize would be fried. It was OK, and definitely interesting, but could have been better. Or maybe I should just start with this one next time? :) I can't wait to try this place again, hopefully sooner than later! Thanks to living up to the hype, and your star-rating, Sunda!
(5)Kent M.
It's a little pricy, but you get what you pay for - and then some! We started off with the lemongrass beef lollipops and the Brussels sprout salad; both were excellent. The entrees included an adobo braised pork belly that tasted amazing, and it was so tender it just fell apart. The firecracker roll and the steak were both great. But the pies de resistance is their signature dessert: the Ridiculous. It's a gigantic scoop of vanilla ice cream surrounded by a thin layer of cake, drenched in a caramel syrup and sprinkled with candied nuts (walnuts or pecans, I don't remember) - aptly named, but SOOO delicious! The service was another bright spot of the evening. The waitress answered all of our questions and provided some excellent suggestions (see the appetizers above). They were quick to refill the water, brought the food out promptly, and they make a mean Old Fashioned. The only downside was the noise. It was so loud I had trouble hearing much of anything. That was the only reason I didn't rate them at 5 stars. If you're going to Chicago, this is a definite must-visit.
(4)Madison L.
The Lobster and wagyu is definitely my favorite sushi roll here. The ambiance and the environment is perfect for a Friday and Saturday evening dinner. With the dim lighting and gorgeous decorations, this place has a really casual and intimate vibe. The service is phenomenal and the cocktails are delicious. We also had the panang curry and its placed inside a fresh coconut as well as the baked snow crab hand roll! A great experience - the restaurant is chic and the food is incredibly fresh. Would definitely come back!
(5)Fletcher M.
Food lacked flavor, waiter lacked knowledge, chef lacked training, restaurant lacked ambiance. When I spend $150 for 2 at dinner, I will admit to having high expectations. However, Sunda let us down at every turn. Saturday night: The waiter forgot our drink order, the back area was so loud I was shouting (come on man, put up some sound deadening, I'm at a restaurant not a club), the food flavor was very average, and the sushi chef was at best a knock off (disclaimer: I've spent extensive time in Japan). Big let down for a 4 of 5 average.
(2)Ivy S.
What an amazing experience for our first time going here! We had the stuffed avocado, the rock shrimp, the Pho and Pancit Canton. Everything was perfect!
(5)Tatyana M.
Huge disappointment in everything. FOOD: some dishes were OK, some -plain awful. (particularly sushi) SERVICE: unprofessional, inattentive, unpleasant. AMBIANCE: was nice, but nothing special VALUE: very,very overpriced for the quality of the food CONCLUSION: Never again
(1)Big D.
Unique menu, great food and a nice ambience. I wished I lived in Chicago so I could try out more of the dishes on the unique menu.
(4)Marcus C.
Great Brunch! Cool twist on classics!
(4)Gretta A.
Let start by saying i love love love Sunda!!! I've been there couple times and there is no complaints food is amazing drinks were really good too!! i love the fact that there open late which is works best for me. the longevity noodles are a must !!!
(5)Joshua G.
This place rocks!... I have finally become a member of their frequent dining club. Although I'm a little upset that I have dined here 15+ times, where do we start... The only complaint we have is the place can be tough to get into and some of the seats don't have backs. What should you get... brussels sprouts salad, rock shrimp tempura, tail of two tunas, sundaes signature crispy rice, and the lobster wagyo roll. This is truly one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago, anytime we have guests in town this is our go to place. It's good for special events, business dinner or a date night.
(5)Ayana P.
I liked Sunda a lot! We came here on Tuesday night when we were supposed to be home in DC, but Sandy had other plans. Jay was our friendly server and made great drink recommendations. She may have recommeded a few items that we ordered a la carte too. We let the chef choose most of what we ate. Everything that he brought out was delicious. My favority was the brussel sprout salad. My second favorite was that pan crab rolls (I think that's what they're called). They brought a bunch of stuff out that I didn't eat though. I was the only one who didn't eat beef, pork, and turkey and the table still enjoyed what I couldn't. When I'm back in Chi-town, I will be up in here.
(4)Ivana M.
Everything was excellent: food (we had sushi) ambiance, service!
(5)Cheryl H.
I think this place has a great vibe: cool, trendy, OK service. But like most Pan Asian restaurants, the food falls very short. It strives to be a jack of all trades, and the adage holds true: king of none. We ordered: The firecracker roll, the infamous tiger shrimp tempura, which is mislabeled since it's actually rock shrimp (much much smaller), the shrimp pad Thai and the crispy pork adobo fried rice. It came out to around 100 dollars for our meal. All of it was BLAH. The portions are on the smaller side, but they advertise it as sharing portions. It's more like tapas style sharing portions but at the price of full sized dishes. We ate here because we had friends in town who wanted to try it and generously paid for our very overpriced meal; I would definitely not recommend it and probably wouldn't come back.
(2)Ali B.
Dropped in after work on a Friday with my boyfriend. The only spot they had was at the sushi bar which was fine with us. Everything was amazing but the Brussel sprout salad was the stand out! You must get that!!
(5)D S.
Great Ambiance and Crowd!!! Another Hit by the Rockit Ranch Crew. I will admit that I never thought anybody would be able to top Sushi Wabi, which was by far one of my favorite restuarants in the city for Sushi. However, since they closed Sunda has held the Crown of the City for Sushi in Chi-Town. The Number 10 Roll, or as I like to call it the Big Mac of Sushi Rolls, is delicious. The Rock Tempura Shrimp is a nice appetizer to get the meal stated. And you have to save room for the Ridiculous, a deep fried scoop of Ice Cream... Yummy!!!!!
(4)Brenda M.
Younger crowd vibe. Sat at table not sushi bar - very loud, difficult to converse at times. Food was good but not worth listed prices. Waiter was nice but he and the bussers were slow and sloppy. Too many other great places to eat in the area so it's definitely not a place I'd frequent.
(2)JoLynn W.
I recently went to Sunda for a business meeting, and we didn't know what to order so we asked the waiter to make some suggestions. Everything was delicious! We ordered the kale salad, Red Dragon rolls, spicy tuna rolls, spicy tuna crispy rice, pork belly steamed buns, tiger shrimp tempura, tacos and a few other dishes. Excellent service and a very attentive staff. We went during the lunch rush so it was pretty loud, but I imagine the ambience is very enjoyable during the evening. I would recommend making a reservation because it's a very popular restaurant. We had a reservation and we were seated right away!
(4)Qinghong Y.
Too much meat and a bit salty, should order some rice to go with some of the main dishes (eg. Pork belly).
(4)Andrea M.
The firecracker roll and sumo futomaki were amazing! Our waitress was fantastic as well!
(5)Tony R.
Great food great service. Get the Crispy rice and Brussel sprout salad.
(4)Cathy H.
Sunda's atmosphere was really amazing. The decor was very modern, very impressive. The food was tasty. My husband and I tried as many dishes as we could. We loved almost all of them (Some of the dishes were good, not fantastic. But, you will not receive any bad dishes here.). His favorite was the Devil's Pot. Mine was the dessert with the Thai iced tea flavored anglaise. I wanted to lick the plate. We also loved the sashimi dishes! There were so many other dishes we wanted to try, so we can't wait to go back.
(4)Ben J.
great sushi all around - firecracker stood out, as well as shrimp.
(4)young k.
I've wanting to eat at Sunda for quite awhile but was not able to get a reservation. So, when I finally got a reservation this past weekend I was very excited and the food did not disappoint. Although all of the dishes were good,except for "sticky rice", I especially enjoyed corn fritter which had the most flavorful taste and my wife loved bread pudding which she says is combination of creme brulle and thai custard ...."to die for". I was told that the service was very good but our server, Stephanie, was awesome and she even took the sticky rice off the bill because I did not like it. Overall, I will definitely revisit Sunda again to try other delicacy on the menu.
(4)Tina L.
Really good atmosphere and the food was great. We made reservations, but they only had shared tables left, so kinda disappointed, but other than that..no complaints. Really friendly staff. Perfect sized portions so definitely a place to grab a bite before a night out! LOVE the Go Go Berry Martini
(4)Jennifer B.
Sunda does not live up to the hype. Hostesses were extremely snobby and rude. Dining room is so loud we repeatedly had to ask our waitress to speak up. Our group is full of twenty-somethings that eat out and go out a lot, and Sunda falls short to so many of the other "Hot Spot" restaurants on Open Table. There's probably a reason you can make a reservation one day ahead. Billy Dec of Rockit falls short on this one. Food didn't make up for the awful service.
(2)Chicago F.
5/5 for the food and quality we had the rock shrimp app and a few rolls, the seabass was just awesome .. it melted in my mouth 5/5 for the service 5/5 for the decor and lighting it was just a perfect evening :)
(5)Katie D.
This is by far the best place for sushi! I am sure the other entrees are delicious but the sushi (pieces and rolls) were the best I have ever tasted. The service was excellent to go along with the best food ever!
(5)Tracey P.
Love the seafood dynamite roll. Atmosphere is fun, but very loud.
(4)Allison H.
Yum! I've been here twice now - only for lunch - and both times it's just delish! I've had the rock shrimp tempura which is really just amazing. I would be happy ordering 3 of these for my meal and that's it. I'm never a huge fan of fried shrimp but these are just too good to pass up. I also highly recommend the crispy rice pan fried sushi - I've tried both the spicy tuna and kobe beef. The spicy tuna was very good but the kobe beef - ridiculously amazing. It's a rare occasion when I prefer beef over any type of seafood but Sunda has found a way to make it happen. I've also tried a few of the sushi rolls - rainbow roll, mushroom lover, tail of two tunas, spicy tuna, and firecracker. All good, expect the mushroom lover was pretty disappointing. Being a mushroom lover myself, I figured this roll was meant for me. It was pretty flavorless and disappointing. I definitely wouldn't order it again. In addition to the great food, they have such a cool, trendy atmosphere and the service has always been great. The servers have recommended some great options and helped us figure out how much food to order for a group. The prices are little high but it's river north and about what you can expect for any trendy places in that area. I seriously can't wait to go back here. Please, you need to go and make sure you get the rock shrimp tempura and crispy pan fried sushi with kobe beef!!!
(4)Ed D.
7 of my friends and I went here on a Sat night. The sushi was fresh and the food was very tasty. We ordered a bunch of dishes, some of them being short ribs, chilean sea bass, chicken adobo, steak tenderloin, hamachi, escerot w black truffle, crab tempura. We also ordered martini's and other drinks. Finally we ordered a bunch of desserts like taro bread pudding, chocolate cake, ridiculous sweet plate, chefs special dessert. All of us liked everything we had. There were a bunch of 'wow this tastes sooo good' reactions! There was nice ambiance and the decor looked very trendy. The customers looked very stylish and there was a lot of good looking people that ate there. It's located in the restaurant district of River North. I was afraid of the cost since we ordered so much food and drinks but it actually wasn't that bad. I would go broke eating there every day but it's definitely worth it once in a while.
(5)Tiffany K.
Sunda sure does NOT live up to the hype. We came here for one of my girl friend's birthday dinner. It was a group of about 10 or so. First off, service was horrible. Food was okay. I did not order a hot entree, I had sushi. Sushi was mediocre. The server forgot one of our friend's order, mixed up another order and overcooked one of my other friend's fish entree. I had a good time only because I had dinner with great company. Overall, my experience at Sunda was not great. I would not come back here, ever!
(2)Nazario O.
Fantastic food, fantastic service, great spot to bring your loved ones. A great recommendation is to get the "Ridiculous" for dessert. This is a must get so leave some room for this wonderful treat. Much thanks to the staff, especially Kevin, Jesse, Aeron and all that helped the night start in the best fashion possible.
(5)Jimmy P.
So far - my favorite sushi place in Chicago. Food: - We ordered the rock shrimp tempura, crispy rice with Kobe beef, several cuts of sushi (mostly fatty tuna) and the pork belly entree. - *Almost* everything was great. Some of the best items we ate came as recommendations from our British waiter Ben. We called him Big Ben behind his back, but I don't think he'll care. - The one thing that really blew us away was the escolar. That miraculous little piece of white tuna was something else... entirely our waiters recommendation. Did I dream about it like he claimed I would? No. But I did have a minor religious experience and saw the fish Jesus - Fejus. He tasted delicious. - The one bad note, and sadly came as a huge recommendation, was the pork belly. I love pork belly.... but this thing was FRIED. It was super dry and the sauce was over salted. Overall: The pork belly was a huge disappointment (I love devouring the flesh of pig) - but I still gave them five stars anyways. I might be too forgiving. The escolar was incredible and they had super fresh sushi. You also have to order the crispy rice if you go - somewhat unique and bursting with flavor.
(5)Liz K.
Sunda was fantastic! I had a reservation for 6:30pm on a Saturday night. We arrived at 7 due to bad traffic and they were extremely pleasant and seated us immediately. I had called ahead to let them know we were running late, but they have a 15 minute late policy, which they were lenient about. The food was amazing - every dish was delicious; the black cod practically melted in my mouth. The side of cauliflower is good, as is the Rainbow Roll. The char siu was very fatty, but when we told a manager, they changed it out for a leaner one. Atmosphere was noisy, yet casual and comfortable. The tall tables weren't very comfortable to sit on, and I had nowhere to put my purse. I would recommend coat check at the door. Loved it and would definitely go again.
(4)Eugenia O.
I would give this place 3.5 stars. The interior was stunning with very modern hardwood floors and beautiful decor which gave the place a very stylish and classy feel. Our service was great- very attentive and friendly. Sunda would certainly get a 5 for abiance. The reason why my review is only for 3.5 is because of the price and portion size. My friend and I ordered sushi rolls which were not very impressive looking nor tasting. They were very small and unfilling and rather expesive for the size and (lack of) presentation. In fact, I would prefer Sushi Samba compared to this place any day. Sushi Samba also has a really unique and hip interior. While Sushi Samba's prices, like Sunda's, are certainly not cheap, at least at Sushi Samba each dish is a mini artwork, delicious, and more filling that what I received at Sunda. On the other hand, perhaps Sunda would be better for non-sushi lovers because my other friend who ordered a sandwich was very satisfied with her dish. So: -If you go to Sunda, do not order sushi. -If you want sushi, go to Sushi Samba instead.
(3)Kristin G.
We went to Sunda just after it first opened with a group from work. Honestly I was not expecting much, but the waitress was good and just kept bringing yummy things out. The Peared Sake drink was one of the best drinks that I have had in a long time. The food was not outstanding, but the scene and the drinks were right on!
(4)Megen B.
i used to go here quite a bit for lunch meetings and thought the food, service and ambiance was always top notch. as more sushi places have entered the scene, sunda has grown stale and way too pricey. we went today and shared 2 rolls the server recommended as well as each had 2 entrees. not impressed. the hype is not worth it, the service was pretty poor and the food was mediocre. union, shiso and even RA are better.
(2)Carmen D.
The chili albacore is food porn. Must get. Had the Crispy Brussels Sprout Salad, it was pretty tasty. Good jebus, but the albacore, I should have ordered two plates.
(5)Tiffany L.
I loved the ambience of this place. My kind of scene. Dimmed lighting. Intimate moments. Our waiter was bombass. I can't remember his name for the life of me but he was very informative and outgoing. He gave really great service. I'm usually used to ordering at least three it four tapas dishes but even two at Sunda was enough. We shared a garlic-y noodle dish that just hit the spot. The drinks were all very delicious and not too sweet either.
(5)Caroline N.
5 stars for the interior decorating, 3 for the food. I've been to sunda three times, once directly after it opened, for lunch during restaurant week, and last week for dinner. Perfect lighting and a perfect noise level for a date or a dinner with friends. The service is always good. The food is good, although I have yet to have anything that I thought was exceptional. The sticky buns are tasty. The crunchy rice maki are good. The thai papaya salad was delicious. The rolls are all pretty solid. I've had mixed luck with sashimi- I had excellent fatty tuna the first time I went, mediocre salmon more recently. It's definitely overpriced, but it's worth paying for the ambience.
(4)Marisol D.
There are so many great plates I cant even begin to list them all. The sushi was fresh so you cant go wrong with any of the rolls, but be warned they are pricey. The Pancit Canton, No You Didn't Hand roll, and Shaoxing Chilean Seabass were amazing.
(4)Jeff S.
Sunda is a trendy asian fushion spot in River North that I have always wanted to try but with so many other good restaurants around, never did. Well until now. Met some friends out to dinner this past week and was seated promptly. Service started out on a high note with a quick drink order and an explanation of the menu. After that, it petered out as I sat on an empty beer for a while and took a long time for the waitress to come back (really, it was only to give us the check). So how was the food? Good but nothing out-of-the-world. Heard the brussel sprout salad is amazing but not a huge fan so I opted for something a little more classic - Crazy Rice (seafood fried rice with some heat). Well at least what they say about heat as it was medium and nothing spicier than what you can find at a Chinese/Thai restaurant. The seafood was good as was the egg on top of the rice (always a nice touch). Not dinner mates did the drunked noodle which was solid but nothing special. That's really the big theme of Sunda - not a bad place to grab dinner and drinks with friends but nothing extraordinary either.
(3)Lauren P.
Loved the vibe and atmosphere. The sushi was super eh. I've had better many times at places less trendy. However --- the brussel sprout salad is borderline life changing. The service was good, nothing special. The menu has a lot to offer and we tried 2 rolls, butterfly fomomaki (sp? no idea), tiger prawn tempura and Brussels. The butterfly was actually gross, it was really mushy. The rolls were just fine as I said earlier. Prawns were just tiny tempura shrimps over a candied-esk pecan salad. So go and order brussel sprouts.
(3)Cory D.
Had dinner at this place on my first trip to Chicago. Great food and atmosphere. A fairly young 20's and 30's crowd. Reminds me of some trendy restaurants in the meat packing district in NY. I'm always wary of these so-called "asian fusion" restaurant, due to the lack of real fusion involved and high prices. However, Sunda does the concept fairly well. The lobster and wagyu rolls were above average. Tasty but not over the top. I chose the ridiculous for dessert. It was...well, ridiculous. Recommend.
(4)Lauren S.
My sister had an event for work at Sunda last night. I have never heard her so upset so I was compelled to write about how horrible it was. Tenia was the name of the girl she worked with and she was so rude and unaccommodating. Neither my sister or I would ever come back here based on the service she was given during her event as my sister who does events often said you can find better sushi and better customer service at Shaw's, Japonais, Hub 51 or Union Sushi. Take your money someplace else Sunda doesn't appreciate it.
(1)Alexis R.
They should just stop serving sushi all together. The entrees are delicious, the sushi on the other hand, is not impressive. I only order the Wagyu Beef and Lobster Roll, the rainbow roll and tale of two tunas are nothing special. The cocktails are delicious and I always order the Geisha that is no longer on the menu. I think you pay for the atmosphere, not the sushi.
(3)Amy C.
Happening and lively for a Tuesday night when we dined here. Menu was quite large and had something for everyone. Most of the dishes are for you to share and of varying sizes. Nice selection of beer and wine on the menu. Good food but nothing special.
(3)Carlondra C.
Went here for a girlfriends birthday dinner. Had a blast, loved the atmosphere - very live. I had the no you didn't...the ultimate handroll, it was like a Sushi wrap. The firecracker & sunda rainbow roll are very good. Portions are family style and easily shared. The Garlic rice was way too garlicky. Will be going back there. Valet parking was $12 bucks. Make reservations, will not be seated until most of your party is present.
(4)Erin K.
Too much hype and greasy, low quality asian fusion. This place is completely responsible for my lack of trust in local media's restaurant reviews. The decor is Asia Disney and the food is bland, salty, and oily. There were frozen crab legs in the sushi station.
(1)C B.
Went in a small group and we thoroughly enjoyed our mixed drinks, bottles of wine and the sushi. Everything was presented nicely and our server was very attentive. It was a little loud but only because every table in the restaurant was taken. I think noise is to be expected. Our wines were quite delicious. We had a Riesling and a Sauv Blanc. The cocktail menu was unique and my drink tasted quite lovely. My group seemed very pleased with the sushi and apps. The side of cauliflower was incredibly tasty and I recommend it for vegetarians.
(5)Charles A.
We enjoyed a nice lunch here. I wish we could have lingered. The atmosphere is pleasant, the portions generous and the food and service excellent.
(4)Kimberly D.
I went there based on a recommendation from the concierge at the W. It was wonderful! I had "the great white tuna" - escolar, the truffled tataki salmon, baked crab handroll, and crispy rice with kobe beef. the baked roll was okay but not the best i've had. the rest was amazing!!
(5)Nadeem P.
Amazing atmosphere, awesome drinks, delicious food, and sweet happy hour. Our favorites here were the pork belly buns and the firecracker roll. During happy hour they have a ton of stuff for 50% off. We will definitely be adding this to the list of happy hour spots!
(5)Dave L.
Came here based on yelp reviews and because I was in the neighborhood. Lets just say I was not impressed at all. The place was overly crowded and that means banging elbows with table to the left and right. How do you enjoy dinner when customers from other tables are elbowing you (WTF)? Food was completely uninspiring. My experience almost felt like happy hours at some sushi restaurant. The only difference was the prices here were about 10x as much as other better restaurants. The place was so loud. I came so close to busting out my ear plugs.... Sad to say, I am never coming here. PS: Waiter was a good guy, but seriously overwhelmed.
(2)Brett K.
The Kobe beef tartar sushi is all that really needs to be said here so I'll be brief... Awesome atmosphere, genius menu (food and drinks) and great service.
(4)Brian C.
Sunda is in a class of it's own when it comes to Asian fusion in Chicago. The staff is incredibly helpful when it comes to exploring the menu and is quick to offer a solid recommendation. After several visits to Sunda, a few dishes stand out more than others. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad, Pork Belly Skewers, Lemongrass Beef Lollipops, Umami Surf and Turf, Pancit Canton, and Citrus Scallops have been group favorites. Sunda has proven to be consistent and is an absolute must anytime guests are in from out of town.
(5)Steven S.
Im giving 5 stars for their service. I made a reservation at 8. And i came since 7:50. At 8:15, they still didnt have a seat for us. They gave us a free shot of sake. Then, when we sat at about 8:25, they gave us free brussel sprout salad and also birthday cake for my friend. I am very glad that they are treating us special fpr the delay.
(5)Kabir S.
Excellent place, excellent food, great vibe and very good service! A bit pricey but worth it!
(4)Peter C.
Horribly bad service! Waiter knew nothing about sushi. We had to clear our own plates by putting them on the empty table next to us. The food was decent, but they forgot two of our dishes and I had to flag someone down for soy sauce (after our first round of food had already been sitting on our table for five minutes). The waiter (Nolan) tried to make nice as soon as he was bringing the check, but when we told him we were displeased with the service, he simply disappeared and returned at least 5 minutes later with the check and the manager. Ugh! Such a disappointment. In fact the service was so bad that I decided to join Yelp to tonight to warn you all. Don't believe the hype! Stay away from this restaurant. Come get real sushi in California! I have not been this disappointed in a restaurant in a long time.
(1)Stephanie M.
Loved it!
(5)Quantas G.
Solid place. Awesome food, well executed. I went for a work dinner and enjoyed every bit of it. The prices were out of my price range and the flavors were out of this world. (A little embellishment never hurt anyone.) The food was really good though. We kept ordering dishes until we were full. And I kept ordering different sakes until I couldn't take anymore. The menu is pretty inventive and the ingredients were top quality. (But avoid the desserts like the plague. They were fairly bland and uninspired.) The service was impeccable. Our server was knowledgeable and helpful and the accompanying staff kept us satisfied. The decor was a nice minimalist look that was cross between earthy, rustic and Japanese. If I could afford this place I would go back to be thoroughly satisfied. As a sidenote, this place is a place to see and be seen. Given the owner's 'prestige', this place is hopping with Bears players, pretty people and Jillian the Bachelorette. I'm not pretty, a Bears player or a bacholerette socialite but I did enjoy the food.
(4)Jennifer H.
Knock-out service, delectable food, tasty cocktails. The scene is great and fancy-but-not-too-fancy so everyone can feel at ease. A great place for a girls night or date!
(5)Rebecca A.
HUGE fan of Sunda. Hands down the best sushi and upscale Filipino fusion food in Chicago.
(5)Sandy S.
What a place! What a vibe! What creative sushi! One stop shop for a good time out in Chicago. Drinks at the bar? Check. Rather be seated at the coolest sushi bar in America? Check. Chicago is a good looking town and Sunda is their hangout. The venue is sleek, dark and sexy. Perfect for a date or a night out with friends.
(4)Din D.
Good food. Good service. Sitting at the sushi bar is pretty much the only option most of the time since they are always booked, which can be a little awkward. The other option was the seating in the middle which was even more awkward because you are sitting on stools which can be very uncomfortable. Besides being extremely pricey and hard to get good seating this place was pretty cool.
(3)V. K.
Great Service, Great Atmosphere, Great Food! I will definitely be back!!
(5)Nicole S.
My cousin and her husband recently visited Chicago from Dallas and we (along with three of their friends) made a dinner reservation at Sunda. I had not heard of the restaurant, but I like sushi so I was game. We ordered a variety of rolls and beverages. I was very happy with my beverage selection. I don't remember the title, but I do remember that it had blackberries in it. It was DELISH! And, typically, I'm more of a nigiri/sashimi kinda gal, but I went with the group and tried all of the rolls. And my favorite was the caterpiller. I definitely plan to order another one on my next visit.
(4)N K.
Sunda is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. If I have sushi fans in town, this is my go-to place to take them. Musts... Signature Sushi w/ Spicy Tuna on Pan Fried Crispy Rice Short ribs Lo mein or Pad thai Strawberry fields cocktail Sake Reservations! This place books up fast Great service, great location, great experience every single time.
(5)lisa u.
HANDS DOWN THE BEST SUSHI I HAVE EVER HAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! amazing food, amazing ambiance and great service love the vibe of this place and I always know that I will get consistent service and quality of food every time I go! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
(5)Ralph D.
First time here, the menu seemed a bit overwhelming but the waitstaff was very helpful and in helping decide on what to get. Ordered the Rock Shrimp Tempura, Pig Sticks, Pancit Canton and Sunda's Signature Crispy Rice. All of these were amazing. The "Ridiculous" Dessert was ridiculously amazing. No joke.
(5)Elizabeth N.
the prices are high but the food is amazing and their drinks are the best!!!!!!!
(4)Viral P.
This place is loud and busy for a weekday night. Not too many vegetarian options, but as always you can customize it. I had cucumber/avocado rolls and a drink. I really liked the ambiance minus the decibel level. I'd recommend that you should check out the place for sure depending on whom you are going with. If its friends and you want to have cocktails, then i surely recommend it. If its a date, then may be not as it gets loud in there.
(3)Marla M.
I have been eager to go to Sunda for quite some time and they did not disappoint! Everything about my experience was perfect. I loved the decor, they really thought out each detail. The service was amazing and unpretentious. The food was cleverly named and the flavor delivered. I would recommend everything we ate. We started with the angry soft shell crab dish which is seasonal and lemongrass beef lolipops. My Husband had short ribs for his entree and I had seabass both were fabulous! The dessert we ordered was called Ridiculous and it was:) You must save room for that. I signed up for their online newsletter on their website and they gave me a $15 off for lunch or brunch. I am so excited and can't wait to go back and try Sunday brunch with their Asian flair. I am a fan!
(5)Cathy F.
Always consistently delicious Pan-Asian fusion style "japanese" food. I've been there a few times and it's never disappointed. By far their best deal is the "Sunda Social" 4-6pm (I think) offer on weekdays where many of their appetizers/rolls are half off! A few favs: -Shishito peppers as a starter is always delicious. They're not too spicy and nicely charred. -Brussel Sprout salad is fantastic. -Oxtail Potstickers are delish -The Duck Hash is INCREDIBLE. One of the best things I've ever had. -The "oh no you didn't ultimate handroll", but ask them to make it into a regular cut roll. I think its their best roll next to the lobster and waygu roll. -Any of the tatakis are truffly and excellent. Service can be somewhat slow sometimes, but the ambiance of the place can't be beat. Great for happy hour meeting friends or for a date. Sometimes it can get a bit loud, though.
(4)Barbara S.
A group of 6 of us went to Sunda for dinner so we were able to sit at a chef's table slightly away from the main dining area. Food was excellent; servers were also excellent and knowledgeable about all of the menu items. 1 of us was a vegetarian and another allergic to seafood - both were accomodated with no issues. The only issue we have is the noise - it's not a place for casual, quiet conversation.....we'll go back because the food was so good!!!!!!
(4)Nycole H.
A good friend was hosting an event in the new upstairs event space and I was very excited to visit Sunda for the first time. Throughout the event there were a few appetizers brought around and they were so good. So good in fact that a few friends and myself decided to stay for dinner. The food was really good and not priced bad at all. I am somewhat obsessed with Escolar and could eat it daily so I got that and Organic Miso Soup w/Crab. It was all so good. I think this was by far the best Escolar I have gotten. It was so buttery and delicious!! I look forward to coming back!!
(5)Samantha H.
I try to rate things based on price point and what they're trying to accomplish. The food at Sunda, I thought, was good. But for the price you're paying I wanted it to be knock my socks off, can't wait to go back, sushigasm good, which is wasn't. It was tasty. The service was above average and I really liked the decor. It was very crowded on a Saturday night and our service was still good. It's not somewhere I'd go out of my way to go back to, but not somewhere I'd avoid either in the future. I did particularly like the tail of two tunas roll.
(3)Aaron B.
Overall pretty good new spot in River North. Definitely a scene on the weekends. Appetizers and drinks are definitely the way to go as entrees were disappointing. Highlights: Rock shimp tempura, "toast and jam" (tuna tartare on shrimp toast points; very good dish), garlic noodles Lowlights: Shaking beef (overdone, tough beef cubes under a pile of greens), sushi rolls (horrible for the price)
(3)Jennifer K.
went here for lunch and sat outside on the patio, which was lovely...we couldn't decide what to get, so we asked our server to just bring a bunch of dishes that we could share, all delicious! rainbow roll, spicy tuna, kobe beef roll, pork buns, chicken w/ walnuts, summer salad, noodles etc. quite the feast! highly recommend this place!
(5)Sam C.
decent sushi, can tell the place has been around for a while, not as trendy as other places. waitress was a little odd, when one of us ordered a drink with cucumber vodka she told her not to get it because someone had gotten sick from it earlier in the week. too much information. drinks were decent, a little too cheesy, one looked like an umbrella drink. rock shrimp were amazing. other rolls were good but not mind blowing. tables were a too close together - someone next to us spilled their wine - which went all over my friend's coat and my purse. sushi is more upscale and inventive at mirais and japonais, would go there instead.
(3)Soldissimes S.
Pretty Cool Asian Fusion Restaurant....Ambience is Great - Service is Friendly - Nice Date Place. The Bloody Mary Bar was intersting and the Tea Buffet was different. Had Pancit, Loompya (funny way of Spelling Lumpia), Nasi Goreng and the Salmon Scrambled Egg Brunch dish. Tasty and Attractive presentation. Wouldn't say it is the greatest, but I'd come back :)
(3)Sonny P.
Went here on a friday night back in october. I had reservations at 6pm and it was crowded. The ambience of this place is one of the key factors I think why people go there. The server and host were very friendly and did not have to wait long to get the table. Prices are average, not overly expensive and the food tastes good. I would definitely go back here again. If you want to run into a celebrity, this might be the best place to, haha.
(4)George F.
The food, atomosphere and service was impeccable.
(5)Ryan G.
Worst experience I have had at a sushi restaurant. I am a true conisure of sushi and know what good sushi is. First complaint is the service, everyone that helped me was nice, however lacked serverly in service, it might of been due to the waitresses taking shots with there patrons. second complaint was the food itself, we tried a little bit of everything and every dish was sub par. everything sounded good and looked good but was far from it. third the price, I am not cheap at all but our bill was out rageouse for the quality of food we got. Fourth the scene, there was definitley a scene there, the decor and ambiance was great, but i was surrounded by a bunch of drunk people literally wasted. It was very loud and extremely obnoxiouse. I too like to have a good time but this was too much for me. If your looking to get wasted and get over charged for sub par sushi and food then thi sis your place. I would reccomond roka akor thats across the street. One of the best sushi experiences I had. Very profesiona,l great service, wonderful ambiance and the food and sushi was over the top
(1)Casey Z.
Came here for my birthday dinner this past March and I was thoroughly impressed. Their sushi is some of the best I've had. One complaint is that it's very, very, very loud!
(4)Lady L.
This is such a great restaurant. I highly recommend and I am not much of a Sushi fan. The food is amazing, & the ambience is wonderful! If you have someone to impress or wish to be you should definitely pay Sunda a visit!
(5)shawn f.
Awesome place. Excellent decor and atmosphere. Helpful and friendly staff, and the freshest sushi my wife or I have had in Chicago so far. Awesome weekend brunch stuff going on too.
(5)Amy E.
I am torn on this review and need to go back again to make sure. We went here on one of our date nights but had a few too many glasses of wine prior to coming. We ordered a bottle of Champagne which was good. My husband had the tuna app which he loved, I ordered the Sea Bass which I did not love, it had a strange crust. We had a little too much to drink so we didn't eat as much as we normally would so I think we will have to make another trip back. Our server was great and very entertaining. The only other thing I didn't love was that we had a 9:30 reso and were there on time and we still had to wait for a table for 15 minutes, normally this is not the end of the world but the bar was sooooo crowded with people waiting to head over to underground we couldn't even get a drink (not like we really needed another anyways......)
(3)Corin C.
Great Pan Asian food and sushi with a fun lively atmosphere. Sunda has great service and the restaurant has a beautiful modern tasteful decor that isn't overdone or too stark. Everything on the menu from the seafood and beef entrees, sushi and desserts are wonderful. We had some curried codfish, sushi rolls, brussel sprout salad (yum), beef tenderloin and molten chocolate cake and the bread pudding for dessert. I loved our waitstaff and they brought over free shots of sake. Sunda rocks.
(4)Dabney, B.
I'm here right this second, working this smart phone like a Cardiac Surgeon. Anyone know the BCS Championship score? Fourth time here since they opened it. I don't have much time, because my client is going to be back shortly. He got an important phone call from the Mrs. that he elected to take outdoors as things heated up, but it's about 18 below out, so I know my time is limited. First of all, go here, end of discussion. The hot new thing in Chicago these days is to label a new place over-hyped a year later after it comes out of the gates blazing with rave reviews and fanfare. After all, it's the cool thing to do in that quest for the next big thing, especially in the downtown locations. I'm a throwback, so I'm a fan of many of the old Chicago staples that peaked and crashed faster than your favorite Reality TV show that many locals now dismiss as "Too touristy" or having much better options at some secluded shoebox in Andersonville, Lincoln Square, or Wicker Park......sigh. This place is legit. Layout: 5 Star Talent: 4 Star (3 in the Winter, 5 in the Summer, typical Chicago) Service: 5 Star Food: 3 Star Decor: 5 Star Intangibles: 5 Star My top 5 favorite Items on the menu: 1) Lemongrass Beef Lollipops 2) Crab Cake Crusted Ahi Tuna Sashimi 3) Wild Asian Mushroom And Asparagus Toban (vegetarian, tastes phenomenal, only thing I've gotten each time) 4) Spicy Tako Roll - octopus, tobiko, scallion, cucumber, spicy mayo & I'm slim, so screw it...... 5) The Ridiculous - a hot carrot cake with nuts and hot creamy sauce wrapped around a thick hard Gigantic scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. The menu is so deep you could come in ten times over and it'd be a unique experience. Go with a large group and load up on booze and rolls, and I guarantee you a top-shelf evening. Ok, I gotta bounce, he's coming back, and my ice cream is melting...
(4)Jeff R.
My high anticipation and expectations for Sunda were unfortunately not met, though there is a caveat. I went for an early dinner/post work light eat. Therefore, we focused more on the small plate and sushi items of the menu and did not order a main entre. However, that should not exempt a restaurant for serving relatively uninspiring dishes without a distinct flavor. The decor was impressive, especially in the large space. There were two bars, communal tables, interesting lighting and lots of things to distract your eyes. The service was equally pleasant, fast and knowledgeable about the food they were serving. The front room also gets very high marks. But it always comes back to the food, that is what we pay far (quite dearly in this case) and why we let someone else do the cooking. As I said, we ordered four small plates to share and call a meal. Two of them were sushi rolls (more sushi and sashimi on the menu then I expected), the duck bao and finally the highly touted Devils basket (soft shell crab in a whole host of chili peppers and other hot spices).The Number Nine ($16) and Golden Child ($12) specialty rolls were anything but special in my opinion, especially for the price. Number nine is a shrimp, unagi, tobiko, asparagus, tempura flake, kaiware and unagi sauce while golden child consists of super white tuna, mango, avocado, tempura crumbs with mango crème. I am normally a huge fan of large and complicated maki rolls as I love the different flavors you can create in one bite. Unfortunately I did not get any of that with either roll, with the main culprit being I couldn't quite taste anything from the fish which is supposed to be the star of the show. I think the golden child roll was a bit more satisfying with the mango flavor, but neither one was good enough to order more of (a fair standard for which I judge maki rolls). Maybe I'm being harsh, but there are plenty of good local sushi places I can go for complicated rolls at much less cost. The Duck Bao buns (4 for $10) were also confusing and disappointing in that the main flavor should be the duck, which did not have a lot of flavor. The second part is that the bao bun is more like a bao sandwich, which turns into a lot of bao dough served with some only ok duck. Finally there was the Devils basket, wok tossed crispy soft shell crabs in dried chilies, shallots, scallions and toasted garlic ($16). Hailed by Chicago Magazine as the best new dish of 2009, I was very curious what would come out of the kitchen. I don't know if I would crown it the best dish of the year, but it was by far the best dish of the night. Lots of good flavors with an overall message of spicy crispy goodness. Unfortunately it was the only such dish that seemed to have everything figured out to present a unified flavor. My main message is not that I had a horrible time, or that the food was terrible and inedible. Quite the contrary. And maybe my expectations were a little high walking in the door so that anything but perfection would be a let down. But what I keep thinking about is that most of the food presented did not pass the sniff test, simply is the food tasty with good flavors. Combine that with questionable value and you leave scratching your head. Maybe I had a bad night, or they had a bad night because everywhere I look is nothing but praise. I would love to come back, try the main course dishes (they do look very interesting and tasty) and change my opinion (I always love good food); when I do, I know I won't be paying the bill.
(2)Van P.
Good experience overall. Had reservations but they weren't ready to seat us until 30 minutes after. Stood around awkwardly for 25 minutes until a spot opened up at the bar. Ordered a drink and was seated at our table as soon as we got our drinks. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. Although she forgot about our garlic noodles. When we reminded her (after having already finished everything else we ordered), she made some excuse about the kitchen still preparing it... - Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad ($14) - best dish of the night! very unique taste. recommended by our waitress, who said, "if you don't like it, I will give you $10." - "Toast and Jam" ($15) - crispy shrimp toast & spicy tuna jam. also very good - Rock Shrimp Tempura ($15) - too bland. I would pass on this - Garlic Noodles ($9) - nothing special - Rainbow Roll ($16) - average Must try when in Chicago!
(4)Rachel W.
Very fun atmosphere, the crunchy tuna sushi is so delicious, as are the oxtail pot stickers and the amazing amazing fried brussel sprout salad. Overall I've been really impressed w/the food. I've been here a few times, my only complaint is it gets INSANELY loud. Like you can't hear the person you're sitting 1/2 foot away from at the bar...If they fixed the acoustics I'd be a regular.
(4)Emily D.
I went to Sunda for the first time recently for a girls' night. The atmosphere is hip and swanky - a great place to start a night out on the town. We all ordered cocktails that we enjoyed. We started with the rock shrimp which was amazing. They were perfectly crispy and the candied walnuts are so good. We then split a few rolls. We enjoyed all of them and decided to order one of them again. However, the second time it was very different. We asked the waitress if it was the same one we had before and she said yes without barely looking at it and walked away. We're pretty positive it wasn't, but it was still good so we ate it anyways. Our major complaint was over the desserts. My friend ordered the molten lava cake. The first time it was brought out the waitress asked her to cut it open right away because "sometimes they mess it up." The middle was hard and the cake tasted burnt. She brought out another one a few minutes later and it had the same problem so my friend ordered the pistachio crusted vanilla toast instead. She didn't really enjoy that either. All in all, the rolls are very good, but I'd skip the dessert.
(4)Julie P.
Had dinner here last Saturday night and they actually seated us 10 min before our reso time, so that was a big plus! We had a few drinks in the busy bar before we were seated and there was not much standing room. Shortly after we sat down, we were brought a small plate of some sort of potato dish on that house that was very good. I actually found out that I knew one of the managers from college so he came by our table and gave us shots of sake and later on 2 pieces of fantastic escolar with a homemade potato chip and shaved black truffle. Not something I would ordinarily order but it was delicious! Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made some good suggestions. We ended up ordering the summer of sunda roll, which was very light and refreshing, as well as the kobe beef with crispy rice, which was melt-in-your-mouth awesome! We also ordered the garlic longevity noodles with blue crab and the honey ginger braised long ribs. Both were fantastic and the meat was so well seasoned on the long rib. We were too full for dessert but they had some interesting options. I didn't find it to be overwhelmingly loud compared to busy restaurants in the area. I thought the uniforms the staff wears were kind of strange and looked uncomfortable...weird choice but I'm sure there's a reason for it. Overall it was a great experience and I will definitely be back to try more of the menu!
(4)Jon H.
Great atmosphere and Sushi. Can't report on the other items on the menu but they all looked very good.
(5)R V.
Been here twice- one with a friend and the second time with clients as a big group. Both times, the food was delicious, very well presented, recommendations from the servers were spot on and service was impeccable. The restaurant's ambience is very trendy, communal dining can be fun if you're a small group but they do well to accommodate bigger parties too. It's definitely one of the new places in town and very trendy indeed. Attractive staff, attentiveness to detail in service as well as the fabulous ambience make it worth the visit.
(3)Gladies P.
We've been meaning to try Sunda for a while and I am so happy we finally did. To break it down: Bar service: fair. Peared saketini was really good. Table service: fair to poor but the attention we received from the maitre d (?) more than made up for it. Food: Amazing! Ordered so much food that the 3 of us shared because we wanted to try almost everything on the menu. Lobster wagyu beef roll, oxtail potstickers, uni, lemongrass beef lollipops, firecracker roll, crispy pata, adobo braised pork belly (the best of the bunch), Chilean sea bass, pansit canton, and ended the meal with the ridiculous for dessert (a little underwhelming). Overall a great experience. Planning to go back soon.
(5)Kat P.
I love this place! I wanted an affordable asian dinner during my recent visit to Chicago. Based on Yelp reviews I booked Sunda. This place was PACKED on a Saturday night so make reservations in advance! Also, Sunda is very loud so it's really best for groups instead of a "date". But the food was great! We had the beef lollipops and the duck. The food is served to share so honestly, I would order 3 or 4 dishes per 2 or 3 people so you can try a little of everything. Man, that duck was AWESOME!
(4)Milly P.
I was looking forward to eating at Sunda after all the rave reviews I read and heard. They did not disappoint. For appetizers we had the devil's basket, a tripe dish, their speciality maki made with wagyu and lobster, and their toro and chu-toro sashimi. The devil's basket is their signature appetizer made of soft shell crabs over a bed of chilis. Who doesn't love soft shell crabs?! You must order this when you go to Sunda. The tripe dish was a little salty and the speciality maki of lobster and wagyu was okay. The sashimi was fresh, but I think it was a mis-step on our part to order sashimi with other dishes that are so highly spiced. For our entrees we ordered the Malay style Chilean sea bass and the Shaking Beef. The sea bass was OUT OF THIS WORLD. It was so flavorful and the fish was cooked perfectly. We recommended this dish later to our friends too, who loved it as well. The shaking beef in comparison was ok. For dessert we had the tempura carrot cake. This was good, but could have been better if there was less tempura batter. Finally, I wanted to say that their cocktails are amazing! We had the chibuya crossing and the lichee petals. Both were exquisite!
(4)Kyle I.
These type of restaurants really do get me excited, and if you read any of my other reviews on Asian restaurants, especially ones on restaurants that purport to be Asian, you will see how much fun I have Yelping them. Sunda this! and Sunda that! Its a new fancy Asian-fusion restaurant you gotta try! Kind of pricey but its the new thing! This sort of discourse is usually a big deterrent to me, equivalent to seeing a radiation symbol on a door. But since I lived in the area, on the same street, and literally had to pass by every day, I decided... a little radiation never hurt. July 28 2009, I tried Sunda for the first time, on my birthday, with my dad. We had the lunch specials and some sushi. I had the "shrimp and sea bass curry" - green curry, pineapple, peppers and lemongrass. I love seabass and shrimp but I HATE curry. Our server was a little asian girl by the name of nikki (i think) that was so emphatic about the curry fish I had no choice but to try. My dad had "grilled petite ny steak" (8 oz) Korean style with sesame and soy. Before our dishes came out the server brought us some fish chips that you can usually only find in Chinatown. I was told that the restaurant "imports" them from Chinatown, LOL. The two meals were the perfect amount of flavor and size for the both of us for lunch. I am not a big fan of curry nor korean style anything but since Sunda was somehow able to do some magic with their curry I would definitely try it again in the near future. February 27, 2010 my GF and I went into Sunda to grab a quick appetizer before our actual dinner at a restaurant nearby. We asked for a table at the sushi bar because it was 99% vacant and we really only had about 10 minutes before we had to leave. Surprisingly though, the two hostesses (a petite black girl and equally petite asian girl) gave us very smug looks and then rolled their eyes. I'm not sure if they were annoyed that we didn't want to sit at a real table or if they were just trying to make it seem like the place was so cool that you couldn't just ask for a table without a 3 month reservation, even if it is clearly not that busy. Anyways, we told our waiter, who looked like a photocopy of Llyod Lee (played by Rex Lee) from Entourage (very awesome), that we only wanted to order some super white (escolar) tuna and had to leave. He was very understanding and quickly put in the order. The sushi was quite heavenly and the service from after the hostess part was excellent. To my surprise I was thoroughly impressed by Sunda and will be back for more soon, hungry and hopefully able to stay longer.
(4)Jennie C.
Dined on a Saturday night with my friend and her boyfriend. I was unfortunately running late so we lost our table, but were given seats around the sushi bar. It was fine by me. I know people say this is a great place to people watch, but I could only food watch! Ordered the beef lollipops for an app and was not disappointed. We ordered another app and we each ordered an entrée and we split a sushi roll. I don't necessarily always enjoy Asian cuisine, but this was good. Really good. I had a bone in rib-eye special for my entrée. It was huge. Like bigger than my head huge. (my head is normal in size). we also ordered the braised green beans which were a light and refreshing side that paired well with the heavy beef. We had great service all around. From having plates cleared to water filled to a great server. Bonus: no one made fun of me because I have no idea how to use chopsticks.
(4)Michael G.
My first impression was that SUNDA was very 'sceney'. I went there during fashion week and there were several models there. I felt like there was a little too much attitude but then I was pleasantly surprised when the host offered to sit us down an hour early since my wife is pregnant. We were able to get some appetizers and drinks at the comfortable lounge area. They mixed my wife an off the menu non-alcoholic mango drink and we munched on some incredible sushi. They also had my favorite San Miguel pilsner. Dinner was even better, but beware, it is better to eat family style there. Being Filipino I tried the few filipino dishes there, lumpia and crispy pata. It was great. They also served up some great vegetarian substitutions for our vege friends. They did some amazing things with cauliflower which under normal circumstances I can't stand. Someone also ordered the shakened beef which was a very tasty, spicy version of sauteed beef. it is a little loud but the vibe is young and relaxed. had a great time and will definitely be back.
(4)Soo S.
I was disappointed with the food at Sunda. The decor was beautiful and seemed like a hip place to be but the food was definitely not up to par. We ordered several roles of sushi which was probably the most horrible out of our meal. The rice on the roll was mushy and just not fit for sushi. The garlic noodle had no taste and definitely overpriced for a dish a 5 year old can do. To give them credit, there were 2 dishes that were actually really decent. Their Sea Bass dish and their special brussel sprout salad was really superb.
(2)John T.
wow..wow...wow. This is as good as it gets! Creative, sexy, you get what you pay for in my opinion. You want to eat cheap...go to mcdonalds. you want great food, service, and overall experience....eat here.
(5)Christopher A.
I eat at Sunda for the first time last week. I was surprisingly impressed with the quality of the food, the quality of the service, and the atmosphere. The food was absolutely fantastic. My friend and I eat at the Sushi bar and the Sushi chef gave us free samples of new sushi to try. The price is a little costly but it is definitely well worth it. I don't think anyone would be disappointed in choosing Sunda as your choice for sushi.
(5)M M.
I'm Filipino and I dined here with 2 other Filipinos. As many of you know, the executive chef is Filipino and has featured some Filipino dishes on the menu (adobo, pancit, crispy pata, etc). We all agreed that it was the best we've ever had! The sushi and dessert were also amazing. This is hands down my favorite restaurant!
(5)Darlene L.
Food is fabulous at this pricey, high end, trendy River North favorite. No wonder it is a celebrity haunt. Shared a chicken salad, sushi, and dumplings for starters. The filet entree was excellent as was the chicken breast. The latter could have done without the gingered scallions. Service is efficient but a bit frenetic at times. Take home is also delicious the next day.
(5)Misty D.
Sunda's atmosphere was amazing! My first thought when I walked in was "this place is beautiful". It's worn hardwood floors and eclectic décor give it a very classy and trendy feel. The seating is unique. It has the standard dark wood tables, but also has long narrow and high bar style tables and seating. It also has long couches paired with wooden chairs. The service was great! Our server was adorable. He was friendly and attentive, and also was willing to be playful with us. He was quick to bring refills and clear away unused dishes. He also was happy to give recommendations. The food was great. I got the New York Strip sandwich while my friends got the sushi. It was delicious. It was also a smaller portion, so there was no worry about over eating. My friends think the sushi was a little expensive. However, I feel that the price of my sandwich was very reasonable. I highly recommend Sunda. I would also recommend a reservation. It really filled up before we went.
(4)Annette D.
The only reason why I give it two stars is because of the decor. All I can say is sushi should not be cooked. I got the firecracker and it was pretty bad. The entire roll is deep fried. When it says tempura, it does not mean the little bits of tempura on top. In my opinion this wasn't even sushi. It was drenched with so much sauce you couldn't even taste anything else, which may have been the point. We also had the pork belly buns which were okay but the pork was pretty fatty. I have had way better. The person I was with had the tuna on the toasted rice patty which was the only good thing we had at the table. Maybe we ordered all the wrong things but in my opinion if this restaurant is as highly rated as it's supposed to be, everything should be good. I would not bother going back.
(2)Winnie L.
I really love their soup dumplings and the popcorn shrimps. Sushi is fresh but the cooked food are so-so. The duck, fliet mignon and lamb did not impress me... we wanted our steak rare... it came out medium well. I asked the server if it is rare. He said yes. You will have to be blind not be able to tell that it is not red in the center. Love the drink list tho... Service was pretty bad. They put plates on the table without readjusting the plates/glasses, so after they serve us soup/appetizers/main course, we have to move everything ourself. We ordered bottled water and they decided to chill it for us but never refill our glass unless we ask. We went at 9pm on a weekday and it was NOT busy anymore. We got better service at the bar last time from the bartender. They really need to retrain their staff.
(3)Cait C.
yum! i went while traveling on business to Chicago with a gf from the area. Thank goodness she made a reservation, the place was packed on a Tuesday. My friend called during the afternoon and the only place they were able to seat us was at the community table. We opted for the sushi bar where we could talk a bit easier. Our waiter was awesome and made all the recommendations as to what to order. I like when waiters are honest and tell you not to order something and suggest something better. We ordered the chicken dumplings to start which were good, not amazing. The sushi was great. I loved the tale of 2 tunas roll it was my favorite, perfect amount of spice. The fried rice, tuna roll with jalapeno was also great. The rainbow roll had a bit too much fake crab for my liking . All the fish was fresh and the rolls were creative and different. I would go back if I am in chicago again! fun place, would be fun for big group. It is a bit loud so I wouldn't take Grandma here.
(4)ali a.
Sunda has become one of my favorite Asian hot spots. After moving back from Hong Kong, it was hard to find Asian food as good as it is there. Because Sunda is so amazing, it is always crowded and usually takes a little while to get seated. I do recommend trying to get a table though. Last weekend we were at a communal table, and the chairs aren't so comfortable. Some of our favorites are the sticky rice sushi (its a must!!!), the beef lollipops, the dumplings, and recently we tried the yellowtail jalapeno sashimi. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu and I am always trying new things. If you are in the mood for a great meal and a fantastic atmosphere, this is the place to be.
(5)Mint S.
After all the hype I've heard about this place, I was not impressed. The decor is nice and the service was good, but we have some complaints about the food. Our "Bang Bang salad" didn't have any dressing on it. Seriously, how can you forget to put dressing on the salad? There wasn't even a drizzle and without the dressing, it was favorless. The other big thing was the "jasmine rice"; it was undercooked. We're asian. We eat rice pretty much everyday; we know when rice is not cooked well. This rice was wet so it was sticky and it was crunchy. The main complaint that my husband had, though, was the pork belly. We were expecting a good amount of fat on the piece. Sunda's pork belly is so trimmed that there was only a hint of fat. If you like that sort of thing, that's great, but we were very disappointed. On the plus side, the "Adobo braised pork belly "was cooked very nicely; crunchy on the outside and tender inside. It tasted more like char siu sauce than adobo, though, but I didn't mind it. The "Shaking beef" was awesome. Cooked to the medium rare specification perfectly. The sushi was decent; we had the "summer of sunda roll", which tasted fine, but it was not rolled very tightly and the filling kept spilling out, no matter how I held it with the chopsticks. I actually dropped a whole piece in the soy sauce because it fell apart. The "spicy tail of two tunas" was awesome though. No complaints on that at all.
(2)Patricia L.
I think this place is lovely and quite yummy. I'm a bit skeptical of the communal tables that are in the middle, but I sat at private tables both times I went and it was quite lovely. They have this honeydew drink that is so delicious with real honeydew made with it. On to appetizers: oxtail potstickers were pretty good even though I'm not a huge fan of oxtail. The lemongrass lollipops looked so cute and they were yummy. I loved how they really made it look like a lollipop. My favorite appetizer is the wild mushroom and asparagus toban. It's not too salty and all of the flavors complement each other very well. The crunchy asparagus pairs well with the soft mushroom. Yum. In terms of sushi, the super white tuna sashimi was by far the best sushi I've had in a long time. The service was really great and I felt like they were quite attentive and ready for any questions. I really enjoyed both experiences at Sunda and would gladly return.
(4)Simma Down Na H.
I definitely will come back here!!! My friend and I ordered the longetivity garlic noodles, rock shrimp tempura, the oh no you didn't...the ultimate handroll, and the summer of sunda roll. All were really great. Next time, I'm ready for more.
(4)Lorna S.
Sushi fusion...let me just say that the food here was outstanding! I arrived early for dinner, so I sat at the bar while I waited for my friend to arrive. I wanted to try a fun specialty drink, so I asked the bartender's advice. He suggested I try Chibuya Crossing, this had a mixture of tyku citrus, fresh honeydew and lemon juice, passion fruit nectar, white tea and honey. This drink was $11, and was worth every penny. He told me that the Chicuya was some kind of rice vodka. There were pieces of honeydew melon in the bottom of the glass. Probably a dangerous drink; no alcohol taste whatsoever! When my friend arrived, we were seated at a table for two. This place also has communal tables where you are rubbing shoulders with people you don't know. This is not interesting to me at all. We started out with oxtail potstickers which were $10, and crab cake crusted ahi tuna sashimi $16, japanese hot mustard, sweet soy glaze. These things were fantastic. Next we had seared american kobe beef tartare $14, and, well, while I remember having one other dish, I don't remember what it was. Not because it was not good, but by this point, I had about three of those tasty drinks. I do remember dessert however, it was a trio of puddings. YUMMY!!! If I can say anything about this place, I guess I would call it trendy. If any of you folks watch "The Hills" or "Melrose Place", this is what most of the patrons looked like. You definitely want to look your best when dining there. This is a place to see and be seen by all the beautiful people in Chicago...men and women alike.
(4)Darl B.
sorry for lunch only it was kinda lame for me. miso soup way way way too salty.. like are you kidding me?? Main dish grilled samon filet the sauce was far too sweet it totally overwhelmed the flavor of the underlying samon. poached a little under too. sorry no a-ok. service fine btw.
(2)David T.
If you are a fan of Asian fusion - Sunda is a must when visiting Chicago! They have a variety of very unique and creative dishes in a tapas style, with hints of flavor from Japan, Thai, Vietnamese, French, and Californian. Recommend going with a larger group so that you can have the chance to sample a larger variety of menu items.
(5)Cherisse G.
I wouldn't come back if I didn't like it, right? Right. The first time I came here I took a girlfriend out to dinner because she was moving to SD, CA and I wanted a nice atmosphere on a summer night. We got seated in the middle of the restaurant and even though it was an early dinner, the place was packed and LOUD. I don't even think there's music playing in the background but all the chit-chat from the patrons just filled the sound waves. Our server was very nice and explained the menu to us. We each got a meat entree (sorry we ARE omnivores).She got the braised beef short rib and I got the crispy pata and split a pork adobo flake fried rice. We swapped some of our entrees and both plates were so flavorful and moist. The rice was perfect to share for two with enough garlic to flavor. I came back again for a 2 friends' birthdays with a party of 15 and had the same server from like 2 months before. This time we sat in front of the sushi bar on a long table with stools, which to tell you the truth, looks like a great set up, but sucks when you're wearing heels and a dress. One gentlemen from management (I believe) introduced and greeted us all personally and then all of a sudden, we were being asked for our IDs because he bought us all a shot. Nice, and thanks. I ended up getting the braised short rib because I couldn't stop thinking about it from before and tried the rock shrimp tempura (AKA honey walnut shrimp) which was very good, but the shrimp were teeny tiny. Still good though. We ended up ordering a dessert for the birthday peoples and I don't know if it's on the menu or not, but it was something of a taro bread pudding and it was DELICIOUS. Subtle and sweet, I would probably pretend it was someone's birthday to try it again. Service is awesome. Whether it's a party of 2 or 15, they never slacked and were always attentive. The only thing I really had to ask of them was where is the bathroom? (It's downstairs towards the back BTW) Otherwise there was no rush to order, eat or leave. Came back again for girls night out. I can't stop. Little bits: 1. Make a reservation (You can do it on yelp) 2. Valet parking is available and so is metered parking (which is free after 9pm)
(4)betsy b.
This place lives up to all the hype. We had a 9pm reso on a Saturday and weren't seat until 10 because it was so packed. The manager found us at the bar and bought us a cocktail for making us wait so long. I thought this was a very nice gesture give how busy the place was. The bar area could be a tad bigger though if waiting so long is common. We were shoulder to shoulder. We'd been scouring the menu for weeks and wanted to try everything. We basically made it like a tapas type meal and just ordered apps. We had the toast and jam which I loved. The toast was a bit greasy for my taste but the tuna was yummy. We also had the tuna crisy rice which I really enjoyed but my husband thought was kinda of blah. We both loved the lemongrass beef lollipops. They had great flavor and were cooked perfectly. The husband really wanted to try noodles and I wanted sushi so we had planned on getting the Lo Mein and then trying a sushi roll....well that didn't happen because we were so full. There is so much more on the menu that I want to try so I'll definitely be back. It's more a group type restaurant than a date one. The dessert menu wasn't all that appealing. That was my only gripe.
(4)Jessica B.
I was really excited about checking this place out, unfortunately, I was insanely hungover when I went. But I didn't let that stop me. I tried the beef lollipops, roasted duck baos and sticky rice rolls with shrimp tempura and avocado. The beef lollipops were really tasty and had great presentation. There isn't a ton of meat there, but it was really satisfying. The baos were pretty good but I don't think i would order them again. The presentation again was lovely but the duck wasn't very flavorful and actually tasted kind of dry. But the sticky rice rolls really saved this entire thing for me. The rice was beyond delicious and the avocado had a nice flavor but it wasn't very spicy (even with wasabi in it) and the avocado did overflavor the shrimp. Either way, I would still order it again. The one thing I will say though is that I dined her alone (reading a magazine) and the staff didn't seem to know what to do with me. They tried to seat me at the bar and when I noticed a table outside and asked to sit there, they hesitated and then took me out. When I asked if it was reserved for someone else, they said no and the waiter wasn't rude but just seemed a little unsure of how to approach me. Or maybe i looked as hungover as I felt. I would definitely go back but I wouldn't run there.
(3)Danielle R.
A great find! I came here looking for ambiance to celebrate a birthday dinner and loved the look and feel of the place. My husband and I chose a selection of small plates to share rather than a main entree. The pan fried rice with spicy tuna was really good as was the crab cake crusted tuna (would definitely order again)! Thought our specialty sushi roll tasted fine but wish it wasn't cut so big as it made it a little hard to eat all in one bite. The place was loud which I didn't mind but there was a lot of shouting going on to hear each other and the waitress. The drinks were a little off....I've never seen a foamy manhattan before. Overall had a good time and enjoyed the food. A plus that it's right off the Grand red line stop so you don't have to worry about driving or grabbing a taxi.
(4)Cassie H.
My brother-in-law's girlfriend has always wanted to try this place and we asked her to pick the restaurant so we ended up at this really swanky place. The decor is nice, the ambience is nice, and we got a really private table in the back of the restaurant to catch up. Our waiter was very nice, although he spoke so softly that sometimes the other end of the table couldn't hear him (like when he was describing the specials). They were very attentive. My sister had several of their sashimi and sushi rolls with an appetizer of miso soup. She really enoyed the toro and smoked salmon, but felt the firecracker was hotter than she would have liked. She liked the miso soup but made me eat the larger pieces of seaweed. My brother-in-law ordered shrimp & crispy rice which looked good (I didn't taste any) and the BBQ pork. My husband said it was okay after trying a bite. My brother-in-law's girlfriend had the duck which she said was spicier than she had expected. My husband had the filet mignon which was very smokey. My dish was really good: seabass. The fish was perfectly cooked and light without being fishy. Overall, it was a great experience. The downside would be that the menu was more limited than we would have guessed. Also, the food is pricey... if you don't watch out, you'll spend a fortune.
(2)Yolanda L.
Trendy space gets 4 stars from me. Food gets only 2 and since I love food, Sunda underwhelmed me. Nothing was awesome but nothing was terrible Ibut I've definitely had A LOT BETTER. Big noisy space, cool decor but filled with business diners and women who were made up and dressed up just because they were going to a "hip spot". I found Sunda to be annoying, as someone coming from NYC because restaurants and scenes like that are allllllll over NYC, so bf and I settled for Sunda because it was the only restaurant in the area without an insane wait. App: tuna tartare special. It was tuna tartare sandwiched between two fried wonton skins. It was pretty good but you really can't mess up tuna tartare. A bit salty though.... Main: baked crab roll your classic mess of fusion sushi. Waaaaay too much mayo on top, waaaay too much crunch. By the time I chewed through the mess on top I was wondering if this roll really had the crab that it said was in the roll. I really hate fusion restaurants that do this. Don't go to a sushi spot to order these disgusting sauces up balls of mayo if you don't like real raw fish. Bf's main: black cod with miso. Waaaaaay to salty. Miso flavor was great, the overdoing the miso paste was not. Fish was perfectly cooked though. What a waste. I must've had black cod with miso a million times and I've never had it quite as salty. This was not an enjoyable meal. We will definitely not go back to Sunda on our next visit to Chicago.
(2)Mayra H.
so i went to Sunda for the first time for a friends 30th b-day celebration. The vibe of the restaurant was cool-a bit more upscale and bougie than some of the other sushi places ive been to. (but im sure its because it was downtown) I must say though that the vibe is really all they had going for themselves. J and I have been to much better sushi places in chicago (and Oak Park for that matter) where we've eaten some of the best sushi ever! But maybe since its New Asian food overall and not necessarily a solely sushi restaurant that that's why their sushi isn't amazing or even close to amazing. i paid almost $40 bucks for two rolls... yes only two rolls! I ordered the Dragon roll-which wasn't bad & the Baked Seafood Dynamite that sounded great on paper but wasn't rolled very well and was a bit mushy. There drinks are a bit over priced as well, at least compared to other restaurants i've been to where i've paid no more than $9 a glass for the wine they're charging $15 for. I wouldn't go back for the sushi but I may go back to experience the other things on their menu.
(2)Joe R.
I went to Sunda tonight for my brother's birthday dinner with high expectations and those expectations were surpassed! Drink wise I recommend the Mai Tai in the awesome tiki god glass/mug. Tasty, yet potent. For our meal, we decided to go family style and order a plethora of dishes. My favs were the Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna, Longevity Noodles w/Blue Crab, Beef (yes, beef) Popsicles, & the Rock Shrimp Tempura. I look forward to visiting Sunda again in the near future. Two thumbs up from this guy!
(5)Tim B.
Almost went 4 stars , but I want to visit again to be sure. While we had a great time here, with incredibly fresh fish and well balanced food, the question we had was with a menu that large, can they really do everything "well"? The sushi, like I said was fesh and the combination/specialty rolls creative. The special Sashimi for teh night was again, perfect. We even had desert which is seldom the case as the "ridiculous" was too tempting to pass up. I later fell asleep on the couch at home in a carb coma after consuming the tempura fried ice cream, wrapped in carrot cake with caramel and sweet toasted walnuts. Cocktail menu was storng as well with the Pear Sake being our favorite. We will dig into teh expansive Sake menu on the next trip
(3)Radmila S.
I went with a group for a Birthday party on Saturday night. There was much eye candy within the restaurant. The staff was very welcoming! Uncle Paul especially made you feel like part of the family making excellent recommendations. Drinks: the strawberry delight was a dessert in itself. the divine lychee also deserves a nod. Miso soup with oxtail-surprisingly the oxtail was a perfect addition to the tofu oxtail potstickers- very tasty, the white wasabi cream brought it to another level. Rock Shrimp Tempura-i find it hard to mess up anything fried, it is good for all palates at the table Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad---too die for, a MUST order, a burst of flavor in your mouth Stuffed Avocado- filled with tuna, i probably would prefer just sashimi tuna but an average dish Longevity garlic noodles with blue crab style-somewhat dry, i'd skip this next time Adobo Braised Pork Belly----THE BEST DISH ON THE TABLE. the pork belly melted in my mouth, was the perfect amount of crisp on the outside. Great over rice. Crispy Cauliflower-the garlic, miso, and chilis made this a great dish even if you don't like cauliflower Green beans-crispy and flavorful Yellowtail jalapeno - very light and fresh I definitely recommend Sunda for both the people watching and pork belly alone.
(4)Patty S.
I went to Sunda recently with some girlfriends. Got a res through Opentable.com and was seated right away when we arrived. The atmosphere is very loud and energized which reflects the decor. There are many sections of seating options to the restaurant. I think if you don't have a res on Friday or Sat, you might not get in. The Food Highlights: Duck with Steamed Bao Buns - Absolutely delicious! Definitely reminds me of Dim Sum Rock Shrimp Tempura - Brings me back to my childhood. I loved this dish when I was a child, but haven't ordered it in a looonng time. YUM!! Baked Seafood Dynamite - So good that we kept re-ordering this roll! Lobster and Wagyu Roll - Does this dish even need commenting?? (and others that I can't remember...) We were too full for desert, but had a fabulous time regardless. I'll definitely be back for more Food Buddha!!!
(4)Ramya G.
Probably one of the best sushi places I have been to!
(5)Katie H.
Have you ever had a dish that was soo good, you immediately ordered another serving of it? That happened to me at Sunda. . . . twice. My husband received a $100 gift card for his birthday, so we were ready to spend big (for us anyways) at Sunda. We started with the crispy duck hash which was fantastic and then moved on the escolar (white tune) topped with a black truffle. The escolar was amazing, but don't bother with the fancy truffle prep. It ass nothing. Just get the regular order for like half the price...and that's just what we did, enjoying another round of the perfect fish. Then it was on the duck bao, which were sliced like sandwiches rather than stuffed like dumplings but were still delicious, soft and chewy with a tangy hoisin sauce on the duck. The much-raved about crispy rice, which we opted to have topped with the shrimp and avocado, was fine but I wouldn't order it again. the crispy rice part was great, but the topping, which was essentially shrimp guacamole, was just too much. I had to scrap half of it off (and I love gauc). The highlight for me was the fried crab handroll though. Holy hell. As soon as I took one bite, I asked my husband "can we order another one?" (in my defense, they are small. shared by two people you get two small bites each). So the crispy duck salad, bao, 2 rounds of sushi, 2 rounds of crab handroll and the cripsy rice, plus 3 tall Sapporo's and a small bottle of hot sake (for sake bombs) was $130. The service was fantastic throughout the dinner. We did have one little hiccup and that was that after we paid - $30 plus tax and tip on my card after using the gift card - we got home and realized we didn't have my credit card. We called and the host said "well no one has turned it in". Okay.... well it's Friday night and my card is floating around Sunda or out on the street. Someone could do a lot of damage. Maybe you could go LOOK for it, check with my server? Nope. So I called and cancelled it, then at 1am, got a call saying they had it. But other than that slight annoyance, everything was great and we will definitely be back for more of the crab handroll, the bao and the crispy duck.
(4)Beata P.
I came here for a work lunch. The decor is very nice and is a great place near the Loop to bring a client out. Would also be good for a birthday dinner or special occasion - would definitely not come here on a whim though. The space is deceptively small, but was about 70% full and that is a lot of people. The sound level can get a bit noisy. The food was great - the rock shrimp tempura is as yummy as everyone says it is. The bao are also a good appetizer - I'm just bummed you can't split the serving of 4 between duck and pork. I had a rainbow roll and it was good - what I would have expected based on other sushi places. The service leaves something to be desired. I felt that our waiter would leave for big chunks of time and either forget about us or forget things. Maybe they don't serve dessert during lunch, but I was itching for a coffee! oh well. Would recommend with the caution that it may be a longer meal than what you are expecting.
(4)Molly G.
My favourite place for Sunday Brunch! The tempura French toast is AMAZING! As are the rolls we tried and the dim sum. The atmosphere is lovely, relaxing (it was mid-morning on a Sunday, so I dont know what its like at happy hour or for dinner) and the staff attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. The tea bar is great! And the bloody Mary bar is huge with a big selection. If you have guests in town, bring them here for brunch!
(5)Mr. S.
Good food. Good service. Fun place.
(4)Michelle M.
Hands down... One of the best restaurants and most delicious food I have ever eaten :) The people who work here are gorgeous too! OMG I just about drueled over two of the guys working there :) the food was amazing. The wine was delicious. The atmosphere was decadent. I loved it all :) Oh and the chocolate cake was great!
(5)Dan D.
Awesome atmosphere and interesting menu. Yet, the food was not that impressive and the variety of options was not varied enough from what I was expecting. Service is top notch! And the cocktails are quite yummy - I think one of the most popular fruity drinks is the "Go-Go Strawberry." And honestly, it tastes pretty good... As for the food, there is nothing spectacular or unique. We tried about 5 different appetizers. None of which are worth going into detail. For main course, we tried some sushi and the "Toast and Jam" - a crispy fried shrimp (toast) with a layer of spicy tuna puree (jam). Sounds cool! Tastes kinda yukky. :-( For MUCH less money, I'd rather head to Uptown and have authentic asian cuisine at a place with outrageously innovative food... at a noise level that I can have conversations. Note: this is NOT a good date place. It is very noisy, much commotion with people standing and moving all about. For drinks, it is great. Just not a nice fancy dinner with a loved one.
(3)Diana B.
OH. MY. GOD. Sunda is amazingly delicious. It's not just sushi, but an Asian fusion restaurant so you get to try a little of everything. I came here during happy hour, and at least 20 things are on the hh menu plus a different drink every day. The food is out of this world. You have to get the corn fritters, the pork belly buns, the firecracker roll, and the ridiculous dessert which is....ridiculously good. 5 stars!
(5)Molly G.
For my first time at Sunda, I was pretty impressed. They have a sharing concept, that I wasn't too sure about at first. But, it turned out to work out very well because I could try all of the dishes. I was with a group of four and we got close to a dozen different dishes, including sushi rolls, appetizer of rocky tempura and a duck and egg dish. We also got a Cod dish, which was AMAZING!!! I would highly recommend this to anyone, it is a little pricey but worth it if you don't go all the time.
(5)Lyn B.
Sunda is a fantastic place to bring friends from out of town! It is super trendy, the food and drinks are great (relatively large menu!), and they take reservations. The service is pretty good too. Great spot to go with one other person, a small group, or a big group - great time every time I've been regardless of how many people I go with!
(4)Sarah H.
LOVED this place. Went for my birthday this weekend with 5 girlfriends. Our waiter gave excellent recommendations, the drinks were yummy, food was delicious and they treated me (birthday girl) very well ($10 gift certificate, cheesecake dessert for the table to share). The staff was very attentive and couldn't have been nicer. The decor is beautiful. Really cool spot. Will definitely be returning!
(5)Elizabeth E.
Some thoughts in no particular order: 1. Beef lollipops were awesome 2. Very noisy 3. Asian version of Mercadito All and all definitely worth paying a visit, however I wouldn't mind next time just getting a couple drinks at the bar
(4)Ann C.
Great service. Great ambiance. Will come back for sure!
(5)Isabel K.
We just got back from a bachelorette party in Chicago and chose Sunda for our dinner venue after it was suggested by a friend and it was great! The food, service and ambiance was exactly what we were looking for. We were seated right away and our server was attentive and the food came out in succession at a good pace. The manager came over with shots (with his head sushi chef, who my friends wouldn't stop staring at) and wished the bride to be congrats and continually made sure we were all set throughout our dinner. As for food, I loved everything we ordered, but a few things stuck on my palette in particular: Garlic noodles with blue crab - simple and they weren't cheap with the crab so there were good chunks in there Steamed Baos - delicious (that's all that needs to be said) Spicy Tuna with crispy rice and jalapenos - the crispy rice added an unexpected texture to the normal spicy tuna maki we're all used to and the jalapenos was the icing on the cake for those who really like spice Miso Cod - It wasn't too salty and the fish was cooked perfectly As for the sushi, the fish was fresh. I usually gauge the quality based on the uni because that's my fav and it often has a funk to it if it's not fresh. All the sushi/sashimi we ordered tasted great and was well presented... For dessert, my fav was the mochi ice-cream and I hardly ever eat dessert! Overall a great experience and definitely worth 5 stars! And I give it a 6th start just cuz the manager is from Guam too! =)
(5)Mike E.
Was travelling to Chicago for work and dined here alone by the bar. Was a great experience, fun, lively "restaurant and cocktail" vibe, modern interior. Excellent sushi (was very surprised by the quality of Sushi in Chicago overall, I also hit Sushi Wabi for lunch). I particularly liked the signature sushi with the pan fried rice and handcut kobe beef tartare. This was a unique dish with excellent flavours and texture, a great creative riff on sushi. The miso brozed black cod was also a stand out, supple, sweet and tender cod with eggplant. Will return next time I visit.
(4)Lynde G.
Go here to impress someone you like...or someone you want to like you!! :) Dress to the 9's..... my fav's to order (I've ordered other things besides these): Black Cod Crispy spicy tuna or Kobe Salad with pork, ahi tuna and mango I think it is special number #9 sushi roll. **Ask for recommendations...and really interrogate the server to let you know what is outstanding -- not what everyone orders. Yes, there is a difference. **Make reservations in advance any night during dinner, otherwise you will wait in the crowded bar drinking ice filled drinks for $14+ each. They are good......but I think a little deprived of liquid. **I'd skip for lunch. Been there done that. Overpriced for average asian inspired dishes. Service is slow for lunch which is weird because we needed to get back to work! Go for the scene....Stay for the food.
(4)Noah L.
Cool venue. Decent drinks and pretty good food
(3)Taylor F.
Sunda's rock shrimp tempura with glazed walnuts and creamy honey aioli is to die for. The spicy tuna and jalapeño sushi is a little too spicy, but still addictive. Great ambiance.
(5)Axl R.
Absolutely fantastic from beginning to end. Delicious food, fun ambiance, attentive staff, and not pretentious. The brussel sprout salad was awesome and the seafood toban was awesome. My friend was really happy with pork sticks but not so much the seven spice chicken.
(5)Lim K.
We arrived at the restaurant a little before 5 and had to wait in the lounge area for about 10 minutes. Asked the hostess that we would like to sit at the sushi bar. However she took us to the corner of the sushi bar in the back. Unlike other sushi restaurants the seats at the sushi bar are very low and it blocks the view of the sushi chef. Anyway, we ordered shishito peppers, a spicy "tail of two tunas" roll and a red dragon roll. The shishito peppers were good. The rolls did not have much flavor and the rice was not cooked properly. The service was good. Glad that it was happy hour so we did not have to pay the full price.
(3)Kelly G.
Brussels sprouts salad and peppers are legit. So yummy and great cocktails.
(4)James C.
Finally checked this place out. Saw Billy Dec in his usual gear... random tshirt and a hat. He was eating with the commoners which was pretty cool of him... except he was right in the front when you walk in so maybe he did that on purpose to be seen or something. Anyway, the food was great. The prices are kind of jacked up for the same thing you'd find somewhere else but if I had to review this place as a whole, it's pretty good. Service was attentive and the food was good enough (nothing amazing but good enough... cause honestly, how much better can it get than japonaise or any other restaurant like this one). If you're in the mood to spend some money or impress a lady, come to this place and go nuts. I don't have any must try items on the menu except for the lobster and wagyu roll... which is $20. I think it's worth $20... I think... Oh... try to stay away from the communal tables... they're super uncomfortable. It's definitely a last resort kind of thing. Am I coming back? Maybe... when I'm richer.
(4)Jacob V.
I'm a fan of this place - it's pricey, but well worth it. The only thing that sucks is the Reserved signs all over the lounge area(which is their designated waiting area). My wife and I ate here last week. At the very beginning we had an 'offering' which was a hummus-type dip with a few deep-fried bread things (had the consistency of thin pork cracklins). For drinks, my wife stuck with water, and I had the Ginger sake drink, I don't remember the name. We had two appetizers - Rock Shrimp which were AMAZING!!! and the Watermelon Eel salad. The eel salad was a few cubes of watermelon topped with eel 'bacon'. It was a new taste, as I had never tried fruit and fish in the same bite. My wife and I split the beef ribs and they were OHMYGAWD good!!! The meat was soooo soft that we didn't need a knife.. I was able to PULL it off with my chopsticks! Amazing!!!!! For dessert, I had the Ridiculous, and my wife had the Molten Chocolate cake. I can say the Ridiculous was... damn good! it is like a scoop of vanilla ice cream that is dipped in carrot cake batter and deep fried. Very very tasty. By the way, when you go, ask for Daniel! He took GREAT care of us!
(5)Frank C.
Had lunch with my family today to celebrate mothers day. I was expecting much with the restaurant since recommended by a friend. The loompya (egg roll) was not so good, the nasi goreng (fried rice with salmon) is not so exceptional but I love the salad crispy salmon, it's yummy. Ebi (sushi) is okay, while spicy "tail of two tunas" is good. No fruit juice for kids. When we got our check, 4 items totalling $60+ was added to our bill. Although the waitress apologized, they could have done better. Check what you ordered. The servers and attendants were exceptionally fiendly and fast service. The food are expensive. You'll enjoy more if you eat in Joy Yee's. I will definitely not recommend this to friends.
(1)Lauren P.
average sushi, lotta hype. stopped in for a weekday work lunch. overall, the lunch crowd was very calm. lots of suits & low music -- from what i understand, much different than the night time scene. the sunda set combo (lunch specials with salad/miso soup & a standard roll,) looked pretty enticing, but everyone at the table ended up ordering sushi. to drink, i ordered some tea. they have about 12 varieties to choose from & it comes with the cutest little honey stick on the face of the earth. our table started off with a few appetizers. first, the rock shrimp tempura - YUM! this is a must order. so. good. we also shared the crispy brussel sprout salad (off the dinner menu.) i'm not typically a fan of brussel sprouts, but this salad was surprisingly delicious! i would definitely order it again. ...and then came the sushi. wah wah. i ordered the wa-machi & the firecracker, & also sampled the golden child & tail of two tunas from a friend's plate. everything sounded good on paper, but not every piece tasted fresh, and the flavor combinations were pretty bland & uninspiring. the firecracker was not spicy in the least bit & i couldn't taste the ginger in the wa-machi. i've also had much better mango rolls than the golden child. service was fine. if you're interested in cocktails & a scene, sunda might be the place for you. but if you're looking for some great sushi, venture elsewhere.
(3)Eva M.
Love it! Great food and Great Service. I even tried sushi and loved it. Great for young people. Will be back. Had sea bass and the oh-no-you-didn't sushi. A MUST.
(5)Lisa K.
My friend and I wanted to try Sunda, asian fusion restaurant, the new kid in town. They are definitely out to impress. As soon as you walk in, you are the center of attention of the wait staff. Who can't wait to help you. We tried several items to share and loved them all. The soup dumplings were especially good, we got two orders of them because we thought the first one was so good. The devil's basket filled with soft shell crabs and chilis was also good. A little overkille on the chilis but it was fun. The sushi was fresh and prepared well. We also ordered a sparkling saki that wasn't on the menu but was delicious. I would definitely recommend Sunda for anyone who has clients, a date or anyone they want to impress. They can take them here and have a great meal.
(5)Linda G.
We had Mother's Day dinner here, We were seated at the Chef's table. Our waiter helped guide us through the selections for the group. Excellent.
(5)Marco H.
Good lawd this place is good. Seabass with potato purée, black cod, crispy cauliflower are excellent. shasito hot pepper are great. Get my fav Japanese rice beer: hitachino.
(5)Fuffie G.
scene and be seen! I have been to Sunda a few times now and have enjoyed each time I've been there. Yes, it's trendy, yes, it's hip, yes it's the scene and yes the food is very good. Rockit Ranch Productions does know how to incorporate all of that making your experience a heck of a lot of fun. Each time I have been there we load up on the apps and don't really focus much on the main courses. The devil's basket is a very cool concept of a caldron filled with dried hot chilis and delicious fried soft shell crab. The toast and jam is another cool concept and also very good. For entrees the miso bronzed black cod and shaking beef are great choices. The mix of asian flavors and dishes make for a unique dining experience that I know will keep me coming back to try other dishes as well.
(4)lucky r.
ok finally I went here for dinner and it's so much better than lunch. Very trendy and chic atmosphere. Food was delicious. The dinner menu was so much better definitely does the restaurant justice. Something i recommend to start out with is the stuffed avocado, the brussel sprout salad, and the braised short ribs and for dessert try the taro and coconut bread pudding and if you want a sugar attack go for the tempura ice cream (too sweet for me). the only complaint I have is that the communal table with the stools are extremely uncomfortable. My back and butt was hurting was hurting.
(4)Josh P.
Stopped in the other day, it had been a while. Amazing as ever!
(5)Andrew S.
I have loved Sunda from day 1. They have a great room, great food, great service, and the best fish in town. We recently found out that most of the fish they are using is imported overnight from fish markets in Japan. We had dinner at Sunda last night and it was wonderful. Sunda it's always a pleasure. Thank You
(5)Rhonda H.
This restaurant is the best. The flavors they combine together are the best! My favorite two dishes are the Prawn ragoon and the lobster waygu roll....amazing, i would highly recommend dining at Sunda.
(4)Diana T.
4 stars (feeling more like 3.75) even though I know this place is notorious for plenty of things: bad service, expensive, some plates are not awesome, and the feeling that these people here just plain judge you?? Last night was my 2nd visit to Sunda for my gf's birthday. She made reservations for 9PM, however when we got there, there wasn't a table ready at that time. I believe we had to wait almost 30 mins for the RESERVED table. But they bought us a round of drinks from the bar, so I thought that was particularly nice of them. After that, we got seated at our table almost immediately. Our waiter was very charming and made some very helpful recommendations. I've had their sushi and was not impressed and was only interested in their non-sushi dishes. We ordered the honey walnut rock shrimp tempura. It was basically the honey walnut shrimp that you get from a chinese restaurant but about 3 times better. We ordered something called the Devil's Basket which was 2 soft shell crabs cut in 4 pieces sitting in a bed of red hot dried chilis. Very delicious. The waiter pointed us in the direction of the crispy rice sushi and helped us pick the Kobe beef one. It was probably the most tender kobe beef I've ever had. The meat literally just broke apart in my mouth, and in a good way. For entrees we had the roast duck breast which was sitting in buttery mashed potatoes and this amazing sauce. Their side of cauliflower was fantastic. Best freaking cauliflower I've ever had in my life. Next entree was the Shaking beef, meaning Bo Luc Lac for those familiar with vietnamese fare. It was a delicious rendition of it although the meat was a bit on the chewy side. The side of string beans was also amazingly delicious. They put walnuts and chinese sausage in with it and the flavors were so well-matched. We finished off our meal with the bite sized cookies and the ridiculous, a big deep fried tempura ice cream ball covered in way too much caramel sauce. It was all good but not amazing. Overall, the experience was a lot better the 2nd time around for me. I think if it had not been for the waiter and how the manager helped salvage the table situation, they would have received less stars.
(4)Sara Joelle W.
dinner last night here was sooo good. cucumber gin gimlet + a selection of the rolls (lobster + kobe beef, salmon in jicama tacos, 2 types of tuna)... definitely fusion but soo good. also i loved that when i told them i was allergic to white tuna (escolar) they were able to easily substitute it with a second type of tuna.
(4)Molly P.
This place is cool. It says a lot that I can admit that b/c I was predisposed to disliking Sunda after I learned it is owned by the same guy that owns Rockit (I detest Rockit...and not just b/c I have banned for life from that dbag hole). Anyway, I've been here for lunch twice and both times got the combo lunch for $18. Both times I had way too much food and got a second meal out of my leftovers so in reality I think it's pretty decent value. The decor is very artsy and modern, and the place has a very open feel to it. I'm a fan, despite my best intentions.
(4)Pasha A.
The Sushi is avg at best... Very Americanized. The Scorpion roll (soft shell) was very sub par. However the restaurant has a very fun and lively scene that makes it good place to get drinks and some small bites before you go out.
(3)Christopher M.
I was worried. No lie, walking in the door I was sure we were going to get attitude and a seat somewhere in the back, possibly the basement. This place is beautiful. Gorgeous. Huge, spacious and wonderfully dark in the sexiest way, I was certain the lovely hostesses would give us grief. Didn't happen. They were happy, helpful and polite. Our seat was wonderful, and while it was situated right in the busy heart, it was comfortable and nice. We opened our menus and were stunned by the variety and intensity of the offerings. Everything sounded so wonderful, we had to come up with an immediate plan of attack on how best to try the broadest range of foods. Our waitress' arrival meant we had to toss out drink orders (which we had prepared) and we began with our first choices of food. She was quick to give advice and assure us that we'd picked some of her favorites as well. Even as it began to get busy, the noise level did not rise too high and we soon had the first round of food. This was it, the moment. Let me tell you something, I love food. I eat all the time, whenever I can. This stuff was amazing. The worst stuff we had was the best I'd had in awhile and I ate here a night after coming home from NOLA. This place has some magic they sprinkle in things. Steamed Soup dumplings - Sounds crazy but these were the best soup in a bite I have ever had. Somehow they manage to get the broth inside the dumpling so biting into each is this explosion of flavor in your mouth. Its amazing and delicious. Lemongrass Beef Lollipops - Chop into these like the owl or unroll them and enjoy at leisure but if you like beef these are one of the tastiest ways to have it period, bar none, and I say this in this city. These things are a miracle of flavor. Charsui BBQ Pork - BBQ pork, a staple of Asian style cuisine, usually something dessicated and chewy. This was moist, succulent and delicious. The pork flavor shined through and the smoky BBQ was amazing. Crunchy Pig, Hidden Lobster - Lobster rolls with bacon, SMART! Veggie Q Roll - Tasty, clever and refreshingly light. A great accompaniment for any meal. At this point, understand, we were stuffed. Full. To the gills. Bulging out of our clothing full. But dessert, dessert had to happen. Had to. It was writ, burned into stone, like from on high. For dessert we had... The Ridiculous - Ever had fried Ice cream? The Ridiculous is standard fried ice cream taken to the extreme. Its the size of a football. It could feed three people. Its covered in this delicious crispy shell then drizzled and drowned in sauce. Its delicious. Anywhere else on Earth this would be a king of desserts. At Sunda though, it is second to... Taro Bread Pudding - This is ambrosia. No not your Aunts salad, I mean the Old School food of the gods kind. This is the most delicious bread pudding in the city. Its wonderful. Words fail me here, but it tastes like sweet taro tea mixed with cream, cake and heaven. That's all I have. Its better than that but really, its all I can do. So yea. Been there since, just as good, so they get my full on love.
(5)J P.
Dined here to celebrate a special occasion, we came an hour earlier than our reservation but were seated right away, which was surprising and unusual but definitely what we wanted! It was PACKED with people on a Saturday night at 8pm, and like people say this is definitely a place where young 20-30 somethings get together, all dressed and dolled up. You cannot walk into this place in a hoodie and jeans, or even jeans without feeling completely out of place, it is REALLY nice. The atmosphere is pretty dressy. Overall, we ordered the chop chop chicken salad which REALLY let me down, it was so incredibly dry; i did enjoy the subtle taste of the jalapeno but the chicken tasted bland/dirt like and the whole salad was just.. dry. We also ordered the corn fritters which were pretty good. We ordered the scorpion roll which my date loved but I wasn't too particularly thrilled about, first of all it consisted of 5 pieces (2 of those were end pieces with the tail sticking out)..I mean it just seemed like such a small amount of sushi for the amount we paid; maybe I'm spoiled with my cheap and delicious suburban sushi joints. I got the blushing geisha and it was pretty strong (good thing) and had a good gingery kick. Also got miso soup, which was delicious as usual - but how can you really mess that up? The best part of the entire meal was the dessert. We got the "ridiculous" which is basically tempura fried vanilla ice cream and carrot cake, it was so delicious, I felt like I was consuming opiates! I almost don't want to try it ever again because I feel it should be something that should only be tried once and not ruined or something! Unfortunately, unless I'm drunk (which was obviously my state of mind during NYE here, where i had the amazing beef lollipops and the pork bun), i only eat chicken, sushi, so not many menu options for me. Although I had a generally pleasant experience here and our waiter was on the ball and sweet, I may or may not come back here.
(3)Drew T.
Went to Sunda for a work dinner on a Thursday night. It was hopping with a very see and be seen type crowd. I felt as if I had been transported to South Beach which, while probably desirable for some, wasn't really what we were looking for. The food was good, but not up to the hype.
(2)John M.
Do not believe the somewhat less-than-superb ratings, Sunda, is a great Asian fusion restaurant. One small negative. It's a scene there, so it's crowded, noisy and hectic.
(5)Amanda T.
I've never really been much of a Pan-Asian restaurant fan because well, frankly, most of them really suck. But not Sunda. My recent trip there completely exceeded my expectations and killed the bad taste in my mouth I had from my last attempt to dine there. I've heard many positive things about Sunda so I decided to finally go and try it last year. We made reservations and we were FIVE minutes late and they gave our table away. We even called to say we were going to be about ten minutes late, and all they said was try to get here soon. I was heated so we left. We finally came again. And I'm glad we did. Last minute reservations are impossible, but luckily I know someone on the darkside that scored us reservations. I like the atmosphere: filled with a lot of eye candy, but still manages to keep a very chill, laid back tone. Our waitress was awesome, super friendly and very helpful with recommendations. The menu is extensive and has lots to choose from. I saw they had Blue Fin tuna, so i HAD to try it. Blue fin is an endangered species, so it's a rare find in restaurants. It's endangered for good reason: it's frickin delicious. I'm all for saving animals and whatnot, but I have absolutely zero qualms about that piece of Blue Fin sashimi sitting happily in my tummy. Everything we ordered was awesome as well. The signature makis are unique and worth trying. And the rock shrimp tempura was definitely a big hit. The chocolate molten cake was so good my friends and I had to order a second round. Right now I'm in my room, sick with a cold. I'm pretty sure the only thing that would make me better right now is some Blue Fin tuna. Can somebody please pick me up and take me to Sunda, like now? Thaaaanks!
(4)Mariza B.
Everything here is delicious! Speaking as a Filipina their Pancit Canton, Loompya and Crispy Pata are delicious. My personal favorite is the Shaking Beef.
(5)K. J.
I have wanted to try Sunda for a while and FINALLY did. I was not disappointed. The food was creative and beautifully presented. We enjoyed several appetizers and ordered some of the more exotic sushi and sashimi options on the menu. When I return, I may try some more conventional choices, but that is just my own personal preference.My favorite was the "No You Didn't...the Ultimate Hand Roll". The ox-tail pot stickers were a favorite of my husband's. My friend ordered the adobe braised pork belly (huge portion) and seemed to enjoy it. Overall, I think everyone enjoyed their food. Service was really outstanding throughout. When I booked the reservation, I requested a quiet table, which was accommodated (or as best as Sunda could...it is a very loud restaurant). We arrived on time and were seated promptly. Our waiter was outstanding. Our group wanted to try Sake, and having never tried Sake before, the waiter arranged a tasting and then helped us choose a bottle. He was also helpful in explaining in great detail the various dishes and drinks. Food came out quickly, empty dishes were removed promptly and my water glass was refilled frequently. Also, when booking the reservation, I was asked if we were celebrating any special occasions. I mentioned that the one of the couples each had birthdays within the next week. So, at the end of the meal, our waiter brought each of them a piece of cake with and candle with a card signed by the staff. I thought that was a very nice touch. Overall, it was a great night out. I will definitely be returning.
(4)Ellen M.
Forgive my review for being short, but we just got back from dinner at Sunda, and I am entirely too full. We came here for my 29th birthday back in December, and since have been obsessed with their sea bass special. My friends and I went back tonight, especially for the sea bass, and when we only saw one on the menu, we assumed it was the same one. Welllllll sadly, what came out was something entirely different. We politely asked the server what the other one was, and she told us that was just a special and is no longer on the menu. We were bummed, but since everything else was so good, we moved on. A few minutes later, Brian Cummings, the manager came over and apologized for the confusion...walked away, but came back again and told us he was able to work with the kitchen and order us the meal. Not only was the food outstanding, but his customer service skills were top notch. He went out of his way to make our dining experience worth every penny.
(5)Steve T.
Had the most amazing Chilean Sea Bass here, completely melted in your mouth and was so delicious time practically stood still. I can keep raving about Sunda, but honestly, that was the best sea bass I have had in my life. That fish rocked my world, and I challenge someone else to make some that is better.
(5)Danielle C.
Went there for the first time tonight. It came highly recommended by a co-worker. I'm a vegetarian so I asked the waiter about vegetarian options and he gave me some off the menu items. Including tofu seabass. I ordered this and it was amazing! My boyfriend said his sushi was the best he ever had. We were both in love with our dinners. The service was great and the ambiance was cool. I liked how they had several different dining table options. Like my co-worker, I would totally recommend this place! Good food and good ambiance aren't so easy to find!
(5)Sean W.
Best Asian Style upscale food in Chicago that I have found. The Filipino style food is amazing including a new take on some of the more classic Filipino dishes like Pansit. Two negatives: The Space is Loud. The space can get incredibly load during peak dining time so much so that you can not hear your waiter or the person across the table from you. It doesn't help that they have large round tables in 1/2 of the restaurant, which if you are seated at don't expect to be able to hold a conversation with the person directly across from you. Service is just Ok. The service is just ok and the waitstaff gives off a "I am awesome because I word at a cool restaurant" vibe. The managers are at least nice if the waitstaff messes up your order they comp you as they should.
(4)Steve C.
Overall, not bad. My wife and I are not much on paying for ambiance; we're just there for the food and the food was good. We had the Devil's basket and the oxtail potstickers. Both were great. The Devil's basket is two softshell crabs in a huge pot of dried red chilis. For dinner, my wife had the sea bass and it was also great. Good sized portion and lots of flavor. The only loser of the night was the dish I had: the beef long rib. Little flavor and super fatty. I realize that rib meat is usually "well marbled" but this piece of meat was a good 30 - 40% fat. Oddly, Sunda also doesn't serve any kind of carb with the dishes, apparently. I'm Chinese and I like rice or noodles with meat, especially meat that's really fatty. Pricewise, everything was pretty reasonable. The food was about $80 all told and two drinks were $25. I'd go back, but next time, we're probably just going to order 4 - 5 appetizers and go dim sum style.
(4)Philip G.
Attentive service despite the fact that we sat at the sushi bar. The experimental/creative dishes are awesome, though sometimes the red pepper overwhelms the raw fish flavor. Considered purely as a sushi bar, though, I don't think this would get 5 stars. The sushi is good but the underlying fish is not comparable to the fancy places in New York or even the average places in Los Angeles. We spent a little over $100 to feed two guys plus one drink. Try the string beans!
(5)Marc J.
Ill get the good part out of the way first, because it won't take long. 1. The oxtail skillet was good 2. One member of our party of 6 had her meal comp'd for the ridiculous experience we went through. The bad: 1. Our server did not refill our coffee. Ever. UNLESS I flagged him down and asked for a refill. You are serving brunch, why are you not walking around with a coffee pot? 2. It took an extraordinary amount of time to order our food, and this only happened once we flagged down our waiter. 3. The food took 45 minutes to come out. This happened after the waiter went out of his way to tell us at approx 30 mins that the food would be out in a minute and a half~direct quote. 4. Two ladies ordered the same meal. Both arrived cold. One lady mentioned this to the waiter, and he comped her meal. He didn't have the brain capacity to ask if anyone elses meal was cold...which could have been assumed given that two people ordered the same thing and one was cold. ...all in all, this place is absolutely worthless at being a restaurant.
(1)Megan G.
Crispy artichokes are great
(4)Justine M.
I loved Sunda. Got: -Pancit Canton (Filipino dish - noodles) Reminded me of home :) - Lumpia (Filipino "spring" rolls) Reminded me of my Filipino parties - Chicken breast Bahn mi - so fresh & light. The bread could've been thinner and not as hard - Tempora Walnut French Toast - SO GOOD - Braised Pork under a poached egg atop pan fried rice cake - Rice cake was WAYY too hard but pork was made perfectly - Indonesian Rice - So good! - Raspberry tea - beautifully displayed. Came in it's own tea pot and honey - Mango Mimosa - So gooooodd We went on a Sunday afternoon and there weren't too many people there. Staff was friendly. Ambiance and decor was beautiful. I'd go here again. It's a bit pricey, but worth the display, environment and food.
(4)Dustin F.
JACKPOT - How can this NOT be 5-stars?!?!? This has everything you could want, Kobe Beef, amazing sashimi/sushi quality, great drinks, and a fun scene! I usually get scared when I see Asian Fusion - usually that equates to over priced poorly conceived trendy food - fortunately, no fear needed at Sunda. A group of us came in and opened a can of whoop-ass on the menu - I mean we explored the space! From the chips with sauce they bring before you order to the RIDICULOUS (aptly named) dessert, everything was "O"- Tastic. Some key highlights (i.e. DO NOT MISS): Everything... and: -Seared Kobe on crispy rice - literally just melts in your mouth -Truffled Tataki Sashimi -Lobster & Wagyu Roll -RIDICULOUS dessert - don't care if you are allergic to chocolate - order this!!!! Make sure you come hungry and with some deep pockets, but it won't be a meal you soon forget.
(5)Mike W.
I really liked this place, despite the fact that its part of the rockit group. The food is a mix of interesting flavors and everything is presented nicely. I went on someone else's dime so the price wasn't a factor but this place is really pricey so be aware of that. I would say good for a date or special occasion, maybe happy hour before a night out on the town.
(4)Lyn P.
This is how you do Asian fusion, people. The menu is delightful, with touches that someone who eats Asian food all the time can appreciate. So for my specific experience, we went to lunch. Dug the atmosphere/decor as soon as we walked in. We were seated and I was actually shocked to have shrimp chips served to us while we perused the menu. I make those at home and I rarely see these in restaurants so my experience was already starting off well. I decided to go the Filipino food route for my lunch choices and ordered the pork and shrimp lumpia and then the Chicken and Pork Adobo. The lumpia was rolled "shanghai" style so it was thin and meaty. Great flavor to these and a good portion for sharing. My meal came with a salad with a light vinagrette and also 3 pieces of sushi (spicy tuna or cali roll.) I choose the spice tuna and it was really good - they spice the tuna instead of using spicy mayo. The adobo was different from what I am used to but it was still fabulous. The sauce wasn't as vinegary as I like, but it still had great garlic and soy flavors. I dug the grilled onions in the dish (also not what I am used to) - they were cooked to the point of perfect carmelization. The pork and chicken were seasoned well and not overcooked/dry. I was super happy with my meal and will definitely venture back here the next time I am in Chicago.
(4)Peter F.
Came here on a wednesday night without reservations, it was about 80% full, so we still got a table. The environment here is amazingly loud. I'm not sure if it was from the surrounding table or the music, but the noise level was on par with a night club. I notice the building design wasn't really optimized for sound absorption, so maybe thats why the noise level gets amplified. Anyways, I digress... Adobe clams: Too salty, had to send it back and waiter was nice enough to oblige. It came back less salty, but the dish itself still isn't that flavorful. Rock shrimp: Absolutely perfect! I love it. Shrimp dipped in tempera batter, covered with a sweet creamy aioli syrup that is explodes with flavor. nuff said Sushi Firecracker: Pretty good. sushi roll had all these awesome ingredients in there like cream cheese, unagi, jalapenos, tempura, tuna, spicy mayo...but I'm not sure if all of it shined through in every bite. My taste bud got confused and it tasted like I was eating a cooked tuna roll with guacamole and tempura. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but not amazing and nothing notable compared to other sushi rolls. Garlic crab noodle: Tastes like ramen noodle. Not really flavorful and the crab was sparse and underwhelming. Pass. Duck Hash: Aaaaa-Mazing! Perfect blend of ingredients...when it isn't too salty. First time I had it a few years back, it was too salty, then the 2nd time, it was perfect. Overall, the experience at Sunda is A-OK. They are often inconsistent with their salty levels. Each time I come back, one of the dishes is too salty, then the next time, it'll be good, but another dish would be salty. It would get a 4-star if it wasn't so inconsistent.
(3)Larry V.
Came here for a company party and was very impressed. The atmosphere here was awesome, and the food was spectacular. The wait staff was very good, and overall, we had a great experience. Expect it to be upscale and trendy, and a bit pricy.
(4)Julie Z.
Business lunch here. YES! I've been wanting to come here for quite some time so when I was delegated as the authority to pick a lunch spot for a business meeting, Sunda was on the top of the list. The interior is pimp and unique. The day I was there the male waiters looked like models (seriously they were all attractive) and dressed super sharp in their double breasted military inspired jackets. Our waiter was awesome and gave great recommendations including the brussel sprout salad. I hesitated when he suggested it b/c I'm not a fan of brussel sprouts but he assured me it was worth it and good lord, this salad was super, super tasty! Note...it is not located on the lunch menu but he said it would be no problem to make it. We also had the following: Rock shrimp tempura - tasty..what you would expect though as a rock shrimp app Signature sushi with tuna and kobe beef - lovely Tail of 2 Tunas roll - a great roll for Tuna lovers Firecracker - advertises itself as spicy but it could use more kick Mushroom lover roll - Ugh. I did not like the texture of this in my mouth. I came on a Friday during Lent so were were a bit limited in ordering meat dishes but I will be back to indulge in them. This is a great spot for lunch or dinner.
(4)Kristin M.
Best sushi EVER!! I absolutely love this place and the unique ingredients they use in their sushi and drinks! If you want a "experience" this is definitely your place. It's very trendy, young and hip. A little loud inside and hard to hear. If you want just causal sushi I would choose a different environment. Went here with my sister late night at 9, and went with my mom at 6pm which was perfect for both - at 6 it was quiet enough to have a conversation, since my mom hates to talk over loud music!
(5)Sarah D.
I'm giving it four stars, but that's pushing it. The food was really good. The waitress was very knowledgable. And the bloody mary bar is bomb. Five stars for unlimited shrimp and Absolut Peppar Vodka. But for some reason, I just don't want to go back. Could be the prices, or it might be a specific breakfast dish I despised but can't seem to find on the menu right now. I went for Sunday brunch, and I could have sworn it was pork belly and bonito flake, but maybe it's the Okonomiyaki with bacon. Whatever the protein, I was not a fan of the flavors. The fishiness of the bonito with the overpowering, almost BBQ like, smokiness of the bacon left a not-so-good flavor memory in my mouth. But I have to say the presentation was awesome. The bonito flakes looked alive when the dish was served and the colors were so vibrant. My mom and I also split the Crispy Rice Kobe Beef Roll; it literally melted on my tongue. The warm tenderness of the beef with the salty rice was insanely gratifying. We also ordered the rainbow roll; very fresh, but again, overpriced. I just noticed they have lunch specials and half-priced sushi for happy hour, so I might have to try it again.
(4)Shajan K.
I highly recommend this place. Food, ambiance and service were amazing! I've heard so many good things about Sunda and its worth the hype.
(5)Winston G.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I was debating on just giving this place three stars, but I decided on four because it does have some pretty awesome dishes. Came here for a Sunday night dinner, and the food was either hit or miss. Pork belly buns were not great. I've probably been spoiled by the great pork belly buns I've had at Momofuku in New York, but the buns here were a bit soggy and too salty. The management removed this dish from our bill, which was a nice gesture - still, these can be worked on. They have potential. The sushi here was good - had tuna, sea urchin, and octopus. About $14-15 for 4 sashimi pieces (so $45 for all three/ 12 pieces), so a bit on the pricier side, but the sushi was very fresh and of good quality. Good stuff. The miso bronzed black cod was decent - my main complaint about this dish was it was a bit too sweet. I read the chef's bio and saw that he had been the opening chef at Koi in Los Angeles - Koi in LA basically does this exact same dish, but just not as sweet. The fish was cooked perfectly though, but the devil is in the details. Less sugar, please. The star of the night though (and probably why this review does get 4 stars) - the Atlantic salmon sashimi "bundles". These were creamy blue crab wrapped in salmon - DELICIOUS. I would go back again just for this dish - it was truly awesome. Well balanced, not fish, and really smooth. $15 for 5 pieces (a bit small, but worth it). Service was fine. No complaints. Maybe a bit slow in between the sushi and main courses, but wasn't too bad. Tried one of the cocktails here, some berry one, which was good.
(4)Kris L.
Big fan! Great cocktails, great food, and great people watching!! Our server was very attentive and recommended some rolls and dessert that were delish! I had the dragon roll, corn fritters, garlic noodles, and the ridiculous dessert. All acceptable! (Although the garlic butter noodles had a whole lotta garlic! I had to keep my distance the rest of the night). My friends all ordered meat dishes ( I was trying to be a good catholic during lent and not eat meat on Fridays) and they all loved their food. Enjoyed the ambiance, has a trendy chic vibe. It is really loud which wasn't a problem for our group and prices are a bit steep but it was well worth it. Can't wait to come back!!
(5)Kelly C.
Inventive Asian cuisine with swanky atmosphere and staff that are really on top of it - it's a winning combination. I checked out Sunda for lunch with some work mates and enjoyed everything we had. I highly recommend eating family style since there are lots of things you'll want to try on the menu and the portions are designed for everyone to have a bite. While I've heard it can be crowded at dinner according to other reviews, at lunch you can get a table, enjoy the same awesome food and relax. That being said, we were on a tight schedule and let our waitress know up front and the kitchen was able to accommodate five-star style. While probably a little pricey for an everyday lunch, it's a perfect spot for a business lunch or special occasion. Definitely will be going back again.
(4)Tiffany L.
I have been here twice. Once for regular dinner, and once for happy hour at the bar. I've tried a bunch of things including various rolls, the duck baos, the watermelon unagi, oxtail pot stickers, and the duck hash salad. The only thing really worth mentioning here is the duck hash salad. It is SO DELICIOUS. Nice asian flavors marinated into the tender duck, a citrusy frisee, and daikon hash squares, with a very nicely fried egg on top. Make sure you have a little bit of everything in your bite, the flavors are wonderful.
(3)Nez A.
Heard so many great things about this place. I called a week in advance to request the veranda for a party for 6pm. The person who I spoke with said it should be no problem, the morning of the party I received a call from Sunda to let me know that we had to give the table back by 8:30 (not sure why they wouldn't have told me that when I made the reservation, a bit odd to receive a call just for that). Either way when I arrived, we were not seated in the veranda area. The manager really had nothing to say when I asked him, and when I pushed back a bit, his response was we needed a party of 13 or more. My party had 10 people...I would understand if there was another party who needed it, but there wasn't anyone there. That turned me off a bit. As for the food-it was good, nothing more. For the price you pay, it would make more sense to skip the hype and go to Tanoshi. I'm not sure if I would return. Maybe the lunch experience is better?
(3)Jon-David J.
Hands down the best Asian inspired restaurant in Chicago. The tapas style servings and the recommends from the waiters and the food are terrific. I now have so many favs that I'm not going to start until I write my own blog at TLT. Warning: it can get loud for the over 40 person (like me) but it's kewl and happening all the time and the food/drinks and service are so worth it.
(5)Tera D.
Omg, this is my absolute new favorite gourmet sushi place. If I have a taste for raw goodness, and a few (well ok, more than a few) extra bucks in my pocket - Sunda here I come! Granted I went on industry night with a friend in the industry, and thus my first experience involved everything being half off, but I've seen the prices and I'm willing to go back. It was just SO good. Appetizer highlight - crispy Brussels sprouts salad. WOW. We also had the crab cake crusted tuna, which was actually my least favorite, since it had some steep competition. My friend had the stuffed avocado which I didn't try, but would absolutely order next time. For roles I split the Tale of Two Tuna's and the Number Nine with a friend. Both fabulous. Seriously, I have never had fresher, creamier tuna than in that first role. And the number nine is an unagi roll with great flavor. Sunda, I will be back - probably soon!
(4)Chouster S.
Hands down the best sushi I've had in Chicago, possible one of the better ones even including New York City. We came in a large group, and with more people coming in after the first group had already placed their order, the waiting staff seemed a little confused about who ordered what. I had to fight for the dishes I ordered because everyone on the table wanted them! Definitely get the pork belly, all sushi are fresh and tasty, they have a few Asian vegetable dishes that are delicious too.
(4)Jennifer Y.
Sunda is one of my favorite Japanese/Asian places for lunch, dinner and cocktails. Decor is spacious and sexy/chic. Clientele is young and hip or older and sophisticated. Personal food favs: 1-Sticky Rice with Kobe beef (comes hot, like a cooked Kobe Sushi piece). You only get 4 pieces per order but OMG it is glazed and tender...soooooo good! 2-Sushi is amazing (specialties are the best) 3- Cocktails: Yum! Bartenders here know how to make a drink. If you're going to pay for an expensive cocktail I say go as crazy and complicated as you like. 4 - Some sort of duck bun thing was ammaaazing. Think it was an app. Never made it to dessert....was always way too full. Good place for a date, friends and maybe your parents if they're cool enough.
(4)Grace L.
What a hefty price tag! I think I just spent $100+ for two people to become hipsters. Rolls are overpriced, but maybe it's because I'm use to tons of sushi and asian options in the San Francisco bay area where there are tons of giant rolls that are nowhere close to Sunda's extreme prices. Nevertheless, you've got to try Sunda at least once. Our order for the night for the two of us: - Beef lollipops - probably one of the best things we ate that night. I didn't really taste the lemongrass but you can't really go wrong w/ meat and ponzu sauce. - Duck steam bun - good onion bun, duck and sauce tastes like every other dim sum peking duck. - Garlic noodles - Not bad. Light amount of garlic in a small serving that was perfect to split for the two of us and allow us to eat a ton of other dishes. - Brussel sprout salad - This is a warm salad. I didn't care for the dressing at all. I think it's a fish oil base? Too bad the waiter put the dressing on before I could say STOP. Luckily the bf liked the salad so I had him eat most of it. - Summer roll - Avocado, asparagus, mango and other greens in a rice paper wrap. Pretty refreshing and definitely a "summer" feel - Crab/lobster roll - way too expensive ($19) for something that tasted just OK. I think the name of this was something like couching pig hidden lobster or something along those lines. - mango ice tea and a mango soda - $8 ea!! They have an interesting way of serving it though. You get one shot glass with the mango syrup, a cup of ice, and a large canter of ice tea or soda (sparkling water). You can mix as much (or little) syrup as you want for your perfect tea/ice/syrup ratio. Oh, noise level was pretty loud in here so it was hard to hold a decent conversation. Timing of the food was kind of off, we waited awhile before someone came to us to ask us what we wanted to drink. Overall, it was a decent experience. The ambiance of the restaurant is really what you're spending your money on.
(3)Maria M.
Gorgeous place, fantastic food, top notch service. If you go, you have to try the Rock Shrimp. Love this place
(5)Lauren F.
Maybe I'm just jaded by the incredible seafood and Asian restaurants in San Francisco, but this place was totally just meh. We ordered all of the top recommendations on Yelp, and they were all sub par. The best dish we had was the brussel sprout salad. We tried the beef lollipops -- overcooked. Several of the sushi dishes -- not impressed. Yelp has led me astray!
(2)Missy C.
ALWAYS amazing service - I love that the manager walks around and stops at every table to greet everyone. I've been to Sunda a couple times and have never had anything I didn't like. My favorite items are the lumpia, steamed soup dumplings, and the oxtail pot stickers. Make reservations! This place is always very busy!
(5)Rosa H.
Rainbow roll, kimchi soup and fried chicken were all fantastic. But my favorite is pork belly. It is so delicious, the sauce and the tender meat just melts into my mouth
(4)Jaclyn P.
Really loved this place. Came with 3 friends and had a great experience. Food was delicious. Ambiance was great. Server was awesome. No complaints!
(5)Taina M.
Came here on a Thursday night for dinner with three other girls. I'm a fan of the Rockit venues and this was my first time at Sunda with pretty big expectations. Friendly staff. Great enviornment. Great decor. Amazing food. Grabbed a drink at the bar first, around 6pm. Drinks are delicious, but not very strong. About $12 or $14 bucks, don't remember, but pretty average for the area. As for dinner... Rock Shrimp Tempura, Baked Snow Crab Handroll, Sunda Rainbow Roll and "The Number Ten". We shared everything and it was all amazing. Literally my mouth waters just thinking about "The Number Ten".. Some of the best sushi I have ever had.. We also had a bottle of wine and edamame. Came out to about $40/$45 each without tip.Which is about $20 less than I was expecting to pay. Anyway, I will be back soon, that's for sure.
(4)Sofy G.
Excellent food Delicious cocktails Great atmosphere Great service Definitely, One of the best restaurants in Chicago.
(5)Joani O.
I've been to Sunda three times now for lunch, so I decided to write a review. First, it's a beautiful space with a nice bar and from what I've experienced, attentive service. What attracted me originally was the fact that it is an upscale Asian restaurant, yet when they first opened, they were offering specials to bring people in. (I'm not a fan of paying for pricey downtown lunches on a regular work day, unless it's a special occasion.) I had the grilled salmon once and the panang chicken once, and both were cooked to perfection and very tasty! If coming for lunch, they also have a weekly special which is one entree for $8.88! On this particular trip I was with a group, so to share we ordered: -Edamame -Brussel Sprout salad -Steamed Buns with pork belly -Tempura Rock Shrimp I would have/could have enjoyed all of those, alone! I never used to be a fan of brussel sprouts, but lately I've been trying to get into them, and this salad is awesome! The combination of the vegetables with minced shrimp made this sooo tasty! After small portions all of those, I shared the baked snow crab roll and the rainbow roll with a friend, and they were fabulous! Overall, Sunda is pricey and I can get comparable dishes at other Japanese/Thai restaurants for much less. (Especially pad thai and traditional sushi rolls.) What keeps me coming back is the quality, presentation, and the ambiance. I will continue to enjoy the lunch specials, and I can't wait to bring my husband here for a date night!
(5)Robert F.
Went here this past Saturday after hearing the hype. Walked in and our table was ready right then. Lots of open tables for having 0 reservations 2 days out. ( checked again after I already made them ) Got the miso soup w/ mushrooms and it was GOOD. We got 3 sushi rolls....ummm..the Dragon..tale of 2 tunas..and rainbow... They were all good. The server tried to have us get more, but we were full after 3. Let me say that I am new to Chicago, but I feel you can get sushi of this quality all over the city for probably $5-10 cheaper. It was good-great don't get me wrong, but $110 worth?? hmmm
(4)Rebecca H.
Great place for food and drinks. Get a reservation.
(4)Nathan J.
Sunda is a series of peaks and valleys. The first time i went there i was blown away. The interior is great. Modern and classy, exactly reflected in the food. However onto the food, the most important part. Its good but you really have to carefully choose. I've been here twice and the sushi each time is decent. Usually well get one or two great rolls and then one that just disappoints. But when you venture away from sushi to their other dishes, this is what puts it over the top. The beef tenderloin wrapped around lemongrass sticks is orgasmic. Sunda, your a good woman. But if I'm looking for sushi I'd rather go to Arami.
(3)Tom Z.
The entrees (I had a pork leg confit) were good portion and well cooked. I was a bit dissapointed because I expected more of a fusion style. I will try the sushi next time
(3)Derrick T.
Came here to check out the Dine Around Prix Fixe ($33 a person), and boy, were we impressed! Ridiculously busy on a Monday evening, I'm glad we made reservations in advance. A very "happening" restaurant/bar where the noise levels were high, this is not your romantic date kind of place. We had selected out a cold dish and hot dish to try off the prix fixe, only to be informed that when we select the prix fixe for $33 a person, we actually get ALL five main dishes along with the side of rice and dessert! Finding out that they had a sushi bar as well, we opted to try one of their other items along with the prix fixe menu: Alaskan Salmon Bundles (not prix fixe): Fresh salmon wrapped around blue crab meat bundles... shame it's only five pieces, but it was innovative and delicious. Prix Fixe: South Eastern Chicken Chop Salad: The peanut jalapeno dressing was made wonderfully... very low amount of heat, but just enough to let you know the jalapeno was there. Chicken was tender, salad was fresh. Yum. Spicy "Tail of two Tunas": Rolled yellowfin spicy tuna draped with super white tuna on the outside, with a kick from jalapeno. Again, not ridiculously spicy, but enough to awaken your taste buds. This was excellent. Rock Shrimp Tempura: A clever upscale take on the traditional honey walnut shrimp found at other Chinese restaurants. The tempura crust seemed a bit thick, but the dish comes together very well. Miso Bronzed Black Cod: Served over glazed, slightly crisped eggplants, this was the clear winner of the hot courses. Fish was tender, moist, and flavorful. Definite winner. Chicken breast of Tobonyaki: The outside was very flavorful, but the meat itself was slightly dry and couldn't match the flavor of the outside. Good dish, but can't keep up with the cod. Sunda Cookie Bites: Eight different mini cookies, that my wife each had half a bite of each. Fun, enjoyable, and all very different flavors! The creativity of the cookies was wonderful, and the size was just right as the richness of each cookie can be enjoyed in a bite. The only dishes we were able to finish were the sushi, cod, and cookie bites, so I'll be enjoying some salad, chicken, and shrimp for lunch today... and the servers were kind enough to pack a new box of jasmine rice for us! Verdict: Excellent food, great customer service, well worth checking out as it's one of the few places that I've tried that excels at pan asian upscale approach! And a great value for your money if you're able to take advantage of the prix fixe menu during the Dine Around Chicago Gourmet Festival month! Look forward to coming back here again!
(4)Demetrio P.
Friends, wife and I went here for dinner and overall all of us enjoyed Sunda! For me personally, I was very pleased by the wonderful food. Couple things we ordered that stood out were the Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad, Adobo Braised Pork Belly, Seared Kobe Beef Tartare on the Pan Fried Crispy Rice, and the Lobster and Wagyu Roll. All were very delicious! Who knew fried brussel sprouts made into a salad would be so delicious. The Adobo Braised Pork Belly was slightly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with the wonderful flavor of adobo sauce. And the Kobe on Crispy Rice was so yummy, the beef was so tender and tasty! Pretty much everything we ordered was great. Will definitely go back for more eats at Sunda! In summary, good food, good service, downtown restaurant prices.
(4)Mahsa T.
Is it bad that my review is slightly tainted by the wonderful ambiance and celebrity/politician sightings the night I was there? Billy Dec, owner of Sunda, was celebrating an award for Asian Heritage Month and the entire downstairs area was packed with beautiful, stylish people and celebrities such as news anchors, won't drop any names (eh hem, Linda Yu) and politicians, again won't drop any names (eh hem, Alexi Giannoulias and Pat Quinn). Pseudo celebrities aside, I'm happy to report that the food has gotten much better here since my last visit when Sunda first opened. The "No You Didn't" handroll is still one of my favorites. Wonderful organic miso soup with mushrooms and great garden vegetable roll. Also had an opportunity to sample some shrimp appetizers and other rolls. Everything was delicious and wonderfully prepared. I was also very delighted with my drink, which was iced tea with sweet or flavored vodka. Even though we were sitting in chairs that were not all that comfortable in the lounge/bar area because the restaurant was packed, I was wonderfully impressed by our meal and the great time we had here. Service was understandably a bit slow, but that will not deter me from coming back here again real soon.
(4)Adi S.
Went here last summer. Everything about the experience was fantastic. The rock shrimp tempura was one of the best things I have ever eaten. Sushi was unbelievable. Also had the duck boa buns, which were delicious. A very memorable culinary experience.
(5)joseph a.
Good stuff and good staff.
(4)Jetaun W.
I am so late on this one. Went a couple of Fridays past, but I am still thinking about this place. I only have two reasons why: Strawberry Fields (cocktail) Oh no you didn't (sushi) I can't really recommend anything else. I can really go back and have a seat at the bar to enjoy the sushi and cocktails. I had the Blue Crab Longevity noodles for an entree and the texture of the dish was off. I am used to pasta being heavy and not fluffy. This pasta was a little fluffy. You would have to get it in order to understand what I am talking about. Beautiful space! Oh yeah dessert.........yeah...... no! My friends thought it would be good to order tofu cheesecake. Not great but not bad. They also decided to order some sort of avocado mousse dessert. Yeah......NO!!! it was a hot mess. That turned me off completely, and it was time to go.
(4)Julia K.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city, highly recommended! -Amazing service every single time -Great for groups and dates -Must gets: Brussel sprout salad-random but incredible Duck steamed buns Japanese scallop and the Number 10 roll -All the food is amazing -Make a reservation in advance for weekends
(5)Paul M.
My office is in River North literally a block away from Sunda, which is dangerous because the food here is amazing and the ambiance is right in my wheelhouse. I love the entire vibe of Sunda and go there often for lunch. Not five-stars because I wish they'd change the menu items a little more frequently or have more lunch off-the-menu specials, but other than that no complaints. Haven't been for dinner because of how difficult it is for reservations, but will have to get back there for dinner, soon.
(4)Kimberly O.
Having already indulged in a few mid afternoon libations at the Wit rooftop my girlfriend and I decided some food was in order before things got too crazy. What was intended as a simple refueling exercise quickly evolved into the best meal of our whole time in Chicago. The decor is what you'd expect from an Asian restaurant but classily executed and not overdone. The low lighting and subtle ambiance were soothing and suited our mood perfectly. The clientele were a mixed, well heeled crowd bar the chap next to us who looked like he'd mistakenly strayed from Viagra triangle. Realizing that we were perhaps a little tipsy and in need of some guidance our clever and charming server - Rachel - steered us to some amazing selections: Hamachi with Jalapengo kicked things off beautifully. Artfully presented and deliciously flavorful. Next up the Buddha salad which is quite frankly knock your socks off good. The flavor of the rich crisp pork contrasting beautifully with the seared succulent ahi, crisp lettuce and sweet mango. Next sticky rice topped with with Ahi -a perfect combination of chewy crisp rice and delectable, silky ahi. However if you ever go to Sundha and don't order the lobster roll with Waygu beef you will have missed something quite sublime. It was hands down the best thing I've eaten this year and caused my GF to proclaim that Sunda is amongst her all time top 5 dining choices. Ignore this suggestion at your peril. My final tip is to take as many of the small Red candies at the reception desk as you can possibly fit into your purse/pockets/cheeks -they are unbelievably good - but beware the scary green candies. Sunda we love you.
(5)shoaib a.
I came here on a Sunday for brunch. I loved the ambiance and the nice decor. We Sunda does this east/west brunch that I thought was quite unique. I ordered the oxtail and potato "smash". Although I'm usually not a fan of fried eggs and would never order them otherwise, they were on the dish so I ended up eating them. The smash was very unique and I applaud that. Overall, the meal was good but I'll likely try something different next time.
(4)Kelly C.
I have been here several times and have enjoyed myself each visit. The decor is amazing and it's definitely a place to be seen. I have been for their Sunda Social, every weeknight they have specials on certain cocktails and half off apps. The drink we has was a strawberry something (it was over the summer and my brain is a little fuzzy) and it was fabulous. The apps were tasty as well. This is perfect for an after work wind down. However I made the mistake of coming here before a night out - by 11pm we were starving! Probably our own fault for not ordering enough food. Some of the food highlights from my several visits: -Beef Lollopops-amazing and this is coming from a girl that is not a huge beefeater -Rock Shrimp Tempura - excellent - the walnuts and aioli are a great addition -Baked Seafood Dynamite-it was good, but it tasted like a dynamite roll I've had elsewhere. -Firecracker roll - with a name like that I want some heat - it had spice but I could have used more (not sure if the other people would have though) - "Tail of 2 Tunas" - very good roll I've had other food items but I can't recall them right now. Overall a great spot, yep a little pricey but I think the food/drinks are well worth it and it's equivalent for the area. I will def be back - been wanting to try the brunch!
(4)Evan M.
"Meh" says it best. Maybe I'll give this place another shot for happy hour, but as a place to eat Sunday brunch . . . meh. The service was just a big letdown. This place has been on my neighborhood To Do list for a while now, but I've always been swayed by other places, and turns out, rightly so. We only ended up here because Slurping Turtle was closed, and what a bummer. Our waiter, while polite, was just not on his game. My friend asked for a beer list, and he mentioned they were listed on the menu. Once he'd walked off, she verified they were indeed not listed on the brunch menus, the only ones on our table. When he finally arrived, we were eager to order, as we'd waited quite a while to be seated for our reservation. Unfortunately, she asked for a beer which sent him darting off before we could go, "Oh hey! Hi!" to reel him back. Another 10 minutes passed, and I was about to eat my chopsticks, when he finally returned with the beer to take our order. Now, the menu seemed a bit lackluster--nothing made me go OOH, I AM SO GLAD I DRAGGED MY ASS OUT OF BED FOR THIS. So I put in orders for two items. One came. After a sufficient amount of time, I asked about the second and was told it was coming. Either he didn't put it in AGAIN, or the kitchen staff was disorganized, because it STILL did not come out. Order fiiiiiiiiiiiiinally came out, and he offered to comp it--yay, I mean, the hungriest person at the table got all the food last. Oh, did I mention nobody ever refilled our waters, ever? One of my thirstier friends grabbed a 5th glass of water, which had been placed on the table in front of nobody. The ambience was nice, but not as impressive as I'd been led to believe by all the past reviews. With all the other top-notch sushi places in River North, the Gold Coast, Streeterville and the Loop, I can't see this one lingering near the top of my list anytime soon. Food was good, but not memorable. Service was polite but not attentive or quick. Ambience was nice but not eye-opening. For the prices, I'll go elsewhere. Just meh.
(2)Lavina D.
The ambiance here is awesome - very lively, trendy and great for a Saturday night before heading out on the town! Made reservations and they were running behind schedule so sat at the bar for a cocktail - the Peared Sake was tasty, pear is just so refreshing in the summer! Once seated, we proceeded to order some hot sake which was delicious but I can't recall which one. For food, we had a mix of things based on recommendations and what our taste buds were craving: Bang Bang Salad: Worth the bang for sure! Great burst of flavors Toast and Jam: My friend loved this idea (crispy shrimp "toast" and spicy tuna "jam") indo corn fritters: Very tasty, reminded me of Indian pakoras Veggie Q roll - i had this for an entree My friend ordered 2 of the specialty sushi rolls - we def had way too much food between us, but we don't live in Chicago - so it was worth it. For dessert, we had a great selection of Mochis - 6 different flavors!! Overall, I give it a 4 stars for a good mix of food and ambiance. It's a similar idea to Spice Market in NY. The service was great too - our waitress gave us recommendations of places to go out dancing and also the name of a club manager to drop at the door to get in!
(4)Mary B.
Overrated. We went on Saturday night - we were literally rushed out. We went for the much hyped gluten free menu. Turns out its also taste free. The GF menu had lots of choices, we were very encouraged. They also have GF soy sauce. The strawberry martini made with belvedere vodka tasted like strawberry juice with a tablespoon of vodka. The edamame was undercooked and way too salty. Shishito peppers were the tastest thing we had. Salmon jicama was three little tasteless tacos. Pad Thai? Best to order it from the little Asian place in your neighborhood, it will be much better. We ordered brown rice which came at the end of the meal. Oh joy, a bowl of dried out rice.
(2)Stephanie B.
I dub this my new favorite sushi spot. No, I'm not kidding. Between the elegant and tres chic ambiance to the innovative menu and libations, I am still swooning over this spot! While I know Sunda has been open for quite some time, I haven't had the opportunity to check it out. My sister was in town and we both had a hankering for sushi and fab drinks. I offered up a few suggestions, but hands down Sunda won once she looked at it online. We made a reservation (leaving us minimal options only because it was Friday night at 8 pm). We opted for a 10:30 reservation for two and took our chances by showing up a little early. We were pleasantly surprised when they did seat us early after a short 15 minute wait. The crowd was pretty dressed up. We felt a bit on the underdressed side not wearing a skirt or dress. This is definitely a "pretty people" place. I swear everyone was giving each other the once over. The only ding I could dig up was the fact that it was pretty loud. I don't know if I would go there with my boyfriend just because we wouldn't be able to talk and converse over a date-night meal. I actually like to talk to my company without shouting. After navigating our way to a communal table, we scanned the drink list and couldn't choose between all the available options. My sister went with the Divine Lychee and I went with the Toasted Ginger snap martini. They were equally delicious. We also scored some free drinks sent from another table. We told them to pick for us. And they chose the Blushing Geisha. It was crisp, smooth, and went down way too easy to be tequila! We ordered edamame to begin our meal with. I found it odd that they didnt give us a bowl to put the empty shells into. I also wanted soy sauce to dip my edamame, which I was not offered. We placed our order with three specialty rolls to start off with-- Summer of Sunda, Dragon, and Firecracker. They cleared our plates (with the empty shells) and gave us fresh ones for our sushi. That's when we were offered soy sauce. Now it was time to dig in! Our fave roll, hands down, was the summer of sunda. The flavor palette of the basil combined with the mango and tuna was delicious. I wanted more! I found the dragon roll to be right on. No complaints. The firecracker roll was quite spicy, but plated in a unique fashion. It was made to look like nachos! The wasabi cream looked like a nacho cheese sauce. It was warm, gooey and yummy. Something I wouldn't have expected, but that is what impressed me. I was not able to take advantage of dessert, but I have a feeling I will be back very soon! I definitely recommend this spot.
(5)Hyon L.
Why is this place getting good reviews? The sushi isn't anything to freak out over and the rest of the menu is fried food. I made french fries when I was 13, I don't get how people are charging patrons so much money for something that is so easy to make. The atmosphere is annoying. It's between middle aged Creed/Nickleback listening rich men that are akward and dress poorly or the women that are skanking it up to makeup for the lack of their father's attention. Wait is this a night club? Is that what I walked into? Cause if so then give it 5 stars. Sleezy atmosphere and all.
(1)Rachelle B.
My friend and I both work on Kinzie street just a few blocks away from each other. One day we decided to go to lunch and decided to hit up a nice spot that we wouldn't normally go to instead of the usual Singha or Potbelly. There are a lot of nice restaurants in River North that we never go to because 1) it's River North and no one hangs out there on purpose, at least not any of our normal friends, 2) it's a crazy stupid douchey scene at night, 3) the restaurants and clubs get really pricey at night. We decided to go to Sunda. The interior of Sunda is beautiful. It looks modern, but at the same time there are a ton of antique-looking Asian pieces that give it an old-world look. Right away we were served some chips. They were kind of like the consistency of shrimp chips, but thankfully didn't have that shrimpy taste that I'm not crazy about. Light and airy, kind of styrofoamy, like they're supposed to be. I don't know why they were pastel colors, but whatever. To drink, my friend got the mango tea and I got the mango soda. They were tasty and presented in a cool way, but $8 a glass? For tea and soda? Our waiter was really friendly and nice and helped us pick out the right amount of food. He also gave us recommendations on what he thought were stand-out dishes and wasn't afraid to answer honestly about things he didn't think were that special. Our waiter told us that the signature sushi is what Chef Rodelio Aglibot is known for. The signature sushi differs from regular sushi in that the rice is pan fried in ghee (clarified butter) and glazed with soy sauce. Then you can have it topped with hand cut spicy tuna and jalapeno, seared American kobe beef tartare, or shrimp tempura with avocado and wasabi. We opted for the spicy tuna. I wasn't sure how this would be, but I was willing to give it a shot. We both thought it was delicious. The rice on the bottom is cooked and so flavorful, then the fresh raw tuna on the top an a slice of fresh jalapeno. I was afraid it was going too be too spicy, but it wasn't, and I'm sensitive to spicy. Great balance and combination. A second recommendation from the waiter was the rock shrimp tempura with glazed walnuts and creamy honey aioli. I found these really addicting, but who doesn't love something fried up and drizzled with mayo and mixed with some glazed walnuts for a nutty crunchy sweet contrast? For an entree we split pancit Canton. This was also a recommendation from the waiter. I liked this dish, but I wanted something more out of it. I don't know if I wanted more salt, like a dash of shoyu, or a little more spice or what, but it was not my favorite of the day. I thought that Sunda had good food, a great ambiance, and good service. It is pricy. We paid about $30 each, and that was just for lunch. I'm sure dinner is a lot more. That said, we did have leftover pancit and tempura. The serving sizes are plentiful and our waiter did mention a lot of people split dishes family-style like we did. We probably could have had a third person at lunch and have ordered the same amount of food, which would have made it more economical. I'd recommend Sunda to anyone who needs to take a client out to a high-end restaurant, someone who wants to impress a date, or someone celebrating a special occasion.
(3)Adam K.
Place is LOUD, like evil olive club loud. My lord, I was screaming the whole night. Service was slow, it took them 15 minutes to bring me a makers neat? there is no ice cubes or anything, just pour the alcohol & bring it to me. Ugghhh. Anyways I got: Crispy Brussel sprouts - tasty a lil too sweet tho. Duck hash - weird pretty good I guess, the duck is tasty , but the egg and cabbage made it weird, I I'm not sure how I feel about this, actually. Cannot tell if its a hit or a miss. The egg made it seem cheap. Pork potstickers - gross, hella bitter & horse radish Garlic noodles - good, nothing to write home about. Oh no you didn't -Ultimate handroll - the deep fried thing made the whole roll taste like a bag of doritos. The outside of the roll was not seaweed but a weird white seasame flecked thing which I did not like. This was a total miss for me. Wack. Ahi crab cake - not a crab cake at all, pieces of sushi with somethin of a seared cake thing on top. Strongest dish for me. Very tasty. Flounder and tuna sashimi - fresh and delish. Wish I just got a bunch of this. Lime on gin & tonic was bright yellow. All of the menu items were extremely expensive and small dishes. This is not a place I plan on returning to. But they have a free coat check. But the 11.99 valet throws that off, 11.99? Just say 12! you're not fooling anybody.
(2)Real D.
Super friendly staff. Nicely decorated place (except for the hanging plastic straws over the sushi bar). Food was good. Portions are very satisfactory. The points off for me would be the acoustics. THIS PLACE IS PLAIN LOUD. I could hardly speak with my lunch companion and the effort and the me repeating things over and the leaning over was too much like P90X, if you know what I mean. I need a discount for all that extra physical work to talk to my friend. It was lunch. I can't imagine dinner. Hey, I'm a beautiful, young, striking person myself, but unlike the other young beautiful, windswept, effortless fashion plates there, I was not satisfied with my choice of meetup place this day. Too freakin' loud and the stomach crunches I had to do just hear my fellow man was an extra thing. The other extra thing was the urban olympics trek (Parkour) to the latrines. An unintended workout for a quick downtown lunch. Dec, your architect failed you on this one.
(3)Carter G.
Sunda was decent overall, but my expectation was it was on the same level as Girl & the Goat, Longman & Eagle or GT oyster Bar in terms of quality of food. It wasn't. We started out with the Kale & Seaweed salad, MEH. The sushi (Spicy Tail of two tunas and Seared AhiTuna) were ok, but not as good as Japanai which falls under the same price category. We also had the Lemongrass Beef Lollipops which were overcooked and chewy. The chicken in the chicken Pad Thai was overlooked as well.Overall the restaurant was ok, but not on par with other places around the city with the same price point. The only part of the meal that was memorable was the Blackberry Limeade cocktail.
(2)Amanda F.
This place a great vibe. Lychee luxury drop (drink) was great. Lobster and Wagyu was my favorite roll. All around a great spot.
(4)Alex H.
I'm often at least a little bit skeptical of places that put incredible effort into decor and vibe. Not that I have a problem with an appealing space, but to me it should always be food first, scene second. I'm happy to report that Sunda does both quite well. I think enough has been said about the decor and vibe of the place--very cool space, great decor, cool bar, beautiful people--so I'll focus on the food. If the very term 'Asian Fusion' has you thinking 'cliche' and 'overdone', Sunda will challenge those stereotypes. Loved the Toast & Jam, Beef Lollipops, and Devil's Basket (I'm pretty sure the titles of these dishes alone speak to the creativity of the menu here). Also, sashimi is not a commodity. It may be pricey here, but you'll get what you pay for in terms of freshness and beautiful cuts of fish. There's also a pretty extensive cocktail and saki list which is a great complement in my book. Be warned that menu items are anything but cheap, and they tend to add up given the small-plates sharing concept Sunda employs. I think it's also fair to say that you're paying a premium for location, decor, and for the privilege of seeing and being seen here. Also, in the spirit of full disclosure, I've had better sushi rolls in considerably less ostentatious atmospheres throughout the city. But for the complete package and really knocking a few dishes out of the park, I'm a fan.
(4)Drew B.
I love this place!!!! I surprised a friend with dinner and Sunda and we were both very impressed. The service in the beginning was a TAD slow, but it was freaking busy as hell on a Tuesday! So I got over that in like 4 seconds. Our servers name was Rachel and she was very quick on her feet and knew a lot about the menu. We both started with two specialty drinks, the pear martini and lychee martini...both amazing, and they tasted even better when we were on our third round! Food comes out as its ready and I love that, everything is shared and there's always something new on your plate. My companion and I ordered the roasted duck hash, black cod, shrimp tempura maki, hand cut spicy tuna, and the number nine maki roll (I am currently looking at the menu, no photogenic memory here). Everything was very delicious and flavorful. When the duck hash arrived, our server said the best way to eat it was to break the egg on top and mix up all of the ingredients. After we thought that was a good idea, she grabbed the utensils and did it for us... talk about service! My favorite dish, and the one that keeps me recommending Sunda to others, was the miso blackened cod. There was some sort of cinnamon roasted eggplant at the base of the dish that made me die, twice, at the table. So delicious! I work at a nearby bar and whenever anyone suggest great food, besides ours, I send them over to Sunda, especially on Sunday when everything is half off! You'll see my name on the reservation list soon, promise.
(5)Judy B.
My friend raved about how good this place was, so we came here for brunch during my visit to chicago! OH. MY. GOD. It's literally places like these that make me want to LIVE in chicago. The complimentary banana bread is on point! so good, but not too sweet. LOVED IT. We asked the server for a recommendation, and we ended up ordering the tempura french toast and crispy pork on rice patties. The crispy pork on rice patties was kind of like an asian fusion take on eggs benedict, but it literally was simply AMAZING. NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE IT. To be quite honest, I still dream about it. IT WAS THAT GOOD. perfectly savory, but not salty at all. I could literally eat it all day every day. The tempura french toast was also DIVINE. It was perfectly crispy, but not greasy and tasted so light and fluffy that I literally thought I was in heaven. The syrup was also a perfect consistency (because I ate really sticky syrup) but for something that is sweet, it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet, which i LOVE. Ugh, whoever came up with those two dishes is literally a God that I can worship because that chef in the kitchen is literally a purely brilliant genius. I also ordered the lychee mimosa which was perfect- not too sweet, but not too strong, and lightly bubbly. Lastly, our server was just absolutely accommodating and really helpful, but I might just be being biased 'cause he reminded me of a ryan gosling look-a-like. But in all seriousness, if I had the money to, I would literally fly back to Chicago just to eat here again. IT IS THAT GOOD.
(5)Lia V.
I cannot say enough positive things about this place. Atmosphere - awesome and chill Service - phenomenal Food - Oh my delicious, unique, incredible sushi. Truffled tataki tuna sashimi.... freaking amazing. Everything we ate there was so delicious. I had a 007 martini that was mixed perfectly. I've tried a lot of sushi places and this place definitely tops the list of best sushi. I highly recommend this place for sushi lovers. i didn't try anything other than sushi so I can't speak for anything else. Yum Yum Yum... I want to go back...
(5)Luke L.
I've only been here for Sunday brunch and both times it's been AMAZING. If you go here for brunch and get anything from the "West" menu, you should just go to a diner and get your omelet and bacon fix and be on with it. Definitely order of the "East" menu as they have some amazing brunch dishes that are an awesome fusion of eastern cuisine with some western influences. Highly recommend the french toast (the sauce is ridiculous!) and the crispy pork belly over a rice cake.
(5)Tammy P.
Was a recommendation from a friend while my BF and I were visiting the Windy City for the weekend. Sunda definitely hit the spot. We got the organic miso soup with crab- super yum. Never had miso soup w/ crab before. It was a first and we really enjoyed it. As for the rolls- we got the baked seafood dynamite and scorpion roll- both were mouth watering, flavorful, and delicious! Our cocktails- toasted ginger snap and the lychee luxury drop were super as well! Definitely coming back to Sunda when visiting Chicago again! I really like the decoration of the place as well- very spacious- and earthy.
(4)Tracy L.
We've been here multiple times, and each time has been great! The staff is always friendly and accommodating. The last time we went was my bf's bday. I pulled the waiter aside to order something off menu (the sisig) and he also recommended a dessert. He made it really special, playing it up with he presented the off-menu dish to my bf's surpise. They all signed a card for him and gave us 2 gift certificates for the next time we came in! Favorites to try: 1. Beef lollipops 2. Sisig (minus the tripe!) 3. lobster and waygu sushi 4. shaking beef 5. some molten chocolate dessert mmmm! 6. chinese new year drink special, LOVE! i wish it was chinese new year all the time for this drink!! i've basically had almost everything on the menu at this point and you really can NOT go wrong! atmosphere can get really loud. the first time we went we were basically shouting over the table at each other. Second time, we were placed in a private back dining area for a big party, and for my bf's bday we were in a corner further away from the noise so we were able to converse normally. It's a lively place, loud place, but it's great like that. Great place to bring family and friends for any occasion!
(4)Gary C.
I decided to give this place another shot in part because my girlfriend's family wanted to eat here for a birthday celebration. Yeah...I'm sticking with my original rating of a three star A-OK, but here's why: Decor as mentioned by almost everyone is a huge plus, except the bathroom is like two flights of stairs underground. Also, I never realized how loud it was in the restaurant. Food was MUCH better than the first time around. Adobo pork belly is the go-to entree. Among the best adobo and/or pork belly I've had in the city. I would have upped the rating to four stars if it weren't for... ...the service. Killed me again. Reservations on a Monday for 8 PM. We got seated at 8:30 PM. Whammy. Server was below mediocre. He rarely checked on us and did not fill our drinks or ask for refills once. Water was refilled once by his serving entourage, aka food runners. Not sure if I'll give Sunda another run. I think I've been fooled enough by it's looks. I will say, however, you might have a few celebrity sightings as this is a very trendy spot. Our party was seated next to Josh Duhamel and Fergie.
(3)Steven N.
Food is good here, but not over the top good, so I would suggest coming here for the atmosphere and to people watch. As one reviewer put it, it's sort of a "hipster" hangout. Dinner came out to $300 for 4 people. Lots of beautiful people and well-dressed people here, so definitely dress to impress before you step foot in here. They have a few communal tables, a large sushi bar, a small lounge area, and sit down tables. We sat at the communal tables and the experience was not as bad as I was expecting. The place was pretty loud anyway, so your neighbors don't really distract your dining experience. We ordered a variety of apps, rolls, buns, and entrees to share between the four of us. Food is certainly tastey, but the fundamental recipe are mostly based on food you can get from Chinatown or Thai restaurants for a small fraction of the high price they charge here. Don't get me wrong, I think they certainly use good ingredients and the presentation is above average (note - not great as I would expect for this price), but as anyone who really know AUTHENTIC Chinese & Thai food can instantly recognize, it's a $10 plate dressed up as a $25 plate because you're in a hip place. That's to be expected of course...food is not disappointing, but that's not why you would come here.
(3)Laura K.
I was BLOWN AWAY by one of the dishes here. The Boo - Dah's style Grilled ahi tuna and pork was out of this world. If I had one thing to eat before I died, I would choose this (and maybe some mac n cheese from Kuma's corner, but that's beside the point). It is a random combination (ahi tuna and pork) but it was prepared to perfection - some mango and sweet chili sauce with delicious kick....AMAZING! I have to say, this place came close to getting a one after my husband and I had been there for 40 minutes without getting seated when we had an 8:00 reservation. When they came up to tell us at 8:40 that we could sit at a communal table I just about died. We finally were seated in the restaurant by 8:50.... Instead of making a scene, my husband and I were strategizing how we could make the restaurant lose money - our plan was to use our coupon, not order drinks, and yelp the crap out of how horrible this place was.... But all that disappeared when one of the owners ended up spoiling us for the rest of the night by throwing all kinds of free stuff our way and apologizing profusely- the chef even came out to offer us some free toro sashimi with sake expressing his apologies! Needless to say, they more than made up for our wait! We ordered one sushi roll (Sunda Rainbow Roll), the DELICIOUS ahi tuna/pork dish, "all of the above sashimi", and the "shaking beef". The fish is AMAZING there - so fresh, perfectly cut, and just overall the best sushi I have had in the city (way better than Japonais). I cannot wait to go again. Just about everything on the menu had me drooling, and I still cannot stop thinking about the ahi tuna/pork dish that I hogged from my husband. It is a MUST if you go there. While they really need to work on the number of reservations that they take, the food is delicious, and I'm glad we stuck it out! :)
(5)Ashley C.
Had a saturday night dinner with the girls here....perfect ambiance for us. Sushi rolls were creative and the atmosphere definitely inspired us to drink, laugh and feel like the pretty girls we are. (Cocky statement, I know, but true.) Rock Shrimp Tempura was a big hit, so much that we got two orders for the table. I had the Lobster and Wagyu roll and the Scorpion roll, both fresh and wonderful. Someone in our group ordered Pad Thai with Chicken and said it was really good, but I did not taste it myself. However, as this person is a picky eater, I believe it had to be in order to pass her test. I had two Polynesian Storms and they were great...very fresh and invigorating....I cannot wait to go back for lunch and try other items when the cost isn't as expensive...but still worth it.
(4)windycity g.
I came here for my husband's MBA graduation dinner. The food was tasty but nothing spectacular. There were three of us so we split: - Tail if Two Tunas (too fishy for our liking) - Rainbow (very fresh) - Baked Seafood Dynamite (very good and similar to a volcano roll with less topping) - Red Dragon (favorite by far) We were very satisfied with the food (prices are up there but we knew that going into it). In terms if drinks, we each got Dirty Martinis which were made perfectly! Our unfortunate complaint is due to our waitresses attitude. She started out very pleasant and helpful but at the meal went on she became very annoyed of us and was not attentive to us. We asked for a round of saki bombs to celebrate the graduation (we didn't plan to do them full on by knocking the table, just to pour the sake into the beer) and she just stared at my husband for a minute. He asked again and she claimed, very rudely, that she had never heard of them before and that within her year of working there she had never had anyone order them. We explained what they were and she again, stared at us. Finally we just asked her if she could ask the bartender for them. A few minutes later she came back with them and then pretty much never came back to our table and charged us for two full sake bottles (when it was only three sake cup fills) and two full beers. Of course she was uber polite and friendly again when she brought us our check. If it weren't for the service we would have really enjoyed our meal to celebrate my husband's accomplishment. Instead we left with a bitter taste in our mouths.
(3)donna y.
To say things nicely... service really sucks in the lounge/lobby area. I've been to Sunda a few times and the times I've been in the lounge area have been the worst. I'm not sure why the servers who manage this area get so worked up about tables being reserved yet they don't put a reserved sign and even better - there's no one to fill them during the duration of your stay! Why would you move two people in an empty area from a small patio table of 4 to an even squishier table of 2. I'm petite so I cannot image how the average American would feel. It's not the first time, which has led me to this review. The server was also the epitome of diligence. She came over every other minute as we perused the menu. Would've probably killed her to smile too. There are a lot of fantastic bars and restaurants in the area. This is no longer one of them.
(1)Anna H.
If you want quality service, high quality sushi and an energetic, trendy atmosphere, Sunda is the place to go. Our server was fantastic, James. He gave us some amazing recommendations, was very attentive but not overly intrusive. Plus he was pretty easy on the eyes :) Some of his recommendations included the Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad, a must get even if you are not a fan of Brussels Sprouts. The texture and Asian flavor with the woodiness of the Brussels sprouts was fantastic. Also, he recommended the Unagi/Foie, rice topped with fried unagi and foie gras. It was also great, very interesting texture but great flavor together. My friend got the Sea Bass entree that basically melted in your mouth. The fish was prepared so well and really showcased the natural flavor. My other friend ordered the slow roasted short ribs. It was also excellent, extremely tender and the seasoning was a perfect Asian short rib flavor. For the three of us it was a bit pricey, but we did order some of the more expensive items on the menu along with a round of cocktails and a bottle of wine. It is a very trendy place in the loop that attracts a lot of young, wealthy professionals so it gets very energetic and can be a ton of fun at the communal tables.
(4)Carol K.
Still very trendy and lovely inside. Still great food (the signature sushi rolls and beef lollipops are my fav). Still one of the "see and be seen" places in Chicago. Sunda lost one star for me as the service was a bit off on this night. We got a great table in the back- but the server was so busy that we felt a bit neglected although the food from the various runners came up fast. And just a note to the bussers- I know you want to do a good job- but wait until my glass is empty to take it- and don't remove a sushi plate that has ginger and wasabi on it. Cripes! I felt I had to grab on to everything on the table or else it was going to disappear! I'm all for a clean table- just let me finish eating first!
(4)Rits M.
I love sushi here. My faves are the lobster roll, the shakin beef, the tom kha gai soup and the beef tempura. They have managed to combine great flavours and textures into the sushi , however, dont ask them to recommend a sake that goes with it- one of the servers recommended one to me and it totally killed the palate. The sushi itself has delicate flavours, and you can pick out the individual efforts. Each is an amazing dish by itself. The ambience is rather trendy, not really for people who come for the love of food. Personally, I love all the wood work, they have beautiful blue doors against the wall. Oh and you can get a drink at the bar while you wait for your table, and if you are peckish, its a sushi bar, so nibble away :)
(5)Sahar M.
Good food and great atmosphere but definitely over priced. Last time my girlfriend and I asked the waiter to surprise us with food. We found the bill the only surprising item of the night. Only $343!!!!! Yes, and did I mention together we weight 224 pounds???? we laughed!!! It was an expensive Tuesday night.
(3)Alicia B.
Delicious!!!! This place was really busy for a wednesday night and I can see why, it's SO good!! iIt's a great place for a date and because it's mostly small plates and sushi, it's great to share. Here's what we had to eat... Oxtail pot stickers....MUST GET! This was the first bite of food we had here and I couldn't wait to try what was next after these! sooooo good!! Escolar....HAVE to get. I don't know what they put on this sushi to make it so good but we ended up ordering more of it because it was so delicious. We made sure to have this as our last bite of the night. I'm not a big raw tuna sushi fan and I can't recommend this enough Unagi/Fgie...this is definitely a double bite suhsi but again, delicious. The foie gras on top was just the perfect touch! Lemongrass beef lollipops.....these were good. very lemony tasting because they cook the beef on the lemongrass. But once you dip it in the chili sauce, it's much better. Crazy how the chili sauce can take away some of that lemon taste. The Number 10...we got this roll because it came highly recommended to us. But it was our least favorite thing on the menu. The waiter was correct when he told us it was a heavy roll. There was so much cream cheese in there that you couldn't even taste the fish. It was a typical roll to me. Something that I could get at any sushi place. With all the other delicious items on the menu, i do NOT recommend getting this. It is a little pricey, but to me, it's totally worth it!
(4)Ben H.
For all the hype, i thought it was just ok for the price that was paid. Here is a play by play of the dishes. 1) Devil's pot... high quality softshell crab, perfectly fried but not seasoned... i think they provide soy sauce for use, but traditionally, its more salt and pepper... I asked for salt and pepper to season. 2) Shrimp Toast and Jam. - eh, it was regular shrimp toast, 10 dollars more than a chinese take out place, served with leftover tuna bits they turned to jam.. too oily, not that great 3) Various Cocktails.- great cocktails 4) Miso Soups- way too salty... must have over reduced in the pot 5) Crispy Pata.. Pig shank fried... its a first time dish, wouldnt order it again 6) Sea Bass, perfectly cooked but the seasoning and sides were ok. Fish was of good quality 7) Some cupcake dessert. go to Sprinkles or something , not worth it
(3)L B.
This place was recommended to me by a fellow foodie and I have to say, everything lived up to the hype. In terms of ambiance, the place was stuffed to the gills and a bit too loud crowded. Everyone seemed to be in their late 30s at the youngest. Our waiter gave great recommendations and descriptions of dishes. The food was delicious and inventive. We ordered: -miso soup- was the most delicious and fresh miso soup I've ever had -Signature Rice Spicy Tuna - more like sashimi with a fried rice croquette-- amazing, delicious, and unique -Sweet Potato Caterpillar Roll - this was unique with asian pear that melted away first and layered nicely with the avocado -Yellowtail jalapeno- no rice but yellowtail served on a lightly seasoned cucumber slice, which was incredibly unique and delicious -Apple Cobbler -- YUM! Delicious ice cream, delicious apple cobbler, delicious caramelized syrup. Amazing.
(4)Michael U.
This place rocks....arrived early for a 6:30 reservation and sat down at the bar. Right away the bartender noticed my wife was pregnant and whipped up a mangotini filled with fresh fruit that was not on the menu which she thoroughly enjoyed. Dinner was with another couple which was nice since they have over 2 pages of appetizers /small plates that you can all share. We started with something I have NEVER ordered before, brussel sprout salad.....which was loaded with favors but none too overpowering. Then moved on to the beef lollipops which were also flavorful and tender. I had the jalapeño bacon and crab roll as my main course and my wife had the sea bass which was cooked to perfection. Our friends ordered the beef short ribs, the stuffed avacado and oh no you didn't roll....we all shared a bite of each others which allowed us to sample the various flavors. I'm not big on dessert, but when I noticed the top of the menu had a dish named "ridiculous", I knew we had to try it and it definitely lived up to its name. All in all the food and service was spectacular and I cannot wait to return....
(5)Vanessa B.
Love the seafood curry and the spicy tuna on crispy rice. Service can be spotty here, but the food is always quality. The restaurant itself is gorgeous too! I think their sushi in general is quality, but the combination of flavors is never really amazing to me. It will definitely satisfy a sushi craving though!
(4)Danny M.
I came here for dinner with a couple of friends on a Friday night and it was packed. Our reservations were for 5 people and we were told we couldn't be seated at our table until at least 4 people were there. We ended up losing our reservations and had to sit at the bar, which is fine since we had one end of the bar. I spilled my drink and the bar tender gave me a new one... Free of charge! That was nice of him. For dinner, I ordered the wagyu beef roti prata and it came with 3. Overall, it was just okay. There was nothing amazing about it. The beef was super dry and there was no sauce for it, so it was kind of bland. Everyone else said their food was good, but they expected more food..
(3)Laura A.
Great food. Horrible service. My company booked a private room for a reception and dinner for 16 people. A waitress appeared to be staffed solely to us, but it was hard to tell. Most of my colleagues had to get their own drinks from the bar. Although I asked the waitress for a sparkling water and saw her give the order to the bar tender, my water just sat on the bar across the room until I noticed it sitting there and I got it myself. Once we sat down for dinner there was at least a 30-minute gap between when we finished our appetizer course and when we received the entrees. This seemed like an insane wait, especially for food that was pre-ordered in advance! As for the food itself - every bite of sushi was creative and outstanding. The steamed bao buns were delightfully delish. The Bang! Bang! salad with raw ribbons of shaved green papaya, carrots, zucchini, jicama and citrus chili dressing was totally bangin. For entrees, I was only able to snag a taste of the lo mein (we also ordered fish and some meat dishes), but since the food took so long I couldn't stay to enjoy it otherwise I'd miss my train home. Major bummer - I also missed my favorite course - dessert. If you love Asian fusion and have infinite patience and time, then you'll have no complaints about Sunda. If you care about service, save yourself some trouble and eat at Japonais or any number of Chicago's world-class restaurants.
(3)Christina G.
Oh my goodness. I came here for weekend brunch with a Gilt City deal in hand. I was not disappointed. I'd been wanting to come here for ages, but just never made it in. I'm glad i came for brunch - it could not have been better. We started off with the mimosa and bloody mary bars. The mimosa bar is standard - OJ with different kinds of fruit juices and some fruit to top it off. The bloody mary bar is in its own class. There was everything from hard salami to mango slices to water chestnuts, asparagus, green beans, and jalapenos. The bloody mary drink itself is made with either absolut pepper or effen cucumber. I highly recommend the cucumber. To get our hunger pains in check, we were brought 4 small slices of some sort of bread with a delicious sauce on it. Warm and delicious. For the main meal, my husband ordered the dusk hash and I had the smoked salmon skillet. The hash had so much duck meat in it. The skillet was beyond filling - the fish smoked perfectly and the potatoes/tomatoes roasted to perfection. The absolute best food eaten were the potatoes that came with the hash. They were super light, fried, and quite possibly was the best thing I've ever tasted. I can't wait to head back for their sushi and dim sum.
(5)A L.
Great atmosphere ! Make sure you have a reservation bc it's always busy. Food is delicious, drinks are pricey but very good, and service is excellent.
(5)Carol C.
Love! Love! Love! It's been a month since I was last there and I'm still salivating just thinking about the Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad!
(5)Erica C.
Wow, who would have thought Pan-Asian in Chicago would be so delicious! I really didn't have high expectations coming from SF but the food at Sunda was so surprisingly good that I will DEFINITELY eat here again the next time I'm in Chicago. The restaurant is incredibly loud and the bar seating isn't very comfortable, but the food definitely makes up for all this. My three favorite dishes were: 1. Brussels sprout salad: Even if you haven't tried Brussels sprouts, or think you hate Brussels sprouts, just get this salad - its a delicious combination of crispy, savory, salty and sweet. 2. Kobe Beef "sushi": This comes 4 to a plate and each portion is the size of sushi but instead, the perfectly seasoned/grilled Kobe beef sits atop a cloud of fluffy rice that both melt in your mouth. 3. Crab hand roll: just get it - its divine! One caveat, this place is extremely loud.
(4)Richie D.
I visited Sunda for Restaurant Week 2013 (RW'13). It has been on my list for some time now (according to my Yelp bookmarks since March 18, 2010). I finally made it an afternoon date thanks to an easily made reservation via OpenTable.com . The decor is fantaaastic (as most Chicagoans would pronounce the word) with a clash between modern American and rustic Asian. I was particularly drawn-in to the light and airy straw dangling in an ominous pattern above the sushi bar. Just as their slogan claims: East [does] meet West. Some great design choices were made to have various waiter stands throughout the restaurant which had their own beer taps, and tables with a built-in wine/champagne bottle chiller. Being that it was Saturday afternoon, there was an Asian-inspired Bloody Mary Bar (i.e. Siracha, Kim Chi, bamboo sticks, ginger) and a Hot Tea Sampling Bar for brunch. Of course, being the tea lover that I am, I tasted each one and read their descriptions. Unfortunately, the teas had been steeping wayyy too long and were quite bitter. We started our meal out with drinks. My partner and I each had a glass of sparkling. I tried their Moët Ice Imperial Champagne which was served over ice with blackberries and mint. Think a slightly sweet blackberry mojito. Sunda's RW'13 menu was a Bento Box with your choice of meat (Seafood Curry, Grilled Spare Ribs, Grilled Salmon Filet, Crusted Pork Loin, Grilled Chicken Breast, Char Siu BBQ Pork, Grilled Petite NY Steak, and Chicken/Pork Adobo). Each Bento Box came with a deliciously healthy seaweed salad, bland miso soup, an oversized pile of white rice and your choice of four rolls of spicy tuna, avocado & cucumber, or California roll. The waiter warned us claiming that other patrons complained of the small sizes, but it was more than enough food. My two-cents is that us Americans have over-sized portions and our stomachs are accustomed to being overfed. Maybe they just gave everyone more white rice to balance it out. Who knows? Back to the meats, both were quite tasty. My steak was cooked perfectly and charred with a semi-sweet glaze. The adobo pork was very lean and flavorful due to the vegetables that accompanied it. Our Bento Boxes were then followed by dessert. Yes, I would agree that the desserts were small in size but gave us a good idea of what the restaurant had to offer (Isn't that what Restaurant Week is all about??). We did one of each option: Berry Cobbler (Warm seasonal berry cobbler with berry-hibiscus purée and vanilla bean ice cream) and Chocolate Mousse Cake (Chocolate mousse fudge cake with yuzu pineapple and blackberry purée with grilled pineapple, crispy feuilletines, and fresh blackberries). The Mousse Cake won the price with the dark chocolate flavor and texture, although I wasn't a fan of the hint of pineapple. The Berry Cobbler was mediocre with the cobbler having little to no flavor at all (the crust and cobbler are usually my favorite part). All in all, I would most likely come back to Sunda, where East-Meets-West
(4)Kelsey K.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I haven't eaten there yet. Not for abt 2 weeks yet, so there will be updates then! I went here with a friend who is quick to make friends and he frequents this establishment. The staff was AWESOME and the drinks were great. The menu sounds epic, so I can't wait until dinner!! The decor is fantastic and the guests even seemed pretty cool. The clientele can be somewhat, uh, douchey in this neighborhood and Sunda seems to not be attracting masses from that particular demographic.
(5)Nicole W.
A true cornucopia of Asian inspired deliciousness flanked by a warm, modern interior and really great service (high five for fabulous recommendations, too!). I had a super delicious meal at Sunda and I'd most certainly head back there again. As my girl Candice G astutely points out, Sunda is not going to be a cheap date. That's seems par for the course when it comes to sushi-ish items, though. Fresh fish probably shouldn't be cheap unless you're feeling extra chancy. But carpe diem, friends, spend some coin and share those plates...because the menu is extra large and diverse. Our table tried so many items, but a few standouts include the fried brussel sprout salad, pork belly bun, short rib and a myriad of sushi. Being that I'm still incubating a kiddo, I couldn't indulge in the raw fish items, but you can bet that I had major food envy over the spicy tuna crispy rice and various cuts of fresh fish. Do be aware that if you're looking to enjoy an intimate dinner, Sunda is probably not the place to go. It's hella loud in there...even on a Monday night! Once I'm not a human incubator, I definitely want to come back to Sunda to imbibe and dine on plenty more...
(4)Chinwe N.
I wanted to love this place, and materially there was nothing wrong with the quality of food, ambiance, service or location, but the price point was just too high for the overall experience. It's easy to spend $200 and get a decent meal, but restaurants that stand out for me either have super delicious food, or great value. Unfortunately, Sunda missed both of these marks. If I wanted to spend this kind of cash, I would send people to Roka Akur.
(3)B T.
Ridiculous place. I spent 20 years in Japan and 10 years in the US, but I never came across such a ridiculous restaurant like here. Extremely over priced, fishy fish, warm rice (MUST HAVE BEEN COLD TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS OF RAW FISH). Nothing resemble any Japanese or sushi restaurant. $17 for yellow tail and "price varies" for sushi using old and non-fresh frozen fish? Why is this so overpriced for some frozen fish from San Francisco.
(1)Sam K.
Fantastic sushi,Fast service, Great spicy edamame. Would highly recommend this restaurant if you enjoy a up beat atmosphere. This place isnt quiet, it is noisy due to many customers. But overall I loved it and it made a great night out with my girlfriend.
(5)Nicole S.
The best sushi I've ever eaten! We had the Great White, Brussels sprout salad, miso cauliflower, some type of noodles... Everything was great. So much flavor! All the drinks we ordered were amazing too. Make sure you order the Grass Tiger. Our bill was around $400, but ordered appetizers, several rolls, several rounds of drinks, and dessert for four people. It was worth every cent.
(5)Stephen S.
Really solid food in a great atmosphere. I loved it. Their specialty rolls are all fantastic combinations given what I sampled as well as my conversation with other guests. I especially loved the Red Dragon roll. Personally, my favorite dish was the crispy brussel sprout salad. Delicous combination of crispy, savory and tang (don't miss the rice vinegar dressing tossed tableside). I would go back for this dish alone. I also enjoyed both of my cocktails (tho I have to admit that both were on the slightly sweet side-- the only thing keeping this spot from a solid 5 stars). If you're in the area and have a hankering for Asian, don't miss Sunda. You won't be sorry you did.
(4)Kathleen C.
Sunda...the spot for a large work dinner...I think not, but let's investigate... 11 of us visited for a work dinner...we had a large crowd, a few picky eaters and a bunch of out of towners (and most of those were from various international locations). Take that, with a 'small sharing plate' menu and you get a bit of confusion.... Having the food just show up 'whenever' doesn't really speak to the familiarity of a 3-course dinner in France or Germany, so we had to improvise....random appetizers come out as they come, and entrees are served individually at the same time...it almost went off without a hitch (only one slower entree, but it worked out). The server was really patient and had some great recommendations. The food was quite delicious. I tried sushi, some salad and a whole bunch of stuff I don't remember. Everything was tasty and I don't think we left any extra food. The drinks were quite good as were the bottle selections (pricing was not bad either on the wine). Overall, a good night, but I had to drop a star for the fact that the restaurant was so loud, it was really tough to hear anything. When trying to have dinner with colleagues, it's hard to scream across the table, so I missed much of the conversations that didn't occur directly next to me. Service - 5 Atmosphere - 4 Bathrooms - 5 Food - 5 Value - 4 (a bit pricey on the food...but ok for the city).
(4)T T.
This place is a solid go to date spot that has some great food, but you need to order the right items. Tops on my list are the rainbow roll, shiitake dumplings, red dragon roll. All of their signature crispy rice is outstanding and you can never go wrong with either the Cod or Sea bass. Only downside to restaurant is its extremely loud if you are trying to listen to your date or anyone else...Lounge area can be a good call to get around some of the noise..
(4)John L.
First timer here at Sunda - loved the design of the space and atmosphere. I thought the food was very good and the varsity they offer is abundant. Service was good about average. The crispy rice cakes with tartare was a must have along with the pork with steamed buns. Definitely need to come back and try more dishes there was so much to choose from.
(4)Paul L.
Wife and I went to Sunda for our anniversary. Unbelievable. The food the service and the flavor that we enjoyed was the best. I would have to say it was one of the best experiences we had at an Asian infused restaurant. Our server Jerry created a one of a kind experience for us. Every step of the way it was individualized for us. From the cucumber martini at the bar to the seating in the back. Out new favorite spot. Recommend for all who appreciate the finest things in life.
(4)Denise S.
The brussel sprout salad is AH-MAZING! This salad is a must when you go.
(5)Saba A.
MAKE RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE! We did a birthday dinner for 4 and could not add more people for Saturday night at 7:00. Unless we wanted to change it to 5:30 or 9:30. All other restaurants in the River North area were booked with reservations too. Billy Dec did awesome. The interior design of this restaurant is amazing, the lighting, to the furnishings, to the intricate designs all over the restaurant. I still have to check out his other restaurants. This place is known to the best, and it is. Welcoming greetings and complimentary coat checks are offered. Here is what we ordered: -Eggplant and Tofu Toban -Sticky-Icky Rice (comes in 2) - wasn't the favorite -Rock Shrimp Tempura (A MUST!) -Sweet Potato Caterpillar -Dragon (Very Tasty) We were too full for desert, but I'm sure it would have been awesome. The restaurants philosophy is to "share" and it satisfies 7 types of Asian cultures (learned from our waiter). Our waiter was busy, was sweating but he knew the menu well. Our food came 15 minutes after ordering too, which was awesome. They have special events here, like NYE parties and such, but I may have to wait for a raise to attend! :) Here's the dinner menu: sundachicago.com/wp-cont…
(5)P J.
My party and I got to the restaurant 10 minutes late last night and hostesses said they gave up our table, even though we had a reservation. They were rude and unfriendly, didn't offer to take our coats. They said next open table would be at 10:30pm so they stuck us in the lounge area for dinner. The guy who walked us to the table just threw the menus on the table, didn't say one word to us. Fortunately, our waitress was a breath of fresh air. She told us her favorite dishes and was very friendly. Portions were large. Cod was bad. Long rib and pork belly fried rice were amazing.
(2)Nina E.
Our waiter had an English accent, and he was awesome. The service made our experience here even more fun. Everything was delicious, but make sure you get the brussel sprout salad thing - it is so addictive and amazing, and I don't even like brussel sprouts! The sushi was awesome. I would avoid any fried entries here - they look good, but they don't live up to the hype. For dessert (if they still have this special), order the s'mores in a jar. I LOVE S'MORES. I love things in jars. It was delicious. Win-win!
(4)Evelyn A.
Nicole W and Candice G and a cornucopia of other brilliant babes have pointed out that this place is not for the poor. But hey, if you're a Canadian in town for work and your boss is generous, you might get lucky and end up at one of the big wooden tables at Sunda! At first I was all, hmm, sushi in Chicaaahgo? Shouldn't we be hitting the deep dish or giant portions of meat and cheese or something? Well maybe those are what this town is known for, but Sunda isn't messing around. Lobster rolls were so fresh, the brussel sprout salad was divine and the pork buns were banging. Really a great upscale joint to eat family-style. Go and share and order blindly and enjoy all of it, I don't really see how you couldn't. PEPPER PROPS: To my Chicago friends for taking me here! I'm talkin' to you Oprah, Kanye and Michael Jordan. You guys are so cool! 29/30
(4)Anne P.
Why is your bloody mary sweet? And even more egregious, why isn't there a description or warning about that in the menu?! I should have sent it back but I thought the rolling bloody mary garnish bar would salvage it. Two limes and some hot sauce couldn't save this drink.
(4)Andrea B.
Oh YES! What an awesome first experience in the land of Chicago eating. This place is glowing - a minimal but warm decor with great lighting and tons of hustle and bustle. Our party was seated in the back of the restaurant, which was a little more private and lovely. Our server was absolutely phenomenal - extremely knowledgable about every single dish and made some great recommendations. There were so many delicious things arriving on our table that I don't even think I ended up trying them all! That being said, some of the highlights were the lobster rolls sprinkled with bacon (YUM!), the stuffed avacado was amazing as were the pork buns. Let's be real - it was all to die for. To top it all off, the cocktail list is lovely. I had a fantastic blackberry limeade that had fresh muddled blackberry. If you're in Chicago you NEED to visit this spot. It's simply perfect.
(5)Stefanie N.
Quite the swanky sushi spot. Was still pretty busy at 10PM on a Tuesday night. Ordered the brussel sprouts salad (it was decent), tail of two tuna roll (it was good), jalapeno yellowtail (delicious), miso, and shishito peppers (good). While the service was good, the ambiance great, and the food overall was solid, the place is a little pretentious.
(3)Amy S.
Sunda never disappoints! I've been here at least 4-5 times, and every time it is amazing! I've tried everything from their Sushi rolls to their Lemongrass Beef Lollipops to their Spare Ribs and Potstickers -the sushi is always fresh and all the food has crazy-good flavors. And you have to get their best dessert, The Ridiculous! This dessert, because it is "ridiculous"-ly delicious, is their number one specialty . It's a special spiced carrot cake with caramel and ice cream all in a big ball, seriously too good to describe! Sunda is a bit pricey, but you will never leave unsatisfied.
(5)Ryan B.
Ordered them for lunch on Grubhub. The food took over 2 hours to arrive. The sushi I ordered only had 5 pieces (NOT work $9). My ramen would have been better but it was cold when it arrived and the noodles were mush.
(1)Sara N.
Pricey....but worth every penny. Not ur typical Asian fusion.... Unique creations with outstanding presentation and flavor...stuffed avo=10
(5)J L.
Really it should be 3.5 stars. I liked their honey glazed pork belly, fried rice and some sushi dishes too. ( fried rice a little too oily / salty for me) However I think this place is so over priced, especially it's sushi / signature nigiri. It is good, but not worth the price.
(3)Ken U.
Everything bit sushi and service was great!!! Edamame was excellent, bean buns were yummy! Sushi rilles were falling apart and not deserving of the price. All other menu it's we tried were great.
(3)Dan B.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city of Chicago. Excellent sushi and the drinks are great as well. You will need a reservation on a weekend because the place gets super crowded. Overall, perfect place to take someone on a date or celebrate a special night out with friends or your significant other.
(5)brian w.
Great food, lively atmosphere, solid waitstaff. Only issue I had, which bothered me greatly, was the fact that I had a reservation for 2 at 8 p.m., but the front of the house didn't seat me and my date until 8:20, seating other parties of 2 before us because they "were looking for us but couldn't find us." Meanwhile, we were standing RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOSTESS STAND and, oh yeah, the other parties of 2 they sat had reservations at 8 p.m. or later and checked in after us. I should also mention that I reminded the hostess at 8:15 that we were still waiting. It was only after I saw the hostess seat a party of 2 that had an 8 p.m. reservation and that had come in the door after us that I took issue with the hostess's inability to look to her right and see me waiting beside her. In sum, everything about this place is solid except for the hostesses. I would return, but I'd be wary of being overlooked by the hostesses.
(4)Mary R.
Lovely presentation and delicious, interesting menu. I felt a little rushed as the food arrives so quickly, so take your time and just order 1-2 items at a time. The duck steamed buns were so tasty! Loved the crispy rice with spicy tuna and jalapeño too. You won't regret the tiger shrimp tempura - amazing flavor! I think the lemongrass beef lollipops were a little over rated - pretty, but I don't like meat that well done. Get whatever dessert special is offered! You won't be disappointed here. Be adventurous and rely on your server for recommendations too.
(4)Ali C.
I like this restaurant because it has a variety of asian foods. all of them pretty good. They also have a party room on the second floor which comes in handy for private events. Really enjoyed the Tom Kha Soup and Curry Laksa
(4)Jenny H.
I try to stick with the tried and true classics. So asian fusion-- not really my thing, but holy toledo, Batman! Everything we ordered was oh-so scrumptious! We started off with shishito peppers, toast and jam, and rock shrimp tempura. Followed by a variety of sushi. The one that stood out was the "Golden Child". Ever consider the sweet subtleties of mango, elegantly showcased in a sushi roll? Needless to say, dinner was a resounding success. Even more so paired with a refreshing "Divine Lychee" cocktail. The decor and its patrons were all absolutively chic. I felt a little under dressed amidst the crowd, but I loved taking in the scene and was equally impressed that the menu lived up to the ambiance.
(4)Issam A.
4 stars because the sushi was good but our hostess snd server were terrific. Our server really made us feel special! We were celebrating our anniversary and she went out of the way to make our experience enjoyable. The red dragon was delicious, as was the seasonal mango tango. However the yellowtail tuna was less than desirable. The cost of our dinner was in line with other high end sushi restaurants. The atmosphere is trendy but not too snooty so definitely a place worth trying.
(4)Noor B.
We stopped by for lunch one day and were not disappointed! The decor is beautiful and the service is excellent. I had the strip steak bento box with a spicy tuna roll, and my husband tried the pad thai with chicken. The miso soup was delicious, and the steak was cooked beautifully, although the rice was a little dry. The seaweed salad was interesting, and the sushi was fantastic - best sushi I've ever had. I will definitely visit again to try more sushi The pad thai was delicious. It was a little sweeter than I personally like, but the flavor was excellent and the portion was a good size. Overall, excellent.
(4)Ha V.
They know their shit. Sunda is one of the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of dining at. They have everything down so well - ambiance, service, food. Sunda is a rather large restaurant. I hadn't expected it to be after reading a lot of the reviews. I had expected it to be small, warm, and hush-hush. Instead it was big, warm, welcoming, romantic, fun. Feel free to dress up or just come as you are. Nobody cares, all anyone there cares about is either delivering great food or eating great food. The service is impeccable. Our waiter (like the asshole that I am, I forgot his name) was delightful. He was knowledgeable, had an opinion, and was incredibly fast. He was pleasant and charmed me, whether he knows it or not. He was able to make us laugh but also knew what we were there for. He recommended an item or two from each section, and he answered all of our questions honestly. Hats off to him and the rest of the Sunda crew. Based on our waiter's suggestions, our cravings, and one friend's food scares, we ordered the following: - Truffled tataki tuna, salmon, american kobe sashimi, enoki mushroom, chive, soy, truffle vinaigrette. (My favorite of the night. I swear to you, you can smell the truffle oil before it even arrives at your table). - Rock shrimp tempura. (Good, but if you live in any major Asian community you won't be impressed). - Lobster and wagyu roll: creamy lobster, scallions, jalapeño, wagyu sashimi, truffle-foie aioli. (One of the better and more interesting rolls I have had). - Baked seafood dynamite: kani, scallop, ebi, roe, avocado,scallions, cucumber, dynamite sauce, tempura crumbs. (It's okay to pass on this one). - Adobo braised pork belly. (A huge serving. Soooo good, but really heavy, so be sure to have a man or man-sized stomach at the table). - Pork adobo flake fried rice. (Amazing flavor with bits of pork. Good on its own but may be too much when accompanying the Adobo Braised Pork Belly). - Asian cheesecake: silky tofu cheesecake, crunchy cinnamon crumble and kabosu macerated, seasonal fruit. (Somewhat dry, but the flavor and creamy consistency still there). - Chocolate Mousse Cake: chocolate mousse fudge cake with yuzu pineapple and blackberry pureés with grilled pineapple, crispy feuilletines and fresh blackberries. (I'm whatever about chocolate, but my friends finished this one easily). As you can see, it was quite the dining experience. A couple of bottles of wine, and we were good to go. Our waiter took the desserts off the bill even though they were half eaten because I didn't like them. I wasn't being a brat, I swear - I told the waiter I didn't want dessert, but he put some on the menu anyway since my dinner partner kept insisting I try them. He came by at the end, asked if I liked them, I said no (I'm really just not into desserts), and he took them off. I was in shock, I felt horrible, but damn was I impressed! I love Sunda. If I lived in Chicago, this would totally be a weekly spot. Bi-weekly at the very least. Glad I don't live here, though, because this bill was definitely in the hundreds. Thanks to Mr. Heger who so kindly covered the bill. We owe you.
(5)RP P.
All i have to say is....10 PM RESERVATION, walked in, 1/3 of the tables empty but somehow still waited 15 minutes to get seated. The one of the hostessess had a huge chip on her should as if she was some big shot....seriously--Your job is to seat people in a timely manner so they have an enjoyable experience. One would think they'd understand such a simple concept, but no. They can't even open their eyes to the fact that you have open tables in all sections and can't sit 3 people at 10 PM. Oh a happy note, the firecracker rolls were pretty bomb, as were the wasabi martini's. Unfortunately, the terrible front desk staff will stop me from coming here or recommending this place to others. ( I gave a 2nd star for these items)
(2)Brock L.
Came here on a Sunday night. Food and service was great. We had the following: 1. Brussel Sprout Salad 2. Beef Lollipops 3. Pork Belly Buns 4. Lobster and Wagyu Beef Sushi roll 5. Pork Belly Fried Rice The Good: Brussel Spouts Salad was AMAZING. If I could, I would have ordered 3 of these and replaced some of the other dishes. If you're ever here - DEFINITELY ORDER THIS. The Lobster and Wagyu Roll was also amazing. Some of the best sushi I've had in Chicago. The Decent: The Beef Lollipops were a fun dish, but nothing amazing from a taste perspective. The Pork Belly buns were good, but ere luke warm. I felt if the buns or the meat were hotter in temperature this could have been one of my favorite, if not, my most favorite dish. But it was luke warm and was decent., The Ugly: Was not a big fan of the pork belly fried rice, it just tasted ok to me at best. very oil and grease heavy. All in all, I'll still give it 4 stars because the price of everything was not as much as I would have expected. I will probably come here again and give it another shot.
(4)AndrewSumi G.
This was a great dinner place. It does do a new twist on the pan-Asian place. We got the pork bao and the soba salad as appetizers. The pork bao was deconstructed compared to other baos. Would have preferred a creamier sauce to the bao instead of the overly sweet hoisin sauce, however it was still good. The soba salad was large and had a great assortment of vegetables. We shared the special red snapper entree. What a unique presentation! The meat was taken off the bone and flash fried. The head and the skeleton were flash fried and presented on the plate as the decoration. This entree was more than big enough to share. The only disappointing thing was the sushi roll. We got the scorpion roll. For $16? you would expect the roll to be more than just 5 pieces! Overall a great experience!
(4)Jon M.
I've been here at least 20 or so times since they've opened and with my past two visits I've been disappointed for one reason or another. Don't get me wrong the food is for the most part consistent and when its comes to Asian-inspired cuisine and sushi it is as expected but the service is severely lacking. If I am paying River North prices for sushi and Asian cuisine that I can get just about anywhere I expect a little more. So let me roll up 2 underwhelming visits into one review. Visit #1: So I went to dinner with 3 industry friends last night around 10pm. Restaurant was about 30-40% full. We walked in and got a table. 1) friend had a 50% off industry card and asked if it applied to the bill or just him. We were told total bill. Ok. 2)I sent both my water glass and soy sauce bowl back because they were dirty. I've never once had to do this. 3)Took about 10 minutes for our waitress to come over and ask about drinks or greet us. A friend ordered hot tea, she came back with box of tea to select, took another 10 minutes after the selection, we were eating by time she got her tea. 4) our water was not refilled once during our meal and only when server was clearing plates did she ask my friend if she wanted a refill on water. 5) we tipped on the pre-discount amount, as we're supposed to, and one of my friends overheard the server say 'wow they left a big tip' as if she was expected us youngish looking industry folk to stiff her on it. Even if the restaurant was at capacity, I would not have expected any of this but the fact that they were near empty by the time we left just made the experience all the more upsetting. Visit #2: I walk in an average capacity Wednesday night and stand at the host/manager reception area as both a manager and host are looking down at their computers. I continue to stand, unacknowledged for what to seems too long, and finally another host walking back to reception area says 'sorry for the delay, someone will be with you in a moment.' I get it, the restaurant is busy, but I'm not invisible and if I am standing less than 24 inches away from you and staring at you like a deer in headlights, waiting to give you my money the least you could say is, 'Sorry for the wait but I will be with you in a minute." No harm no foul. In sum, if you want consistent sushi and other Asian-inspired cuisine, Sunda is fine, but if you want respectable service to go along with the prices you are paying in River North go anywhere else.
(1)Vanessa G.
Great atmosphere, food, and drinks! Definitely need to try the tiger shrimp and red dragon, plus the hibiscus cocktail. Our server was very nice and always made sure we had food on the table or we had an order in! She was on top of her game, so I assume most of the service is like her. It was my boyfriend's birthday and they remembered! I put it in the reservation online but wasn't sure if I needed to remind them. She brought out this yummy coconut cake with a candle and def made his night! Great place to go.
(5)Robert M.
Great place for Asian Fusion. Unique drink menu really had some cool options. Loved the Brussels Sprouts Salad and Avocado Surprise. The desert "Ridiculous" was amazing! Highly recommended!
(5)Steph S.
I have been here at least 4 times and it has been wonderful every time. The drinks are unique and delicious and the sushi is fresh. The brussel sprout salad is a must have!!!! Service is usually good. But it is very loud!
(4)Christopher G.
Atmosphere is hip. Sushi is average and pricey. If the Uni is not top quality, then I question the place. Service on this occasion was not great. Host station not very friendly and server was a bit pretentious, or maybe it was just me. Sometimes it seems a house cops an attitude when it is a popular hit. I think this one is more about location and atmosphere. Sorry, Billy, but I'll be back...
(3)Jamie B.
This place is extremely overpriced. I am over the small plate crap. Restaurants think they can bleed a party of 4 at $22 per small plate (and of course to get the "full experience" you must order 10) and it's acceptable? OVER IT. And dare I say this reminds me of another very popular Chinese restaurant chain's food, except way more pricey? I won't even go there, but you probably get the picture. Starts with a PF and ends with a Changs. $300 for four of us was the damage here at Sunda on what I would call sub-par food. Anyway, onto the cuisine of the evening: -Drinks: Pear Sake cocktail, saketini, some jalapeno something or other. NO stars because there was no alcohol present in any of these. -Rock Shrimp Tempura with walnuts and honey -- this gave me indigestion all night. Avoid unless you are going right home. Very good, but very rich. In fact, I believe on the menu at said restaurant I'm thinking of, this is called Crispy Honey Shrimp... -Brussels Sprouts Salad -- delicious, a must try. This is the one item I rank as stellar. -Sunda Poke -- Seemed covered in some sort of mayonnaise type sauce, I have never had Tuna Poke as "creamy" as this one was, and I wish not to again. -Stuffed Avocado -- this freaking thing was $17.00 and was about 3 bites in total. Our table laughed at how small it was for the price. It was spicy tuna with some avocado on top. AVOID. -Confit Pork Shank -- I have recently stopped eating meat, but the dead animal carcass lovers at the table really enjoyed this $26.00 masterpiece. -Noodles -- this was something that I could have made at home. AVOID. -Scorpion Roll -- It was a softshell crab roll that was so mundane and boring, priced at $16.00 for 5 pieces. Another laughable item at the table. The rolls here are very expensive. Since this one was under $20.00, this one would be considered a bargain at Sunda. In summary: The drinks seemed to have 0% alcohol in them, and they were conveniently priced at least $13.00 each. Oh wait! Even just a Ketel and soda = $13.00. WTH? Our server was outstanding, Michael I believe. A+ for that. I just have a hard time swallowing $16.00 for a 5 piece soft shell crab roll, plain, with no sauce at all. This place is popular and trendy, but as far as food reviews go, I am not impressed. There are so many other great places to go to in the city where you won't feel like you were kicked in the face upon the bill arriving.
(2)Naomi Q.
Great food - Great ambiance & Great Service! My son wanted to go out for sushi for his birthday so we decided to check this place out after all the reviews we'd read. The food is served tapas/family style which in my opinion is great as we like to try a lot of different things. We had a couple of the specialty cocktails and they were delicious especially the peared sake. The brussel sprout salad and sweet potato caterpillar sushi roll were as awesome as everyone said. The tempura shrimp, pork adobo fried rice and panang chicken also had great flavor. They use fresh ingredients and do a great job with the presentation. The server was very attentive and answered all of our questions. For dessert we ordered the green tea donuts which were just "ok" but the "ridiculous" caramel covered ice cream dessert was absolutely delicious! We will definitely be going back!
(5)Kathleen A.
Yes, please. It's a bit overpriced, but everything is prepared perfectly and very delicious. I highly recommend the bang bang! salad.
(5)Mari Y.
I seriously do not understand why Asian food is so darn expensive. Is it the ingredients? I dunno, cuz my mom can make some of the dishes on the Sunda menu the same price for a family as one individual dish. I previously mentioned how I've sworn off sushi in Chicago. Since Sunda is considered a nicer restaurant, I thought I would try to re-introduce myself to chirashi for lunch. This was the first time I've had chirashi with rice instead of the cold radishes. Half of my dish was sushi rice (which was tasty but I think it's because I haven't eaten rice in a long time), 6 pieces of fish, 5 cucumber slices and a little serving of lima beans. This dish was $18. That is the lunch price. WTF. So the kicker is that I went back to work after my lunch and my tummy was pretty angry the rest of the afternoon. It's easy to blame the lima beans but I really think it was the fish. Guess I'm back to swearing off sushi in Chicago.
(3)Jaime G.
Ever wondered what "Asian Fusion" means? Well, gotta try Sunda. Really good food experience with unique combinations of asian ingredients. If you try one thing on the menu - gotta try the signature roll w/Kobe beef over fried sticky rice. Really good and unique combination that makes you want to have more and more. Looks great on the plate and even better in your mouth. Second thing must try is the their spicy "tail of two tunas" roll. The combination of two kinds of tuna, avocado, and the spicy sauce makes it a magic tasting roll. I could eaten two whole rolls by myself. But let's back up. There are a few other unique things to start with like the seafood fried rinds that arrive on the table as you sit down. Incredibly colorful pieces that you hesitate to eat because they look beautiful. But do take a bite - taste like a light pork rind. Also try the warm edemame with a tiny bit of salt. Then order the rock shrimp in tempura batter with mayo sauce and candied walnuts. The one disappointment was the other signature roll with fried tuna and jalapeño. Kind of a bad experiment that tasted like fried fish in buffalo wing sauce and a jalapeno on top. Dessert was also pretty good. Can't remember the custard that we tried but had this ice cream covered in caramel and candied walnuts that was the bomb. Wow. Also, shout out to the white orchid tea from mighty leaf. It was lunch and feeling a bit of a cold so I uncharacteristically ordered tea for drink. Glad i did. Add the really cool (yet a bit trendy) atmosphere and you have a place that you must try.
(5)rebecca h.
Great little place to try. Lot's of different Asian styles (Thai, Japanese, etc.) all under one roof. Here's What to order: AMAZING: crispy brussels sprout salad kimchi soup Chef's selection - sushi GOOD: pancit canton Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
(4)Lamia P.
Loved the food and our waiter was awesome! Gave us some great suggestions. It's a great date spot!
(5)Kyle W.
Great food. Been here quite a few times for various events and had reservations so everything ran smoothly for our party. It is more pricier but that is because it is a nicer restaurant and def worth checking out!
(5)Josh B.
Our favorite sushi place in the city. The service is always great with awesome suggestion on either the sushi or wine. Without fail we always go for the Seaweed salad and shrimp toast as appetizers then order a specialty role or two. The Red Dragon and The Crunchy Pig Hidden Lobster are some favorites!
(5)Beini S.
I've been here twice. The first it didn't really knock my socks off, but I guess I just didn't know what to order. Kobe beef roll: delicious! Simple yet tasty, flavors all blend together into me smiling my face off while still trying to chew, and simultaneously trying to stuff another one into my mouth. Couldn't get enough, I almost didn't even offer to share with my dining partner because I wanted it all to myself. Luckily she's gluten free and couldn't eat it anyway. SCORE. Brussell sprouts salad: oh my god. The sauce is amazing, the brussell sprouts themselves are crispy yet soft, the flavor buttery with a little bite of vinegar or something tangy in the sauce. Get this. Great atmosphere, bar area has open seating as can be expected, the blackberry limeade cocktail is delicious, girly and beautiful to look at. My one confusion is the Rock Shrimp Tempura. To me, it tastes like it came out of a frozen dinner box you can buy from Costco, so I personally don't see what all the fuss is about. Other than that, swanky, pricey, but potentially worth it depending on who you are. Plenty of sushi places in Chicago so I probably won't come back, but I can fully understand why this place has great reviews.
(4)Julia H.
Amazing ahi tuna and grilled pork on the salad menu. Two tail tuna was super delish!!
(4)Lizzie C.
Sunda hosted my organization for a private event in the second floor lounge last night and it was wonderful! The space is warm and inviting, with beautiful wood floors, benches along the walls, and unique pieces of art. They had our powerpoint presentation cued up and seamlessly transitioned to our video which played on several TVs throughout the room. The staff was incredibly helpful and great to work with and made the entire event run smoothly. Our guests enjoyed the drinks and all the amazing food, including the sushi. The event was truly a success and we were so happy to be at Sunda for such a great night!
(5)Dana N.
I have always been a fan of Sunda...the food and service are always spot on. On my most recent trip, I had an AMAZING special roll...the Snow Cap Roll. All I can say is that this should 100% be added to the permanent menu!!! If you go and they have it...order it! Other musts are the Spicy Tale of Two Tuna, Brussel Sprout Salad, Garlic Noodles, Oxtail Potstickers, Crab Crusted Tuna Sashimi and Rainbow Roll. I could go on and on...but you get the idea.
(4)LeeAnne T.
For what it is, I enjoy Sunda. Located across the street from my office, its been a great alternative for large work lunches, noodle takeout, and sake happy hour. Is this my go-to authentic japanese dining experience? No. But they have some delicious chicago sushi aka - meat bombs, and its consistent enough to keep coming back when I am craving asian(ish) dishes and don't want to wait for a bowl of slurping turtle ramen. Pros: - decent service - well rounded menu for all types of picky eaters - handle groups well - fast enough for work lunch
(3)Erica D.
Warm weather is here, the reso lists of River North restaurants are filling up each day more and more. Picture this, Saturday at 300pm.. A bit late to pick up a reso at Sunda for 8/830 dinner. A girlfriend of mine was in town, our palates were craving sushi so we settled for the late 1000 reservation. The summer feel brought us out a bit earlier, arriving at 915 the hostess explained the table wasn't ready for our party of 2. Not a problem we headed over to Bombay Spice for amazing Mango Martini's. Time flew by and we proceeded back to Sunda for the 1000pm reservation. A last minute call from a friend bumped our party to 3. Checking back in, the SAME Hostess that always mans the host stand was there again. She stands around 5'5", Asian, cute outfit but VERY Rude. I really honestly don't get why she's always rude, giving dirty looks and acting like Sunda is the greatest restaurant in Chicago. I fight the urge every time to ask her why she's so pretentious. We had a reservation and it was 1000pm for peet sake, smile!! 20 min. after reservation time, we were still waiting for our table. Other small parties were seated before us but arrived after us, are you trying to make us wait to make a point? Thank god I spotted a friendly face, the sous Chef, Edson.. What a GREAT Guy!! He's an old classmate and friend of mine. He spotted us and informed the hostesses he knew us, immediately we were sat down. Interesting how that works... Roselle, greeted us with a friendly smile taking our order. She was amazing. Knew so much about the menu, assisted us in choosing some awesome cocktails! Sad that they got rid of the White Sangria.. It was the best!!! Bring it back! Edson blessed us with amazing appetizers, all were phenomenal. The Red Dragon was awesome... The BEST was the 'Escolar the great white', you'll literally have a Food-gasm..... moment of silence of it. The Pad Thai was perfectly flavored. After reaching Food-Coma, 3 of us.. 7-8 dishes.. No more amazing food!! Oh but wait, The Carrot Cake, Walnut, caramel dessert... Holy Crap, make room for it!! Overall, Fabulous time. Roselle is Awesome, Edson is the best, Food is delicious but I cannot give 5 stars due to the hostess experience.
(4)C W.
***Vegetarian Review: The blackberry limeade is incredible and should not be missed. The sweet potato avocado caterpillar role is also fantastic. Interior / Ambiance: comfortable and high end trendy. Will absolutely return.
(5)Diana D.
Delicious food. Courteous stuff. An incredible variety of food items on the menu, which i love and expect every time i visit a new place! A little noisy, feels like a sports bar, but for the fresh nice food we found here it was completely not a problem! Thank you! We will come back!
(5)Lucy N.
Sunda is definitely one of the trendiest restaurants in the city. I've been here 5 times and everytime I receive amazing service and usually the chef will come out to tables for guests to sample new things he is working on. I was here for new years and they handed out mascarde masks for midnight celebrations. Unfortunately they turned my face pink! I ended up having to leave early because the paint would not come off :( I called the next morning to explain my situation and the manger was extremely understanding and invited my friends and me back along with gift certificates. Definitely made up for the mishap on nye. When you go you must try the crispy brussel sprout salad which is like the inside of the best egg roll you will ever taste! Also order the roasted duck hash. All the sushi is great too!
(4)Juan A.
I love Sunda!! everything is good here. When I think of great culinary scene in Chicago, Sunda is amongst the top places in my book. Maybe because I love asian food =P But really Sunda's a place that is worthy of praise. If you like food, are looking for something special, Sunda always delivers! We have had too many dishes to write about them all -- we were happy with most of them.
(5)Rebecca M.
When I want sushi, I tend to go with the hole-in-the-wall places, as my experience has been that they normally have the best sushi. Being totally opposite of hole-in-the-wall, I was hesitant to try Sunda. But Sunda, you impressed me! A friend and I made reservations kind of late for a Saturday night, so we ended up getting a really early one at 6:30. People starting filtering in a half hour to an hour later. The place itself looks very contemporary, romantic and upscale. I have to admit that I was expecting a more chic crowd--one guy a few tables down was wearing a baseball cap! I thought that was a bit inappropriate for Sunda. We skipped appetizers and dove right into the sushi. We ordered the Spicy Tail of Two Tunas, Red Dragon, Firecracker and Lobster & Wagyu. Let's start with what I do not recommend--the Firecracker. When we ordered it, we did not realize that the entire roll was fried. The description on the menu makes it seem like only the fish inside is fried. Overall, the roll just lacked flavor. I do recommend the other three. The Spicy Tail of Two Tunas was an incredible take on the traditional spicy tuna. How they get that tuna inside to be so creamy is baffling. The Lobster & Wagyu was the most inventive sushi roll I've ever seen and tasted. Lobster, aioli, scallions and jalapenos made up the inside of the roll, and it was phenomenal. I'm pretty sure wagyu is some type of meat (our server called this roll a type of "surf and turf"). Whatever it is, it was paper thin and covered the top of the roll. It had a nice spice to it, but at the same time, kind of overpowered the lobster. Regardless, a great-tasting roll. And finally--my favorite of the night: Red Dragon. It contains typical sushi ingredients--shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, jalapeno, avocado, etc.--but it was beyond delicious. For dessert, we had the "Ridiculous," which was a large scoop of ice cream coated in a thin layer of ginger carrot cake and drizzled with caramel. Foodgasm. Lastly, the service was good. Our server was very nice and provided great recommendations (Red Dragon and Lobster & Wagyu), but service was a tad slow for a Saturday night.
(4)Rob T.
As a fellow Asian, I want to support Sunda and give a glowing review. But I can't. The good: service was quite good. The bad: the food is overrated. Both the American-style dishes and the Asian-centric dishes were ordinary and portions were small. Sushi was fine but mainly forgettable. For the price you pay, I expected more wow in my palate. Instead, it was just more wow in my bill. That wow included a $20 cake cutting charge that was more than the cost of the cake itself.
(2)Matt C.
What. the. hell...is that "Ridiculous" desert made of? If I had to guess I'd say...unicorn horn and mermaid tears? Certainly something not of this world. Best desert of all time, from the Bing Bang until now. I won't go too much into what it consists of, just take my word that if you eat it you will transcend time and space. The food was all good, stand-outs were the Pig Sticks (how could a stick of pig meat not be good?) and the Ox Tail Gyoza. I felt the Tale of Two Tuna roll wasn't too spectacular - seemed to me just a plain, slightly spicy tuna maki. The short ribs, while delicious, were too fatty for my taste - though the presentation makes you feel like Fred Flinstone devouring a dinosaur leg. Also the service had much to be desired. The girl we had seemed like she just wanted to end her shift and bust the "F" out. We overheard a server the table over that sounded awesome though: explained the menu, talked about the best dishes, and even talked about the awards the Chef received. I guess we just got a dud; definitely not a reason not to check Sunda out. (Read: Get the "Ridiculous" dessert.)
(4)Akta D.
No, not at all. I wouldn't even want to try it again. The staff was disinterested, the food was overpriced and plain. Their choices weren't unique. If you're a sushi fan or even a fusion fan save some money and try some other places.
(1)dina d.
The mochi ice cream desert is amazing.
(4)Shelz B.
Love the food and service, beware of large groups and seating, they tend to make room when there are small spaces. Rock shrimp & the beef lollipops are Delish!
(4)Melissa F.
Sunda isn't the best restaurant in Chicago, and not even the best on Hubbard, but it's pretty good. The atmosphere is cool without being pretentious, and the service is always very friendly and attentive. (We had a British waiter once. It was exciting.) The salads here are incredible - the brussel sprout salad is crispy but light, and the bang bang salad with shaved mango, cucumbers?, jicama, and similar veggies is refreshing and delicious. The sushi roll with bacon is pretty good and definitely unique, while the golden child roll (white tuna, mango) definitely works in practice even better than in theory. -1 star, though, because some rolls are not super flavorful - I have been underwhelmed by the Sunda special spicy tuna roll with sticky rice, since it really doesn't taste like anything! Also, I went on a Sunday night, and although I shouldn't have been surprised (thanks to Anthony Bourdain), the fish did not taste very fresh. I'm very far from a sushi and/or fresh fish expert, and it didn't taste rotten or unsafe to eat, but it didn't taste super fresh either. Even so, I would come back to Sunda, especially since they have a variety of items on their menu that seem amazing and, to a large extent, have proven delicious already.
(4)Sarah C.
A really good date kind of place. Lots of items for sharing & really good cocktails. I had the blackberry limeade and the Grass Tiger - that one is jalapeño; the perfect amount of spice. The Brussels sprout salad was awesome and the oxtail dumplings were also surprisingly delicious.
(4)Nania L.
Great contemporary Pan-Asian food with Latin inspiration! Our server was friendly and energetic, and almost everything we had was delicious! Some of the food was a little on the greasy/salty side (i.e. the green pepper appetizer) but items like the Brussel Sprout Salad and the Oxtail pot stickers had great, unique flavor! We made a reservation through OpenTable and I'm glad we did because the place was packed! The restaurant itself is very loud, so it's not the ideal spot if you;re seeking relaxed atmosphere or quiet conversation... but if you're looking for a fun night out with friends or your significant other, this would be a great choice! (Lots of eye-candy, too.... patrons and waitstaff alike.) :)
(4)Mark T.
Thank goodness for discount deal coupons. If it wasn't for them, I would never get the chance to visit places like Sunda. Purchased a Gilt City voucher a few months ago for Sunda for a five course meal; decided to cash it in for lunch recently. When you walk in, you are immediately transfixed on the gorgeous decor of the space: a large dining room that had different spots for sofa areas and long tables in the middle of the room. Sushi bar was on one side and a private dining area in the back. Everything about this place screamed high class. Now for the menu. As mentioned before, dined on five courses: warm spinach and mushroom salad (the olive oil topping on the salad gave it a lot of flavor); chicken and mushroom shu mai (dumplings...yum), Summer of Sunda roll (liked the avocado in it); Pancit Canton (nice mixture of the egg noodles and roasted chicken), and finally a plate of mochi for dessert. I believe that the Pancit was the best dish of the afternoon...their interpretation of a classic Filipino dish and probably as good as what my Mom usually makes (and that's a high bar to jump over). Another bonus is how the service treated us. I've had many experiences where restaurants would give you less than stellar service if you flash a discount voucher in front of them, but not here. Angie, one of the managers came by early in the meal and welcomed us and assured us that we would not leave the place hungry (which, judging by the boxes of leftovers we had to bring home, was definitely true). Our waitress was polite as well, and when I came to her to ask about an overcharge on the check, she apologized and gave us the correct one. Genuine and no attitude. This place has immediately shot into my top five fave restaurants in the city...and i can't wait to go back to try the rest of the menu.
(5)Liz S.
We go to Sunda about once every 2 months and the food is always great. The standout dishes are the shishito peppers, the pork belly steamed buns, the duck hash, and the adobo pork belly (which we always split because it's huge). The only reason this place gets 4 stars is because of occasionally spotty service. A few times, including our most recent visit, we barely saw our waiter (which was generally ok because runners bring out your food) and we probably sat around for 20 minutes waiting for him to check on us so we could get our bill.
(4)Partha A.
Food was super oily. Everything from the pancit to the eggs with mushrooms. I don't think I'd go back. Seems like a nice space though for something quick. The seat upholstery was old and torn. The place looked like it needed some loving.
(3)CJ H.
My husband and I went to Sunda for dinner last night. I've been there before, but this was his first time. We were both unimpressed with the food. The waiter was good, attentive but not hovering. The bus staff was over the top. Before we had finished our food, they were ready to take away our plates. We felt very rush, like they wanted us in and out as quickly as possible which was odd because they were not crowded. We won't return.
(2)S F.
Ok, so I came back a second time to Sunda, this time for a cousin's birthday and sad to say, my rating of this place has not changed. Couple of highlights from this time's experience: 1. Servers are incredibly busy and may not provide each table the attention it needs - our server took half the drink order and then disappeared to pick up the tab from another table. There were 8 ppl in our group and it was literally 15-20 min between when the first person got their meal to the last person. 2. I ordered the Chilean sea bass this time and was clearly disappointed with the lack of a flavor profile in the fish (and the accompanying cauliflower and tomatoes), felt like I should have ordered the beef long ribs, which were a hit at the table and 10 bucks cheaper!!! 3. Coffee, supposedly from La Colombe, but a friend from Colombia confirmed it wasn't (at least his cup). 4. Finally, given it was a cousin's birthday, we brought in a cake, which was brought out at the end of the meal and served up separately (cut and plated by the kitchen subsequently). Imagine our surprise when we saw a $5 cake cutting charge per person (40 bucks total) on our bill at the very end. When we asked our server why we weren't informed before, she smiled and said it was the restaurant policy. So now, I've had two not so great dining and service experiences at Sunda - I will definitely not be back for a third time!!!
(3)jay c.
Sunda is an elegant food place. I came for lunch. I wanted to look at a full menu but they only have brunch available. I am a big sushi eater and I had to try the sweet potato sushi. Sushi was okay. The server did not provide soy sauce so I had to wait for it for a while. The loompya was a bit oily, but the accompanying sauces were delicious. The service was okay probably because it's a Sunday and staff was not at full force. Everyone should try the toast with foie gras. It was nice. The place was a bit pricy. Next time though. I will come for dinner and try their speciality Asian fusion entrees which they are known for.
(3)Lauren S.
Don't go here to have an intimate, private conversation -- the tables are community-style and makes it pretty loud. That being said, the food was amazing. We ordered several dishes and split them among our big group. I recommend the Kale and Seaweed salad, the Stuffed Avocado (hard to eat, but so good) and the Sunda Rainbow. I had the Blackberry Limeade cocktail and it was really well made - rich, but nice to go with the meal. And the sake drinkers I was with said the sake offerings were on point and delicious choices. Overall, a great group meal!
(4)Kari F.
The rock shrimp tempura was DELICIOUS! I could eat a million. Nom nom nom. Went here for Restaurant Week, again on a random evening, and I have been wanting to come back ever since. It's a pretty swanky place... Nice service, fun food, pretty cool decor, but high prices. I will probably get my maayyne and I to do a date night here sometime soon rather than lunch or after work gathering.
(4)Ari A.
I recently had dinner here and was really impressed! The server was very helpful and explained everything on the menu. We had the Brussels sprout salad per reviews on here, and it was amazing! The whole small plate concept is interesting (albeit expensive). We also had the lemongrass beef lollipops and a sushi roll. I probably could have done without the sushi to be honest. My only caveat is the noise! It was so crowded that I had to practically yell to talk to my SO. They kept playing Zedd and Swedish House Mafia...I felt like I should have been at a club. Definitely need to change the music. But other than that, it was great!
(4)Stephanie L.
Still solid...still rocking...still sleek...still sexy....your definitely staying in the game Sunda after the initial glam of being the new kid on the block wore off... I've been back to Sunda several times. They always have a solid showing. Yes, still a lot of communal seating, which can be good and back. I like to be left alone most of the time...person sitting next to me, please stop staring and listening because your date is horrible. I feel bad for you. I actually went straight sushi the last time I was there. Pretty damn good...was it worth the price...meh...it was a special occasion so I guess so. Wine...overpriced, but hey thats the price you pay to be a aspiring alcoholic in the city of Chicago. I actually like Sunda WAAYYYYY better than the new Roka across the street....still a fan...still a fan, Sunda.
(4)Steve R.
Great ambience and service. I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed with the quality of the food given the hype and price. I get better Sushi at my local spot in the burbs.
(3)Monique B.
The service was fine. We had a sushi roll and entree. I ordered chilean sea bass, a dish I order and cook often. Unfortunately, the fish they served me was white, but was NOT chilean sea bass. I think it might have been butter fish, something that is similar in texture and taste to chilean sea bass, but significantly less expensive. It was ok, but not seasoned very well. Unfortunately, I was on a date, and didn't want to seem like a total prick, otherwise I would have complained directly to the waitress, manager and chef. Instead, I'll just notify others on yelp and decide not to go back.
(1)Christina H.
what we ate- family style ordering for 4 people: Brussel Sprout salad - recommended by waiter and while not something i would have picked out might have been the best thing of the night. get it. Edamame dumplings: very very plain. ginger sauce on the side was good. skip. Braised Pork Belly buns: mediocre at best, pork belly was overcooked and tough. skip. Sunda's Signature Classic Crispy Rice Topped w/ Spicy Tuna: an ok version of crispy rice. served in 4 pieces so was easy to split. your choice but i wasnt impressed. yellowtail and jalepeno: i love yellowtail and jalepeno combinations. im thinking nobu here yall. but this was really not good though the presentation was nice. skip tuna two ways roll: probably my favorite of the rolls we got. get it. firecracker roll: awful. just tasted like deep fried nothing. we didnt bother to finish. definitely skip. red dragon roll: had potential but overall was basically an overhyped shrimp tempura roll. i had 2 pieces of it and one of them didnt have any eel in it. fail. skip. stir fry noodles and shrimp: greasy and nondescript. skip so... with all of that food, the only things i would order again are the brussel sprout salad and maybe the tuna two ways roll. not a good showing sunda. my cocktails were just ok- sakitini and berry limeade (i preferred the berry one by far). restaurant was incredibly loud so much that even at a back corner table we could barely hear each other in our group of four. service was ok but i felt that were not adept in clearing plates / cleaning without being very intrusive into our space and conversation. it was frustrating. i'm guessing people like this place based on the overall 4 star rating and how packed it was last night. but i wouldnt bother coming back!
(2)Erica G.
Phenomenal Asian fusion restaurant in river north. I made reservations for 8 girls for a bachelorette party. The server recommended ordering family style which was perfect! We were able to try lots and it was very reasonably priced. The total came out to 320 and that included a bottle of wine and 5 cocktails. Here's what we tried: Brussels sprout salad - phenomenal chopped sprouts with crispy shallots in a salty/spicy nuoc Cham sauce. Lemongrass beef lollipops - tender meat with some spice. Good but there's lots better on things on the menu Rock shrimp - one of my favorites! Very similar to honey walnut shrimp on Chinese menus Spicy tuna rolls - simple but tasty Stuffed avocado - amazing presentation of Tuna tartare wrapped in a fan of avocados bathed in a Japanese ponzu sauce. Delicious! Chicken pad Thai - my least favorite dish of the evening. It was ok just a bit bland. Oxtail potstickers - loved the tender meat, definitely a great twist on the typical pork potstickers. The server was very friendly and helpful. He brought out a cake on the house for the bachelorette and made sure we were enjoying everything. The cake was dry but it was free so wasn't a big deal. The food came out quickly, it was about 1.5 hrs which is great for a large party. The decor was very modern and contemporary. I will absolutely be adding this on my list of restaurants to return to.
(5)Brian G.
Sunda offers more ambiance and a happening scene than it does food so go in with this expectation and you'll have a great time. The food is quality. The menu is pan-Asian with singular dishes that hail from specific countries like lumpia from the Philippines to Asian fusion dishes that borrowed flavors and ingredients from a variety of Asian cuisines. Our favorites were the seared tuna sashimi, lumpia, duck hash, and kobe beef sushi bites. Many of the dishes like the rolls and sashimi were just ok on the other hand. I would suggest staying away from the more classic type of Asian dishes and trying more of the unique Asian fusion type of dishes. Most of the dishes are intended for sharing so it is great for larger parties and groups. On a Saturday night, this place was brimming with a unique mix of young-ish couples to older parties in their 50's to families with kids to gaggles of girls out for a night on the town. The sound level is not quite stratospheric, but don't expect to be having a quiet conversation with your boo unless you're going to be sitting on his lap and whispering things in his ear. Our server was helpful and patient and we even had to give props to the management team for taking care of us when there was an issue at the table. Fine dining Sunda is not, but for a fun atmosphere with good food Sunda is a great find in Chicago.
(4)J T.
This is my second time here. The food is to die for. I love the inventive takes on traditional sushi rolls. Yum! The restaurant itself is not for everyone. The loud, hip, happening feel can be a bit off putting for us older folk who are just wanting to have a good meal and not pick up a hoochie. The service was lacking slightly this time, but the food made up for it by far.
(4)Francesca S.
Twas a pretty penny Sunda was. Not sure it if it's all its cracked up to be. It was a GNO: Girls Night Out and SUNDA was our first stop. Our waitress was super helpful in picking out our cocktails. Anything with LYCHEE and my second love, ST. GERMAINE liqueur I knew the Lychee Luxury Drop was going to be my choice of cocktail for the evening. Our waitress recommended the Pear Sake. MMM was that great. Both drinks weren't too sweet or too strong. Presentation for both made it even more appealing. My girl and I were debating whether to take advantage of Restaurant Week and their Prix Fixe menu or their house menu. We were given Miso Soup already because the waitress had thought we were going to go with that menu. When we told her we would go with the house menu she said sorry and said the soup was on her. That was incredibly nice of her. The sushi/nigiri menu was so tempting we had to order one of each. Of course we ordered the No You Didn't... The Ultimate Handroll. And yes, we surrre didddd and it was sooo fiiiiiinnne! I wish the nigiri came with more than 2 pieces because the Escolar was so fresh. The flavor was in the truffled shavings and the potato chip as well. Being Filipino I couldn't pass up Loompya. Their version was a high class egg roll. It ain't what my mama makes. What was incredibly disappointing was their Pad Thai. I don't recommend it. I wasn't anything special. We had to send it back because the noodles were undercooked. The second batch was a bit better but we were full by then and not in the mood for it. I was curious on how their Adobo tasted so I had to get it. My friend isn't a fan of pork so it was too much big for her. It also was her first time trying Adobo. I guess the texture and flavor isn't for everyone. I have to say I was quite pleased. The pork belly was so tender, you didn't need a knife. It wasn't too sweet, saucy, or how some make it too sour. I needed white rice with all this meat of course. It sucks it didn't come with the dish so we had to order it. I rate it a 3 star kinda place only because we were treated so well from the moment we walked in. Service here was top notch! If I were to go back I would definitely drink more cocktails and maybe stick to starters and the Japanese menu.
(3)Brandon T.
Really like this restaurant, and that says a lot as it is in River North. I was slightly disappointed that my date's first choice of entree and my first choice of wine were both unavailable, but the other options were delicious. I will definitely be back here as the ambiance and feel of the restaurant were both above par. Great sushi, and pad thai. Enough said.
(4)Roxy H.
I love Asian Fusion. Therefore, Sunda, you have stolen my heart. Where do I start? First of all, Lindsay our server was awesome, sweet and very cool! This place was filled with beautiful people. The crowd kept coming. We were in there till almost 11:30pm and the place stayed busy. We ordered a bunch of small plates. Every. Dish. Was. AMAZEBALLS! The pig sticks, the kale and seaweed salad (sooooooo good), sashumi, ox pot stickers, shrimp (can't rememeber the name but they tasted like bang bang shrimp from bonefish girll), truffle brown rice.... All great!! We had other dishes but the names escape me. There is a gluten free menu, Awesome. The drinks were excellent! Strawberry Fields ( I believe is the name) and this is bad but I can't remember the name of the other drink I had either. Definitely visit Sunda. It's great!
(5)Jack T.
The food at this place is great, but the 13 year old hostesses need to be replaced. They are neither friendly nor attentive. We asked 3 different people about seating, and got 3 different answers. Four stars for food, two for ambiance
(3)Brenda C.
Hands down amazing experience! Our server, Ben, took excellent care of us. Like, he was probably the best server I've had all year and I eat out a lot. We selected a couple of dishes on our own and then had Ben choose a few others to round out the meal. Outstanding dishes: crispy brussel sprouts, escarole with truffle, Kobe beef on crispy rice, and some kinda tuna-pork belly-mango delightfulness. Even the drinks were great...my muddled blackberry adult beverage was delicious. I will definitely be back!
(5)Kristin S.
I met a business associate for a 6:00 PM dinner at Sunda this past Tuesday night. We were seated and our server immediately introduced herself and offered still, sparkling or tap water. The start of the evening was terrific. My friend had wine by the glass and I tried the Walnut Bourbon Manhattan. The Manhattan was smooth and left a lovely, lingering walnut taste. My note to self was to try to recreate this at home. The menu is unique and the night's special, red curry sauce over noodles, cod and shrimp sounded great. My friend ordered the 7 spice Duck and I ordered the special . Both meals were as promised. The food and service at Sunda is terrific. But sadly, we will never be back. About 45 minutes into the meal we realized we were screaming at each other and yet, could barely hear each other. We left as soon as our dinner was done although we would have preferred to stay, have another glass of wine and perhaps dessert. This was early on a Tuesday night and it was unbearably loud. The decor is beautiful but all the hard surfaces only amplified the noise. Sorry Sunda, great concept but once is enough.... my ears are still ringing.
(2)Marissa W.
I've been here a couple times for client dinners. The atmosphere is lively and chic, and on a weeknight it think you could get away with dressy jeans. The food is AMAZING. My favorites are the rock shrimp tempura, pork adobo fried rice and their famous brussel sprouts salad. Everyone raves about the beef lollipops, and while they're good, the unique presentation trumps the taste. Service is excellent and Sunda is ideal for large groups.
(5)Jamison E.
I went to Sunda while on a business trip. The concierge at my hotel had recommended it. The restaurant had a great trendy vibe and since I was alone I sat at the sushi bar and watched the guys make the sushi rolls which was interesting. My waiter was very helpful in giving recommendations of what to order and very knowledgeable about the dishes. I ordered the Bang bang salad (raw ribbons of shaved green papaya, carrots, zucchini, chayote and jicama, tossed in a citrus chili dressing with toasted peanuts and coriander) which was huge and really yummy! I also ordered the Firecracker roll. The highlight of this roll was that it was served with side of what was essentially guacamole which made be laugh but it really worked well with the roll. I'm from Texas and I love guacamole so this was a winner. I guess that's part of the Asian Fusion.' I also ordered a green tea with a hint of wheat? It that was served loose leaf in a personal tea pot. It had a great unique taste. Definitely worth a try. Prices are slightly on the higher side, but definitely reasonable and not over priced considering the quality of food that is being served.
(4)Denise M.
I came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon and while I could appreciate the decor and the atmosphere was very nice (also points for the sleek server uniforms), my meal was .. not great. They do place bowls of Chinese-style chips on each table which is great, so yummy! Don't be afraid to try them even though they look like packing styrofoam, they've got an amazing texture! As for the main course, I ordered miso ramen and was severely disappointed -- broth was not flavorful at all, noodles were weirdly thin and overcooked and rather mushy, and the slices of pork were really big to the point of being unwieldy. And I'm a proficient chopsticks user, I swear!! But yeah, probably the worst ramen I've had ... ever. 10cent Maruchan and Cup Noodle excepted. If you love ramen, avoid Sunda's. I give it 2.5 stars and round up. My rating might go up if I happen to stop by again and order something else -- it seemed like everyone else in my lunch party enjoyed what they had, but weren't amazed. I doubt I'll be back again, though?
(3)Zhiyou D.
The food is very good, so is the atmosphere. But the price? Oh my god, it's so expensive! And the portion is small! I like their pork crispy rice and pork belly something.
(4)Joseph D.
This place is balls out AMAZING. Every time I go there I get the bill and think, "wow, that's more than I planned to spend and it was worth every penny and I can't wait to come back. If you get to Chicago this should definitely be on your list. The brusle sprout salad if incredible. I am picky and high maintenance and this place blows me away.
(5)Mary T.
4th meeting of the Co-worker Birthday Lunch Group (aka my birthday lunch). I wanted to try Sunda for some time and was excited that it was my turn to pick the place. I love these lunches because it's a nice opportunity for some girl talk and a little indulgence. I'm lobbying for the celebration of half birthdays, 6 lunches a year doesn't seem like enough. We started with the rock shrimp tempura and spicy tuna signature sushi. The sushi was fantastic, served like pieces of nigiri; the tuna was minced and served over the glazed rice. There was a nice slow heat to dish and the glaze created a nice, crunchy texture. Sadly, the rock shrimp let me down. The shrimp, served with glazed walnuts and a honey aioli, was too sweet for my liking; I think I would have enjoyed it if there was some spice or savory to offset the sweetness. For my meal, I waffled between the Sunda Set Combo and seared ahi banh mi. I went with the banh mi and had a bit of buyer's remorse watching one co-worker enjoy her combo. My sandwich was fine; the fish was fresh and perfectly seared and the bread was nice and crunchy. The problem was that I didn't glean any flavor from the pickled veggies and spice butter also on my sandwich. I was expecting some complexity of flavors, but was disappointed. The dressing on the accompanying salad was also extremely bland. Like I said my meal was fine, but something I'd make tracks to Sunda for. The combo is quite the steal, for $18 my co-worker got a choice of side salad or miso soup, 3 pieces of sushi, and a choice of 7 hot entrees with rice. There was a ton of food, which all looked quite amazing. The rest of the group got sushi and starters and seemed quite happy with their choice. The space is beautiful, very sleek and modern, but service during our meal while friendly was a bit off. There was a long lag between ordering our starters and our lunch and at lags during other parts of our meal too. It's definitely not an in and out lunch place (or a place you should go without a reservation). We were never offered dessert before the check was dropped, which was disappointing as it's something we usually enjoy indulging in. Overall, I'd give this place 3.5 stars. It didn't live up to the anticipation I had created, but I'm rounding up because I'd definitely come back and give it another crack.
(4)Jessica N.
Sunda is a solid destination for Pan-Asian. Sushi - really good, fresh (though limited selection) Entrees - Unique dishes with good portions for a "scene-y" place Must Try's *Rock Shrimp Tempura app - never fails *Scallop Sashimi - Some of the best scallop sashimi I've ever had, REALLY fresh *Chicken Katsu Curry - Nice spice level, well cooked noodles Service can be spotty depending on server and time of day.
(4)Neha M.
Over-hyped and we waited INCREDIBLY long for everything from the minute we walked in the door. If you have a reservation..waiting 30 minutes for your table to be ready is just ridiculous. The food was no different and came out at a snail's pace and our waiter seemed completely indifferent to us even being there. The food wasn't even anything great..I can't believe I'm reviewing the same restaurant as some of the others before with rave reviews..it was mediocre at BEST! I understand that it was busy, but I've been to busier restaurants than this that have still managed to maintain their overall quality. Very disappointed. Will not be returning if I can help it.
(1)Jeanie P.
3.5 starsish? I love the modern vibe at sunda but I guess there are so many other places to try-- no rush in coming back given the price? I would def try to share all the entrees because the meat entrees just comes out with just meat so it's not well balanced unless you order other dishes. My favorites were the miso cod and braised short rib (sort of tastes like kalbijim) Roasted duck hash was a bit on the oily side. The crunchy pig hidden lobster roll was kinda texturally strange. Diverse menu so plenty of new things to try next time!
(3)Kori E.
I have been to Sunda several times now and each experience is just as good as the last. They have impeccable food in a awesome atmosphere! Today was the first time I dined there for lunch and they have such a great lunch menu! We stared off with the specialty sushi and it was pretty good. Not as much flavor as I had hoped for. We also had the pot sticker type things and those were far better than the specialty sushi. Tons of flavor! For my main, I had one of their box lunch meals! What a great concept. For $18, you get either a salad or miso soup, a spicy tuna or California roll and a choice of a main. I had the miso and the spicy tuna and both were excellent. In fact, I think it was the best miso I have ever had!! I had the Chicken and Pork Adobo for my main and it was absolutely delicious. Very flavorful with onions and peppers. The portion was quite large and I had enough to take home! Definitely a great place for any occasion! Such a fun, trendy vibe and the food is well worth the hype!
(4)Michelle N.
I went to Sunda for the first time last night based on a friend's recommendation. When you walk in you are immediately impressed with the decor. Very cool setting. The menu has so many great options -- it is hard to choose! I ordered sushi and loved the freshness and quality of the rolls. I must say -- he had at least three people come by asking if we were enjoying dinner. The wait staff is extremely attentive! I would recommend Sunda and look forward to going back the next time I'm in town.
(4)Yuan Z.
The cho-men that I ordered was the best among all that I've ever tried in America.
(5)Plant Strong D.
I'm a Veggie Girl & Sunda was the perfect dose of the Chic Chicago Scene that I needed! I eat predominantly vegan and Sunda was no threat to my plant based diet. It's refreshing to know that one of the trendiest restaurants in the city has plenty of innovative options for a veg head like me. I'm seeing a lot more of this as I travel and eat out at some of the nations hottest spots. Veg is in. And when restaurants turn their heads, they are the one's missing out. Sunda's sprawling dinner menu presents no less then 10 dynamic veg friendly plates that include an eclectic combination of exotic flavors, paired with ingredients from all over Eastern Asia. There are, of course, plenty of meat & seafood centric items available as well. Everyone wins. My full review is below. Enjoy! plantstrongdiva.com/apps…
(4)Patrick G.
My loved one and I were traveling from Cincinnati to attend a fashion show on the Navy Pier and were advised by a young fabulous couple to visit Sunda. Good looking out, people! I'll cut to the chase. We enjoyed (shared) a large (off-the-rib) Rib Eye (cooked medium) which was phenomenal. In addition, we each had our own rolls; she had a Scorpion roll and I had the Sunda Salmon roll. Superb. The drinks were simple. I had a Patron Sour. It was a lil strong, but I needed strong - it was gonna be a long night. My lady had the Peared Sake. Our server assured her that it was only a "splash" of sparkling Sake (She wanted no parts of Sake) and that other than that it was standard fare Grey Goose (pear infused), with the Pineapple and such. (Nice cinnamon rim). We both agreed that the soapy taste of the Sake made the drink just *blah*. Other than that, we saw handsome people, great atmosphere, and a very on point staff. Check out Sunda when you are in the Magnificent Mile area. You'll dig it!
(5)Molly C.
There's nothing that is that special about this place. Their sushi is very Americanized and you can get much better sushi in Chicago for a better price. The sake list is standard here. The one thing that was memorable was the service.
(3)ben w.
We went here on Valentine's Day for a family meal, with our 4 year old. No problem, the staff were great. Chef Mike even made kids chopsticks for her. The food was excellent, awesome flavors. The sushi was great, moist. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and quantity. Service was great, excellent ambiance. Eat here!
(5)Brandon B.
Excellent food and experience. Had a great server Christin who really took care of us well. She was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and there when you needed something. Basically what you would expect from a nice restaurant but too infrequently receive. Food line up: stuffed spicy tuna, white tuna, oxtail pot stickers, brussel sprout salad and braised pork belly. My wife hates brussel sprouts but we tried it at the suggestion of the server. Awesome, should be a required food item for all 6 year olds so we do not get tainted on brussel sprouts at such a young age. Would certainly go back again. It is a bit on the pricey side but well worth every penny.
(4)Clayton B.
I visited without a reservation on a Tuesday night and had the option of sitting in the lounge or sushi bar. I didn't want to order sushi so we chose the lounge area. This is a true lounge space as the tables are too low for a meal and the chairs were quite uncomfortable. That being said, it could have been avoided if I made a reservation. The food was excellent. We shared the pork belly steamed buns to start. The buns were fluffy and moist and the pork was juicy and tender. For my entree I tried the Malay style Chilean sea bass. SO good. The fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce was light enough to taste the fresh quality of the fish. The fish was a decent portion I just wish the plate would have included rice or some side to make it more filling. Our server definitely treated us like it was the lounge area. She visited the tavle maybe three times the entire meal. However, everything came out fine and we had what we needed. I will definitely be returning to try the sushi here soon!
(4)Phill C.
Our server told us that a lot of food was coming and he wasn't kidding. The 5-course Gilt City tasting menu was loaded with so much food. Yup I left at the end of our meal with a food baby. We started with the chop chop chicken salad. The salad was light and the peanut jalapeño dressing was tasty. By the size of the salad, we knew we were in for a lot of food. They happily boxed up anything we couldn't finish. If we had actually finished everything, I would've slipped deep into a food coma before dessert. The next course were the apps. The rock shrimp tempura was a really good version of honey walnut shrimp from my favorite Chinese take-out place. Crunchy small nuggets of shrimp with glazed walnuts and a creamy honey aioli. We also got the lemongrass beef lollipops, which were ny strip slices wrapped around some lemongrass. The beef was very tender and was good with the spicy chili sauce. Stomach capacity = 50%. Then the sushi course - a Mushroom Lover's Roll and a two-way spicy tuna roll. One roll for true mushroom lovers and the other for spicy fans. Both rolls were good and very filling. I'm now at about 80% and our main entrees are now rolling out. The Chicken Tobanyang was good, but my favorite dish of the night was the Adobo Braised Black Pork Belly. Hell yah! Two huge mouth watering slabs of pork belly in some tasty adobo sauce. It was pull apart fork tender with crispy edges and I wanted to eat more and more, but had to tap out. The leftovers made for an awesome lunch the next day, followed by some food coma. I had no idea what the dessert would be, since it was chef's choice, but I was happy when I saw the mochi ice cream platter. So full, but must... eat... balls. The mochi was super soft and were filled with some green tea, vanilla, red bean, and strawberry ice cream. My favorite was the vanilla mochi with the hot caramel sauce. At the end of the meal I was at 110% stuffed. The service was great and very attentive. Also as part of of our tasting, the chef de cuisine stopped by our table while we were feasting on the pork belly. I saw that crispy pata on the regular menu and I definitely want to come back to try some more porky deliciousness.
(4)Jasmin V.
Came here for my bday. Reservations at 5. Got really busy around 6. Strawberry Delight - yum I LOVE strawberry drinks. not very strong though Blushing Geisha - good stronger than strawberry drink. Beef lollipops - comes with 5 lollipops. good not the most amazing thing ever. Rock shrimp tempura - basically honey walnut shrimp. very good i love this dish but i wish the shrimp was bigger. i've had bigger for cheaper. Sisig - best dish i had here. not on the menu but ask for it you won't be sorry. basically pork belly with fried egg in the middle. soo good but a bit tiny! Garlic Rice - $5 but SO good. nice and garlicy! perfect with the sisig Ridiculous dessert - good but mostly ice cream covered not much carrot cake. i would get it again though Good birthday dinner overall. I do want to come back but I don't have cravings to come anytime soon.
(4)Ash K.
Quality food & drinks, if you are dining out there in chitown it's a must stop for good sushi & Thai food. Ordered miso soup, bang bang salad, ginger tofu - all delicious & well prepared dishes. They have valet parking outside although staff did not suggest parking. Ridiculous dessert was well done! Servers were accommodating.
(5)Ashley V.
I've been looking all over Chicago in search of great, authentic Southeast Asian cuisine and am really surprised to have found that in Sunda. I usually try to steer away from Asian fusion or any fusion cuisine in general since I tend to favor the original cuisine better. Sunda really does it right though and I am pleasantly surprised! The decor is absolutely beautiful. It feels quite lounge-y at times, especially on weekend nights. I love the set up and there's a lot of different table settings you can choose from (community table, sushi bar, regular table,etc). Now on to the food. Here are some of my favorites from Sunda: - Rock shrimp: crispy bite size shrimp smothered in creamy sauce. And although I used the word "smothered", the sauce is actually used fairly sparingly so you don't feel like you're just eating globs of cream. - Kobe beef sushi: my favorite! Really succulent Kobe beef on top of pan fried sushi rice. Get this everytime I come here! - Pork belly: very soft, very juicy. Always hits the spot. You can order it either as an appetizer in a bun or as an entree if you're greedy and want it all to yourself (and I don't blame you for being greedy, it is delicious) - Crispy Brussel sprout salad: done right. Just get it. Solid South East Asian cuisine. Go try it!
(4)Barry W.
Excellent pan asian cuisine. Some very interesting twists on old favorites. Terrific Pho with multiple meats was a great treat. On the noisy side.
(4)Rachel B.
Have been frequenting Sunda since it first opened, love this place. The Rock Shrimp Tempura is completely unreal. Recently went to Buddakan in NYC and sampled their version...failed in comparison. Literally have dreams of this dish! The Baked Crab Handroll tops the charts as well! Ambiance is equally as appealing. Chic decor with a trendy crowd to match. I wouldn't rate Chicago very high as far as a good scene is concerned, but Sunda is certainly a slight exception! Highly recommend both for a girls' night as well as date night!
(4)Faris T.
Great overall meal for brunch, the Crispy rice with steak and spicy tuna was excellent. I highly recommend eating here. Service was prompt, friendly, and overall provided a great eating experience.
(4)Jin L.
Living in LA spoils you on many things. One of the biggest things is the access to great Asian food. With the hype surrounding this place, one word I'd use to describe this establishment is, "Overrated". Sunda is your typical "asian fusion" place that sells "chic" and "cool" environment at the expense of overpriced subpar asian food. Food: 2/5- We tried was the adobo braised pork belly and it was not good. It looks impressive, but taste wise, it was way too salty and lacked other flavors to balance it out. I don't remember anything else we ordered. Service: 4/5- Everyone from the hostess to the servers and bussers were nice. We had a good time, but were ultimately disappointed by the food Environment: 4/5- It's a nice restaurant. If you're more into eating out at a nice environment over the taste of the food, this place is for you. Value: 2/5- Pricey for what it is. Again, you're paying for the environment, not the food. Return? No
(2)Carmen N.
Truly a fan of this restaurant...and so is all of Chicago! High energy, trendy and lively Asian fusion restaurant delivers beyond expectation. The food is amazing and serving staff very knowledgeable and provided great recommendations. Because of its popularity, be prepared for the noise as the restaurant is usually hoppin'. Plan ahead for reservation purposes.
(4)Aamir S.
Atmosphere and environment are awesome! Food is decent, they need to so a better job highlighting their signature dishes, not the Nobu knockoffs or the Crustacean garlic noodle copy cat.
(3)Courtney W.
My boyfriend and I have been wanting to hit up Sunda forever! We are huge sushi buffs and heard this place was extremely unique and interesting. Our server recommended the Peared Sake to drink. I like sake but I wasn't sure how this would taste. I ordered it and man was it good, I could have had five or six. Made with Grey Goose La Poire, Zipang Sparking Sake, pineapple juice, ginger syrup, and a cinnamon rim it was a fantastic mix of flavors. At $13 it was a little expensive but hey, it was my first time here. My boyfriend stuck with a good glass of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. We started with Rock Shrimp Tempura made with glazed walnuts and glazed honey aioli. We love the rock shrimp at FIsh Bar and this did not disappoint. The serving was quite large and I was pleasantly surprised with the result. The star of the evening? The Lobster Wagyu Roll. Outstanding doesn't even come close to describing how amazing this roll is! I have never tasted anything like it and probably never will again! I've had Wagyu beaf at Roka Akor but when paired with lobster it was like nothing I have ever tasted. The scallions, jalapeño, wagyu sashimi, creamy lobster, and truffle-foire aioli was the perfect combination of excellence. We also tried the Escolar which was under the category "Topped Nigiri Sunda Style". The Great White Tuna came with truffle shavings, a potato chip, and chives. Was it good? Yes. $9 for two pieces? Unacceptable. Macku does better topped nigiri for less and for bigger pieces at that with more creative toppings. I wasn't impressed with The Number Ten roll. It was a tempura roll with shrimp roe, avocado, scallions, cream cheese, unagi sauce, and wasabi aioli. I just wasn't too impressed overall but my boyfriend loved it and I trust his judgement. We also had some signature sticky rice with beef on top. I'm not sure the exact name but the server made sure to point them out. The rice comes with other types of meat and fish on top as well. Generally, try what the server recommends but be prepared to pay. Nothing is cheap here but it's worth a shot. Dessert was also great. We had a wonderful dessert martini made with Effen vodka that our server so kindly split for us without our asking. For dessert we had vanilla bean ice-cream basked into a slice of carrot cake. Absolutely outstanding! Four stars for some amazing signature dishes and drinks. The service was great and attentive and I appreciated the speed at which the dishes were paced. One star reduction for the price and quality of some dishes.
(4)Roxy A.
Updating my review for Sunda! I went here this weekend for Easter brunch and I think the verdict is that I like this place much better in the daytime than at night. Made reservations for brunch here for the fambam to celebrate Easter. (I highly recommend using Open Table to make reservations, plus you can score the points too! woot woot!) It was pretty cool because they sat us at the "Chef's Table" even though we didn't put any special request for it. The starters were really tasty, as a special they had Roasted Pork Bao and it was super tasty..I didn't care too much for the dipping sauces they offered with the bao but when we asked for hoisin sauce it was super delish. We also ordered the Pancit Canton which is a great dish to serve family style. I was really happy with what I ordered...it was so damn tasty. I ordered the pork belly on crispy rice patties. The meat was so succulent and the crispy rice added a nice crunch to it..but once you break into the yolk of the perfectly poached egg that sits on top of the dish...it's over...it just melts in your mouth. Another great brunch dish I'd recommend is the Loco Moco..it's one of my favorite Hawaiian plate lunch meals, but it's perfect for brunch..it's kind of like an islander version of steak & eggs...but better because it comes with rice and is ladled with gravy aka fatty yummy goodness. Another plus for brunch is that they have a bloody mary bar where you have the choice of vodka or soju, they bring the glass to your table & then you head over to the bar to add in any garnishes of your liking (I say bring your glass plus your appetizer plate because they even had kimchi, sausage, tofu, asparagus, and other veggies/items you wouldn't find on a typical bloody mary bar). Sunda is also great for lunch, if you're coming with a group GDine is also a great way to make reservations, they have great prices ($15/person for lunch with a prix fixe menu).
(4)Patrick S.
Absolutely amazing. Loved the set up of the menu, & our server did an awesome job guiding us through it. We went with one or two items from each section & left there completely satisfied
(5)Shruti W.
4.5 stars! This place is worth checking out. Great service, awesome food, and swanky ambiance. It is fairly pricey ($25-30/person with tip), so keep that in mind. Came here with a group of 8 on a Saturday night after making a reservation through the yelp website. We were seated at the Chef's table, just behind the sushi bar. We ordered a lot of food, and we were pleased with all the dishes we ordered. Here's the list of dishes we got: Kale and seaweed salad Crispy brussel sprout salad (highly recommend!!) Oxtail potstickers Duck bao (meh, the one thing that wasn't amazing. especially did not like that they just cut the bao and put the filling inside like a burger instead of cooking the filling in the bao) Malay style sea bass (mmm, the curried cauliflower that came with this was so good) Pork belly (one of the standouts, definitely recommend) Miso glazed lamb rack (also highly recommend) Crab lo mein firecracker roll (unagi and spicy tuna and other yummy spicy things) We definitely over-ordered, and still spent just under $30/person with tip. Yes, it's a pricey place, but the food is worth it and the service is stellar! The place was super busy, but our waitress came by often and was very helpful. I would give Sunda 5 stars if not for my need-to-try-a-place-at-least-twice-before-giving-5Â-stars rule. Next time I'm in Chicago, I'll have to check out their happy hour!
(4)Elizabeth C.
Went here on Sunday and sat at the bar, service was a bit stressed out, could've used probably one more sofa. The food was great, and our server was super awesome and nice and smart, just you could tell she was a bit in the weeds in the beginning of us being there. Overall, would be back and would tell others to go. Service was great despite her being clearly stretched thin, but that's a management issue of not scheduling enough people, I'm assuming, but who knows.
(4)Ellen C.
A little pretentious and overpriced, but good sushi. Wish the portions were a little bigger. Nice ambiance for a 'fancy' night out.
(2)Rita W.
Go for happy hour! It's a great deal! Amazing kale salad. My friend and I got one to share and we liked it so much, we decided that next time we would each get our own! (This was a pretty good portioned salad too!) Really good ribs. We ordered several rolls (um yea it was only my friend and I...don't judge, we like to eat!) Our bartender was our server and he was very nice and attentive. This is going to be my new happy hour spot!
(4)Robert R.
Although recently I've been burned by the trendier eateries in Chicago (I'm looking at you Picolo Sogno) I'd heard enough about Sunda that I thought I needed to at least try it. What better time to do that, than my anniversary. I'm a huge fan of Asian cuisine (and my s.o. isn't) so whenever I get the chance, I try a new place. I did some convincing and viola! Sunda. Here's my review. DÉCOR: The decor is sleek, trendy and clean, yet warm and inviting. Fully reflective of the 'fusion' cuisine. Someone took great care to ensure that sight lines were clear of restaurant apparatus (i.e. wait station computers, dish bins etc.) and that the room was properly lit and kept at a good temperature. SCENE: I'm a firefighter, so this isn't the 'scene' I'm used to, but I felt welcome. Sure, there were the obligatory girls teetering on too-high heels and the suit-clad power ties but the clientele was very diverse and that was something I was glad to see. There were tables of girlfriends out on the town, businessmen and couples of all stripes who looked as if they were enjoying their experiences. SERVICE: When we hit the door we were greeted warmly and attended to like we were family. From the moment we were seated we saw a nice (but not overly frequent or pushy) parade of folks from the gent delivering sushi to someone who I assume is a floor manager of some type. Each one nicer than the one before. Our waiter was knowledgeable, informative and funny. Giving us suggestions about the menu and ensuring we had the best possible experience. FOOD: Here's the reality, I'm not a connoisseur of Asian cuisine, I'm a fan. I like a lot of different things, and as a foodie, even some that make the average person squeamish, but by no means am I hardcore about it. That said, overall, Sunda provided the best meal I've eaten in the last 10 years. I will follow that up by saying in those 10 years I've been to 5 countries and no less than a dozen Caribbean islands, one of which is the culinary capital of the Caribbean. I'm not just whistling Dixie here folks, the food is THAT good. Here's the rundown: To start we shared the crunchy pig hidden lobster roll, which was unlike anything I've had. Yes, it's fairly basic (save the soy paper v. nori) but the flavors we're absolutely on point. I had two pieces of the Escolar super white tuna...then I had four more. They were perfect; cut on the proper bias, a good thickness and the proper amount of rice (nigiri style). If I had one complaint it would be that the rice didn't hold up to the chopsticks 100%. To me? Forgivable. Then we moved on to the Rock Shrimp Tempura. I've had it before, but never like this. It was wonderfully done; sticky caramel from the candied walnuts mixed with honey aioli and tempura shrimp. Then, the main course. Malay style Chilean Seabass, in a 'rub' of coriander, lemongrass, miso and chilis, on a bed of curried cauliflower puree. We both had the same thing, and thank goodness, because there would have been a fight. Hands down the best seafood dish I've eaten anywhere, including the islands. It was as good as any lobster or crab I've had (including the storied Hurricane restaurant in Kennebunkport) and served perfectly. We ended with a complimentary dessert to celebrate (which was a hazelnut fudge cake with cream cheese buttercream) as well as the one we'd ordered, which was the 7 spice pumpkin bread pudding with Chantilly cream and orange caramel. The bread pudding was beyond delicious, the cake was average. If any one asks, they SHOULD put the bread pudding on the menu, at least until spring. Seriously. All in all, I am a Sunda convert. I love, love, love this place. It's worth every penny (which wasn't all that bad, frankly) and is definitely worth your time. Oh, and because it was a special occasion, we were given a very nice card wishing us happy anniversary that also included a gift certificate for our next visit. Which will be sooner than later.
(5)Richard H.
I've heard reviews from people I trust that were all over the board. Personally, I thought the experience was impressive. Not quite five star impressive but I left satisfied with the experience.
(4)Christine M.
So, I was came to the beautiful city of Chicago to visit my sister and can't help but always anticipate new places I'm going to be grubbin at. I came here based on recommendations from my co-workers who came here during a business conference. They just raved and raved about how this place was the best culinary cuisine. So, I said "ok, I'll go see what this place is all about" and sure enough I wasn't disappointed. Dinner (more like sampling) The Beef Lollipops - were carnivore YUMMY. Mmm...I can still taste the sweet marinate on the meat. SO good!! And it's quite the popular dish because I saw a lot ppl ordering it. The Firecracker Sushi roll - Two thumbs up with a kick a spicy kick that is. The Escolar "the great white tuna" - it was good but $9 for two small pieces (?) I'll pass next time. Dessert Ridiculous - Yes, that's what it's called because it's really quite a unique carrot cake dessert filled with Ice Cream. This was my highlight of the evening. Calories on this bad boy - who CARES! It was sooo freakin good that it was worth taking a picture but I chowwed it down before I remembered to take it. LOL! The only con to this place is the prices for the small amount of food you get. I would recommend going for happy hour because a lot of their popular dishes are HALF the price. Ambience was cool! Very energetic and great people watching place.
(4)LARRY k.
This place is terrific. Everything we had was delicious and creative. The short ribs were tender and full of flavor, the 7 spiced fried chicken and the Malay sea bass were also very good as was the oxtail pot stickers. The devils basket had fried squid with more chilis in one dish I have ever seen. Could have had less chilis and more squid but that's all I can say as a criticism. The squid was excellent but they could have put more of them in the dish. Then the desserts were served. All I can say is try the mango tiramisu. Amazing! It a bit loud but all in all the food will compel me to return.
(5)Rachel V.
Sunda is AMAZING. The food is excellent - At first when I saw the menu I thought I'd never find anything I liked b/c I'm a little picky, but when you really start reading and talking to the server you will find tons of delicious sounding items. Everything tastes really fresh and actually HAS taste and flavor - you can just tell it's high quality food. The sushi was outstanding and original without being over the top crazy. Also, for such a new, busy "hot spot," our service was excellent - we had a party of seven people and were a bit needy, but our waiter was patient, had great recommendations for food and drinks, and was really friendly...except that he wouldn't tell us Adrian Grenier was there while we were! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Mike S.
What? Who? Huh? It's always so loud in this place and the music played has got to be some of the most maniacal I've ever heard. Our waitress never came by, the moron pouring water doesn't have the sense to NOT pour water while reaching over your food, and the food comes out cold. I should've tipped less.
(2)Charlotte B.
Sunda's got a lot going on... but I'm not sure it all comes together. The space and the food definitely have a case of ADD. This would all be fine, expect the prices are pretty high and the food is just ok. I probably won't go back.
(2)Benita T.
Our family finds Sunda to be one of our favorite places. The atmosphere is wonderful, the sushi is great and the cocktails are fantastic. Even the Moschi ice cream was good and I had my doubts. The mimosa kits are a definite. Homemade juice purees make you feel like you're drinking something heatlhty!!! On our most recent visit our server was great - friendly, smart and helpful. She made several great recommendations and took great care of us without spending too much time at our table. We really love this place.
(5)Vivian B.
Food was great. Especially the kobe beef. It is expensive and a bit pretentious but the food was great. The tuna sashimi I had melted in my mouth. I would recommend reservations as it gets pretty crowded. Overall delicious!
(5)J W.
Sunda is typically a place that I avoid because it's ultra-trendy and awash with VIPs, but I was really pleasantly surprised. The food was solidly good. A few dishes were stand-outs, like the brussel sprout salad which was excellent (and I don't even like brussel sprouts that much!). The pork belly dish was quite good as well. Cocktails are interesting and pack a punch. Service was good natured and attentive despite the huge crowd in there. It was very loud as other reviewers have said, but overall, I'd certainly recommend it.
(4)SeaChi N.
Came here with a big group. Place is great for large groups. Waitress was accommodating and helpful. We let her order for our table. The waitress kept raving about the James Beard winning fish the chef was known for... Our table thought there were better dishes. Overall the food was good but not great.
(3)Leng H.
We came here after my best friend recommended it for my birthday. Everything was great while we were there. It wasn't until the next day that my husband started feeling very ill. I also had a stomachache but he had the whole nine yards if you know what i mean. My sister works for the FDA so we reported this incident to prevent other people from getting sick. Please do not be fooled by their "delicious" food/service/atmosphere, etc...
(1)Andrew S.
I went to Sunda for dinner on a Friday night with a group of 4, and we had a great night. Our reservation (which we made online through OpenTable) was for 10:30pm... it was all that was available and we thought it was going to be a bit late, but it proved to be the right call. The restaurant was very busy, but the service wasn't compromised. The food was delicious (Rock Shrimp was the highlight) and the vibe was great. All-in-all, a great start to the night and something I've already recommended to friends who are going to be visiting Chicago. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Derek C.
we've been here a few times and have loved it every time. the food and drink is great and the service is excellent. what makes it even better is that you can order items that aren't on their menu. apparently the chef is filipino so you can order things such as seesig (not sure if I'm spelling it right) and they can make it for you!
(5)Matt F.
I went to this place after learning of the chef on the Travel Channel. The food was really good, but also really expensive. Their Shishito pepper appetizer was very delicious. I had never had that type of pepper before, but I will definitely be getting it every time I go back.
(4)Ke M.
Surprisingly varied menu with influence from a few different Asian cultures. I think the experience at the restaurant varies based on what you order (then menu could be a bit hit or miss). I think I'd like it even more if I go back again and have a game plan on what to order. The sushi is high quality and we really enjoyed the pancit. The drinks were good, too. All in all, a unique experience.
(4)Noopur L.
I've been to Sunda several times and my favorite is to just sit at the bar on a week night before 7 pm and order HALF-PRICED appetizers/sushi and the drink special. This is such a steal! You can order quite a few plates and split amongst a few others and feel full enough not to have to sit down for dinner! My favorites are: - Toast and Jam - a wonderful version of shrimp toast...I can never seem to get enough! - Rock Shrimp Tempura - two orders for the table please...so tasty! - Chicken and Mushroom Siu Mai Seriously... if you're planning to go to Sunda, skip the reservation and find a nice spot at the bar/lounge area. You'll save yourself a lot of money!
(4)Mo S.
I didn't even get to eat anything. I sat at the sushi bar waiting 25 minutes and still no waiter showed up, even after asking several times. So u went to the Japanese restaurant across the street where I had an amazing experience. I am a food snob, but the staff in this place seem to be all super snobs.
(1)Rachel R.
I hosted clients at Sunda for a business dinner on May 6th. All I can say is WOW. The food and the service in this place is impeccable. We asked our waiter, James, to keep bringing out their best dishes until everyone had had enough. He also made sure no one's wine dipped below half a glass. He was amazing, the rest of the staff was amazing, the bathrooms were amazing..I just can't say enough good things. This will definitely be a go-to the next time I'm in Chicago- I can't wait!
(5)Selena L.
While the ambience and decor are great, the food was simply underwhelming. The best thing we ordered was the Sunda Rainbow roll and that was average at best. We also ordered: Lemongrass Beef Lollipops, Longevity Garlic Crab Noodles, Summer Garden, Scorpion roll, and the green tea donuts. The noodles were insanely salty! I imagine I would have enjoyed it otherwise. All-in-all a disappointing experience. I simply would not recommend Sunda.
(1)Tim N.
I really enjoyed Sunda. The service was excellent. The menu is very large and varied so it helped our server explained everything and how it was served. The drinks were good and the food was very good but not excellent. However, the prices are expensive. Therefore, 4 stars. I would go back.
(4)Dalia M.
They have pan-fried rice topped with spicy tuna. I could eat this all night long! We had cocktails before sitting down - a yummy, saketini concoction. We waited for our table a few minutes past our reservation and then we were seated. Johnny was nice, attentive and patient with us two silly girls. Along with the tuna, we had the steamed buns with the pork belly, salmon skin roll and spicy edamame. Washed this all down with a bottle of sake. I was obsessed with the decanter he used for our sake. It's a trendy, city hotspot with attractive people, loud music and dim lighting. Fun spot to hit before a night out!
(4)Saji P.
Nothing bad. But nothing really good either. For the money you're plunkin down, you'd like to have food that is memorable in a good way. Menu descriptions were really enticing. Flavor of the dishes just didn't deliver and live up to it. I wish it were better.
(2)Sean F.
By far the best filet mignon I've ever had in my life. The service was also really good, and they are very quick to refill drinks. Would definitely recommend!!
(5)Symone H.
I ate at Sunda this past weekend with my family. It was quite delicious! Lee really enjoyed the Crazy Rice and Drunken Noodles. The restaurant was packed but I imagine that Chicagoans cannot pass up this place! I did have some difficulty making a reservation though. I had to call three times and was placed on hold at one point for 15 minutes. However, my experience at Sunda was worth the difficulty.
(4)Greg S.
Great sushi, and nice atmosphere. Server, Allison, was friendly and upbeat. Would have like the music turned up a little as there is a lot of crowd noise, so you really could not here the music except in the stairwell.
(5)Sejal P.
Went to Sunda with group of 14 for my birthday celebration and it was amazing. Excellent tasty food - we had sushi and some Asian noodles. No doubt shrimp tempura was best and dragon rolls. I would come again, just a little $$$ so not as often.
(4)John B.
Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 3.5 Food: -Creativity:4 -Presentation: 3 -Flavor: 2 -Execution: 2
(3)Amber G.
My friends and I were in town for a birthday celebration and had high expectations for Sunda! However, we left a tad underwhelmed. The restaurant is low-lit, trendy, and modern. But the service and food left something to be desired. Food: We got a bunch of small plates to share... so maybe our mistake was not going for any of the main dishes, but nothing we ate was super memorable or amazing. The ones I can remember are: - Steamed duck buns: This was probably the best dish I tried. Loved the traditional Chinese duck/hoisin flavors. The bun was perfectly soft and warm. - Lemongrass beef lollipops: thin sliced steak wrapped around a stick. Not memorable. - Tofu pad thai: Very good. One of the better pad thai dishes I've had in a long time! - Lobster and wagyu sushi roll: Good roll, but not outstanding as you'd expect the ingredients to reflect. And at $23, not worth it frankly. The service was rather annoying... we told our waitress at least 5 times that it was our friend's birthday, expecting her to come out with a small dessert/candle. Yet every time we reminded her, she'd come back and ask if we were ordering dessert or needed anything else, almost like she'd forgotten again. It ruined the surprise and the birthday girl caught on fast that we were asking for a special birthday dessert for her. No bueno. Overall, nice ambiance, decent food with plenty of variety and options, but underwhelming.
(3)Reg W.
Came here with a friend I haven't seen in a while. We were underwhelmed. First, there is no waiting area. Second, moment you walk in, the noise volume hits you in the face like no other. We couldn't barely have a conversation. We're here to dine, not to be in a club. Third, I ordered the salmon and it was overly salty. It could have came with a bowl of rice if they intended it to so salty. Gross. My friend had the pad thai and it was okay. The tofu in it tasted like plastic. The coating they had on the tofu was unnecessary. Forth, it is way overpriced. I would go elsewhere.
(2)Tony D.
Food was great, but I'm not familiar enough with Sake to tell you if it was good or bad. That being the case, next time I'm going with a mixed drink instead of drinking in straight. Rolls were a little pricey, but really good. Red Dragon was the table favorite. Tiger shrimp appetizer was big enough for 3 people to share. The brussel spout salad was also great. By far the star was the crab pasta dish...simple and excellent. Also had the green tea donuts...not a fan. We were so pleased with the meal, the dessert just weighed us down. They were doughy and heavy. I suggest you resist the urge for dessert.
(4)Alice T.
I normally don't feel the need to review places outside of Seattle, but I made myself write a review for Sunda (even though it has been a few months now) so that I can share my love for Sunda's brussels sprouts salad. We had a few dishes (one noodle mushroom dish, uni nigiri, maybe another thing), but this by far stands out as one of the most memorable dishes I've had in my life, and that's not hyperbole folks! The brussel sprouts salad was prepared such that many of the "leaves" of the sprouts were freely floating (they were no longer attached to the stem), which made the dish light and airy. What tied it all together was the dressing, so flavorful with sweetness and acidity that worked delightfully. If you like brussels sprouts, this is a dish you CANNOT miss. The other dishes were well prepared (but you know which dish was my favorite), the ambience was hip and new, and the service was friendly and attentive; what you would expect of a restaurant that looks the way it does with the price points they offer. It was all on par with my expectations, except the brussels sprouts salad blew me away (if that wasn't obvious).
(4)Jenny D.
Sunda was well worth treking half a mile in the cold, windy city for dinner. I had their lobster roll with wagyu beef on top plus garlic noodles with crab, and end the meal with their delicious Sunda sundae. I cannot eat a whole piece of sushi in one bite, so I took half a bite, and real lobster fell down to the plate. Scooped that up real quick with my chopsticks, and nom nom. I appreciate that they didn't put the imitation stuff and call it lobster roll. It is brilliant to put the best of land and best of sea meat in a roll. Garlic noodles dish has plenty of crab in it. That is one thing I love about the east coast, you can get actually real crab meat in abundance. The garlic noodles was a little wet and not enough seasoning for me. I had to add soy sauce to it. Personally, I prefer garlic noodles at Anqi in Costa Mesa or Crustaceans in Beverly Hills. Sunda sundae, which is their version of Philippino halo malo is out of this world. I never had avocado ice cream before. So many flavors to enjoy. It nicely rounded up my dinner in Chicago.
(4)Susie C.
Reservation for brunch here for a Saturday = easy. I had brunch here with a friend on Saturday at noon. It wasn't crowded so seating was easy. This is a cute and hip restaurant in downtown- I enjoy the atmosphere. Our waiter was nice. I was meeting my pen pal for the first time here so we stayed for awhile to chat. The restaurant started to become crowded around 130pm which I was very surprised. For our entree I ordered the smoked salmon crab cake benedict. It was DELICIOUS! I was craving it hours after eating it. It only came with one benedict and a side of salad.. It was a bit expensive but the taste was worth it! I wished I ordered one to take home. My pen pal ordered the crab noodles which he enjoyed as well. My 5 star rating is only limited to brunch..but I definitely will come back to try out the dinner menu (if I can get reservations since I hear it is very busy for dinners). I really like this restaurant so far!
(5)Jennifer C.
I went her last week for my stepdaughter's birthday and we had a lot of fun. To drink I had the blackberry limeade which was a delicious alcoholic beverage. We got the red dragon roll with more shrimp tempura on top instead of tuna and that was delicious. My husband got the duck for an entree and I got the short ribs they were both ok. Overall I would go back for drinks, sushi, and apps. Those are really good, but I would skip the traditional entrees.
(4)Tiffinie F.
This was one of the most amazing times I've had in a long time. We went in a group of 6 friends. Food was great! Our waiter Johnny was attentive and sweet. Eduardo kept our table flowing too! We sat at the Chef's table an tried some amazing dishes. The brussel sprouts salad was great. Nigiri plate was fresh! I had so many things I didn't know the exact names of as the chef brought them to our table however I can't say I had anything I didn't like.
(5)Alana W.
Our server Wendy was a delight. She was very knowledgeable with our food choices and drinks. She made our experience better then what we expected. She recommended the tiger shrimp, spicy crispy tuna rice, and waygu roll and by far exceeded our expectation. We will back for the great service, food, and drinks.
(5)Isaac S.
We were lucky to get a reservation for Sunda on the Sunday (haha) after Valentines Day. We started with the Kalbi Wraps, which were unbelievable. The roti went perfectly with the Kalbi. This first dish gets a 4.5/5. I ordered the NY Strip Steak and my girlfriend ordered the duck fried rice. The steak was ordered medium and it was just perfect. Not many other adjectives to use for it. The accompanying dipping sauce was a great marriage as well. 5/5. The duck fried rice was very good, but not a standout. I recommend ordering this as a shared dish and not a solo entree. This dish gets. 4/5. Come to Sunda. You will not regret it.
(5)Aaron L.
4* Beef Lo Mien 3* Lemongrass Beef Lollipops 3.5* Rock Shrimp Tempura 4* Miso Soup with Oxtails 2* Summer of Sunda Roll 3.5* Number Nine Roll
(3)Marisa T.
Discovered this little gem while in the need for sushi. This place was perfect. The decor is beautiful! My friend and I were dressed casually; however you can also dress to the nines and not feel out of place. It was quite pricey...definitely a place you would go for a special occasion. However, I cannot wait to be able to go again!
(5)Naz G.
can we please talk about the Brussell Sprouts salad...to die for! Being that i'm from LA where you have amazing sushi restaurants everywhere, i must say i was disappointed with chicago's sushi selection..just not enough great sushi spots. Glad to say Sunday is among my top 2 favorite sushi restaurants out here...im here too often.
(4)Sam H.
The food was great the service was excellent but also was ridiculously expensive I would think twice if you live on a budget.
(4)Rosa W.
Our server was impeccable along with the guy helping her serve and clear the table. We were here for my boyfriend's 30th birthday with his best friend who flew in, his siblings, and parents who are the very traditional type that rarely eats out at a restaurant and if they do, it's usually a causal place. The sisters wanted a new place to try so I was the one who picked this place, thinking it would be something the parents and everyone else could enjoy. Sushi was okay- I could prob get sushi anywhere like that for half the price. I did enjoy the lemongrass lollipops (something diff that you don't usually see), very moist and the dipping sauce was a great accompaniment. We ordered two of everything - tiger shrimp tempura (I think I ate more walnuts than anything, but the sauce was good, not too sweet as some are), bbq grilled kimchi octopus (flavorful, nice charred taste), coconut sea bass (great fish, coconut juice wasn't as flavorful as I thought), adobo braised pork belly (very tender and this was the dad's favorite), smoked salmon rice crisp (just typical, not something I would recommend, no pizazz about it), steamed buns, pork belly & duck (a lot of sauce, not enough meat), drunken noodles, crazy rice, and pork adobo rice (all were great, esp the crazy rice since it had the lobster - fried egg on both those rice dishes was perfect). There may have been a few more dishes, but I cannot recall now..we ordered a lot! A few of us also ordered miso soup, I did not but the mom said it was so salty and kept pouring water in everyone's soup. I just thought maybe she was over-exaggerating but I got a spoon full of my boyfriend's and it already had the extra water and I have to admit - that thing was suuuuper salty! I'm not sure what happened with their soup. On to the cake, that I picked up at a Greek bakery. As soon as we walked in and the hostess greeted me, she saw me with the cake box and told me off the bat that there's a cake cutting/serving fee of $3/person. I do appreciate the fact she told me upfront but I obviously couldn't decline and run the cake back to the car (since this was clearly a b-day dinner). At the end of our face stuffing feast, the server brought the white choc mousse with raspberry and choc cake out with candles that I brought and then she took it back to get it cut and we waited over 15 mins for it be brought back out. We were all getting antsy and kept wondering what happened to the cake. Both the server and her guy helping kept wondering where our cakes were bc they looked over at our empty and cleared out table and we looked at them for the cakes and then they kept looking back towards the kitchen.. So then our server finally runs back and she came out and told me there was misunderstanding from the kitchen and they were waiting for her to go back there but she told them to go ahead and bring it. She then apologized for the wait and said they would only charge the cutting fee for half of the people. Keep in mind, we had 10 people in the party - 9 adults and a 3 yr-old who waited so long for the cake, she actually passed out in her mother's arms by the time cake slices came out. So we were charged $15 instead of the $30 to cut the cake. I do think it was a bit absurd, but at the same time I can understand something like this. They did however, take the fruit off the top and placed it on the slices that were served, so that shows that actually put some effort and justice in the cake cutting/serving fee. In the end, they also gave my boyfriend a $10 GC as a bday gift - nice gesture! To conclude, positive vibes to the server and her helper and how tentative they were with clearing out the table and drink needs. Some food was mediocre, salty, and some were superb. I just know what to order and not to order for any future visits if any.
(3)Leang E.
Another spot on my list that I got to cross off, and this time I'm glad I waited. I brought my friend here for a birthday lunch on Saturday and it felt like we got the whole place to ourselves. We had kick started everything with the Mimosa Kit, and went to town trying all the different juice combinations. We ordered up the Bi Bim Bop, Sweet Potato Caterpillar, and the Firecracker. My friend actually spotted the sous chef, Rijay, and knew him from high school and so he came over and I got to meet him. He told us about what he'd been up to and what the restaurant is like on the evenings and other days. He served us up the Signature Crispy Rice dish in addition to very refreshing sake drink. This was on top of our already fabulous meal. This Signature dish was pretty amazing and nothing like I've had before, such a small change but a huge difference. My friend and I couldn't stop talking about having to come back, especially at night with a different ambiance.
(5)Stephanie G.
Very cool atmosphere. My husband and I had dinner here on a busy Saturday night. The following are the items that we had, which were all soooooo very good: Tail of Two Tunas (a must!) Chicken Pad Thai (some of the best in town) Adobo Braised Pork Belly Chilean Seabass Pineapple Cake We shared everything. There was a ton of food. Our server was attentive and was great at explaining the dishes and making suggestions. We were staying at the Hampton Inn hotel on illinois, and this place was very close and within walking distance. So glade we chose Sunda for dinner!
(5)Chris W.
INCREDIBLE. Come hungry. The menu is amazing. I'm going eat myself into a food induced coma. There's so much to choose from. As I write this, I've only finished my appetizer. The atmosphere is amazing. Place is packed and for good reason. Sat at the bar (which is full service). They have a great list of original cocktails. The bartenders are mixologists here. Try the Sunda Old Fashioned if you're into bourbon. I had the shiitake dim sum. I inhaled it. The crispy brussel sprouts come highly recommended. There is so much to choose from. Did I say that already? I followed it up with the Lobster/Wagyu Sushi roll. OMG!! Seriously. It's the most amazing thing I've tasted. The Escolar was a 2-piece, delightful and most unique sushi I've ever tasted. I'm now running it back with the Crunchy Pig / Hidden Lobster roll due to the peer pressure of the person sitting next to me. It put me over the edge. Thanks to Dom behind the bar. He really knows customer service. I can't wait to come back again.
(5)R B.
My favorite restaurant in Chicago!!!! The food is consistently good! I know I will never be disappointed when I am going there to eat! I love the vibe, it gets really loud in there but that kind of adds character to the restaurant! They have amazing cocktails and what stands out most of all is that their service is excellent!!!!! The staff at the door and the servers are all polite and friendly ! This restaurant has class without compromising on service ! I know how a lot of places have these pretentious people working for them! Not this place!
(5)Jason N.
Got this as a recommendation from the Concierge desk at the hotel I was staying at and decided to give it a try. Was able to walk in and sit at the bar with full dinner menu available. There are also small tables at the end of the bar that would allow a small group to sit and eat. The staff at the restaurant and bar were great. They were helpful, fast, and attentive. Much better than most places with dinner service at the bar. However, while the service was great I was a little disappointed on the food. I went with the seared duck great with the kimchee drizzle. The duck was well cooked, the sear created a good crust with retaining a juicy interior. The kimchee drizzle was ok but nothing specie or outstanding. As a side note since the kimchee is water based and duck fatty there is a fair amount of spatter from the hot plate it is served on, white clothes beware. The foie gras was creamy and well made, but not super rich. The nigiri was okay. I went with a few of my common choices that I use to judge sushi service. Tako was firm but not chewy, well done. The maguro, uni, and sake was fairly standard, nothing special either good or bad. The ikura was firm with a good amount of salt and rich flavor. Rice was average with a su that was fairly midline. The saba was slightly mealy and tasted more of vinegar rather than of the mackerel. Overall the duck was a good serving and well cooked but nothing special. The sushi was hit and miss, the ikura was well done, others average. The price was higher than what I would expect given the quality of the food. The service was excellent, but I would not return for the price and the food.
(3)Emily J.
I've been to Sunda on a few occasions for work. The owner of Rockit Ranch Productions (which Sunda is part of) is also a board member for the organization I work for, the American Liver Foundation Great Lakes Division. Every time I've been to Sunda so far, I've been for a board meeting and eaten in their private upstairs room. The private upstairs room can comfortably seat 40 people yet it's still comforting and inviting. I'm sure you could fit more. There's a bar in the corner and usually one or two staff members work it during our meetings. They are always super cool and very attentive people. I've never met a staff member at Sunda that I didn't really like. There's a flat screen on one end of the room which is perfect for sharing presentations or videos. The space is great for any meeting - it's secluded so there's no lingering noise creeping up from the downstairs dining room. Now on to the fun part....the food! As we go for board meetings, they usually serve us a prix fixe menu of sorts in a family dinner setting. We're all just passing around dishes and serving ourselves. The table service sets the perfect tone for the meeting as it's closed-door. That said, we have the best board members so doing a family style anything doesn't feel odd in the least. It makes for a great and intimate setting. On to my favorite menu items.... - lemongrass beef lollipops - brussel sprout salad - any sushi they put in front of me (I am never the one to choose the menu if the staff get the opportunity. Thank God, I have colleagues who enjoy good food as much - or more - than I do!) To be honest, I've never really noticed the main dining room as I'm always just walking through to get to the private upstairs room or to leave after the meeting. I've only ever really noticed how crowded it gets between when I enter the restaurant and when I leave. Obviously, it's that good!
(5)Danielle J.
Best sushi EVER!!!!! Super cool atmosphere with great food. The spicy edamame is a must try!!! Got in pretty quickly even though they were very busy. Highly recommend and wish I could go back!!
(5)Jamar T.
Sunda is probably my favorite place to eat in Chicago and I will miss it! The food and drinks always consistently good. The service is fantastic and I really enjoy the environment overall. My most recent visit here was with a large group of friends for my farewell dinner. I called and reserved seating ahead of time and we were seated at the chefs table. I don't remember our servers name but he was awesome and very attentive for such a large group. The head chef also came over to introduce himself and brought special appetizers for the table which was really nice. It was a really great experience! Sunda really has their business figured out and left a lasting impression on me. I will continue to recommend them to everyone I know visiting Chicago!
(5)Kat R.
I made reservations for nine WELL in advance (January) and the service we received regarding our reservation was ridiculous. At 9, the rest of the party was running a little late and we were informed that we would be seated as soon as half of the party arrived. At 9:05, six people had arrived and we approached the hostess to inform her that half the party was here-- she bluntly informed us that she was now refusing to seat us because she had just given our table away. When she was questioned regarding her statement that she'd be seating us as soon as half the party arrived just five minutes ago, she shrugged her shoulders dismissively. Unacceptable. Do not say one thing and do another, especially when it's only been five minutes since our reservation time. We were forced to wait one hour for a table, and multiple times the hostess would point at random tables and say 'just wait until they get up, then we'll seat you'. Yeah, none of those tables were going anywhere anytime soon. Once we were seated, service was slow. Our waiter was barely there-- we received better service from the bussers. The food was excellent; the crispy rice with tuna and jalapeño were amazing, as were the firecracker rolls and edamame. However, the rude service regarding our reservation and unapologetic attitudes (they didn't care that they made us late for our next reservation) are keeping me from ever booking with them or returning to their restaurant, especially for the money we spent there. One star for the food, that's it.
(1)Rajmohan R.
Great food great ambience !! If you wish to try authentic Asian food this is the right place . Having said that the price is bit on the higher range but it's worth for the food they come up with ...
(4)Vaibhav V.
While this restaurant boasts an amazing vibe and a perfect date setting, we go to restaurants for the food -- and the food definitely falls short. Expect overpriced, small portions (even relative to other fancy restaurants). Shiitake Edamame Dumplings (5): 4/5 -- This was a pretty solid choice. Pretty flavorful, and the accompanied sauce was excellent. Crazy Rice: 2.5/5 -- The crazy rice wasn't crazy enough. The dish combines lobster, crab, and chicken in an flavorless manner. You would think they would add more spices to this dish or something. Red Dragon: 2.5/5 -- Again, not the best sushi in the world. If I pay $20 for a roll of shrimp tempura, I expect a wow factor and warmth (I mean tempura means fried after all). Unfortunately, I got neither. If you want incredible sushi at good prices, there are many other places (I'm thinking of you, Kai Sushi). Definitely won't be here again.
(3)Gaby G.
A last minute choice on a Sunday night. We were not disappointed! The mushroom salad was absolutely amazing! Hearty and filling. We had the sweet potato roll and the "tale of two tunas" roll and they were both perfectly crafted with a clean yet flavorful finish. The Thai ice cream desert was well worth the hefty price tag (grape ice cream was to die for!). I will definitely be back to try other specialty sushi, nigriti and futomaki...
(4)Daniel L.
Three of us were looking to grab a quick bite within walking distance and noticed this Asian Fusion restaurant on the Yelp App. It was already late in the afternoon and we were the only customers at the restaurant. The exterior had the looks of a warehouse and the interior was simply stunning. The venue was huge and lounge-like. There were shades of brown matted and polished across the vertical floor with yellow-colored lighting and large bouquets of flowers to exude a cozy and modern atmosphere. The chefs were Filipino and the menu had an assortment of Asian dishes of various modernist interpretations. The complimentary Shrimp Chips were fresh, crisp, and quite addictive. We also started the meal with Edamame ($5) that arrived charred in flavor glazed with sesame oil and sesame seeds. It was delicious. We also shared the Kale and Seaweed Salad ($14) that came with Japanese mustard, toasted seaweed, carrot, seaweed, cabbage, pickled cucumber, mint, basil, red onion, pickled beet, radish, and sweet chili lime vinaigrette. It was fresh, crisp, tangy and sweet in every bite. The price was high, but recommended. Unfortunately, the Oxtail Miso Soup ($8) had an abundance of hand pulled oxtail meat, but the soup was too salty. I had a hard time finishing it. My entrée, the Longevity Garlic Crab Noodles ($15) was tossed with Lump crab, lomein, toasted garlic, and scallions. The noodles had a persistent garlic aroma, and the dish was filled with lots of chunky fresh crab that was pleasing to the eye and taste buds. This was one of the best garlic noodles I've came across. Highly recommended. Our dessert, the Seven Spice Pumpkin Bread Pudding ($9) was amazing. Every spoon came with the flavors of caramel, liquorish, cinnamon, candied ginger, shaved orange, mint, and whipped cream. The Bread Pudding was soft, and easy to cut into. Service was highly knowledgeable, very friendly, professional, and prompt. Our water refilled without asking. Extra plates were provided and our table was kept clean as we transitioned from one plate to the next. Normally, I'm not a fan of Asian Fusion cuisine so I don't frequent restaurant of this genre. I must say, I was thoroughly impressed from the beginning to the end. There was a range of moderate to excitable wow factor from the dishes and the exquisite décor that made the entire experience memorable. My friends had their sushi items and bento boxes and kept saying, "OMG, this is good!" as we dined and chatted. The Oxtail Miso and the steep prices were reasons that they didn't receive a 5 star rating. One of Chicago's best. I'd love to return to try their Ramen, Oxtail Rice Porridge, and Pancit.
(4)Shradha A.
Great lunch option too - not as loud as dinner time. Have a full gluten free menu with many many options! Awesome sushi!
(4)Chi N.
I got the signature crispy rice with tuna and kalbi wraps. The crispy rice was good, though not amazing. However, the combination of kalbi on roti bread in the kalbi wraps was bomb, beautiful and delicious. Asian fusion never disappoints me. 4 stars because it's a bit pricey for the portion
(4)Anthony M.
SCENE & BE SEEN This is one of the cool places in Chicago. Reservations are highly recommended unless you want to try your luck & just show up. When you first walk in you immediately notice the decor and it looks rustic elegant. The hostess station is under this giant circle light which I thought was really unique. As we were taken to our table, we walked by the beautiful sushi bar. The sushi chefs were prepping for a big night & all of the fresh fish looked amazing. The sushi bar looks like it would be a fun place to eat at. I love to be where all the action is in a restaurant, so maybe next time. Our table was a cute small round table perfect for the day after Valentine's. Our waiter Michael came over & gave us a quick overview about the concept. He mentioned that the dishes were smaller like tapas & meant for sharing. This was great advice & we decided to order with that in mind. I must take a moment to point out the service. Our waiter Michael was fantastic. He was the highlight of our dinner. His knowledge of every menu item was simply amazing. He not only displays this professionalism with our table but with all of the tables around us. It was fun to listen to his flawless descriptions. Not once did he stutter or stop to think about what to say. They are very lucky to have a dedicated waiter who showcases their dishes extremely well. I MUST say thank you to Victor who kept our table clean, water glasses full & napkins folded. Victor is a gem. He politely asked if we were finished with our dishes before ever making a move to grab them. He also refolded the cloth napkins if you got up to go to the bathroom. That is so old school. After returning from the bathroom, I looked at my wife and said, "What happen to my napkin?" And she informed me how Victor came over to fold it. He mentioned to my wife, "It just looks better!" Thanks Victor! It is this type of service you pay for and expect from any fine dinning restaurant. Michael & Victor made our experience amazing here and should be the model for every restaurant to copy. Prior to coming here I checked out the menu & read other reviews. I also sent out an email asking for advice and the one item that kept coming up was the Rock Shrimp Tempura. I must say it was delicious. There was plenty of shrimp & they were really tasty. It was probably the freshest tasting shrimp I have had in a while. I really loved the creamy honey aioli. It wasn't over powering but just the perfect amount of creamy sweetness. The dish worked on so many levels including the candied walnuts. Next we wanted to go with some sushi. This was a task because the sushi list is quite extensive & unique. We kept running our choices by Michael. He was completely honest with us, which I love in a waiter. We finally decided on the "Spicy"Tail of Two" Tunas". The roll has Yellowfin with pickled jalepeno, escolar, fried shallots on top and a spicy mayo. We love stuff extremely spicy so we requested to have extra jalepeno added in. The chef added it but he removed the veins and seeds where all of the heat is located. That was a little of a let down but we will survive. I loved the suggestion from our waiter Michael. He told me about wrapping the sushi in soy paper and not seaweed and I loved it. I'm a huge fan of soy paper now. I loved the pace of our dinner. We were never rushed to put our order in. We kept one of our menus and kind of decided where to go after eating our prior dish. This made for an enjoyable dinner. I hate when a table gets slammed with a bunch of dishes. It's hard to enjoy and appreciate each dish. Since we had been doing all surf we decided to hit the turf. Another highly recommend dish was the lemongrass beef lollipops. It is NY strip beef that is wrapped in lemongrass with a ginger citrus sweet glaze. The steak was very tender with a dipping sauce I enjoyed. I must talk about the presentation of the food. Every dish was laid out like a piece of art. I did snap some photos but the lighting wasn't the best. So hopefully you'll have a chance to enjoy them. At this point we were completely stuffed but highly encouraged to get dessert. We went with the "Ridiculous" which is vanilla ice cream wrapped with ginger carrot cake tempura. It's deep fried, then topped with walnuts & carmel sauce. It was the star of the show for us. It was the most delicious amusement park dessert ever and I say that with great respect for the dish. It was everything we anticipated but more. The smell & taste were complete perfection. I would stop in the lounge here just to have this to end my night & I'm not a dessert person. It's the perfect spot for a date night or group dinner. It's a place that's cooler then you & still let's you hang out. It's a place to be seen and Scene!
(5)Monica B.
I've been here several times, but recently came back with a big group of friends. The scene is trendy and the people are beautiful. Lighting is dim and music is loud, but not too loud where you can't hear each other and hold a conversation. We had a 9pm reservation on Saturday for 9 of us, and were seated 20 minutes early at a great long table in the middle of the restaurant. Our server was great (forgot his name)! We started with cocktails and I absolutely loved my Lychee Luxury Drop. Combined with St. Germaine and lemon juice, it wasn't extremely sweet, just how I like my drinks. The hint of wasabi was great, although, one of my friends wasn't a fan. We shared a ton of dishes: Oxtail Pot Stickers, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Garlic Crab Noodles, Stuffed Avocado, Yellowtail Jalapeno, Spicy Tail of Two Tunas, Red Dragon, Firecracker, The Number Ten and several others that I don't remember. Everything was delicious and perfect for sharing. We even ended our meal with a couple desserts: the ridiculous and the coconut sorbet. I'll keep coming back!
(4)Bryan B.
-Even if you think that you don't like brussel sprouts, order the brussel sprout salad. They're shredded and it will definitely be a one-of-a-kind experience. -Very cool look and feel to restaurant, as well. -The sushi is solid -Bad acoustics
(4)Joe L.
Great food. Not great service. Ordered Steamed Pork Buns and then the BBQ rib bento box for lunch. Buns never came and the server didn't even apologize about it when she dropped off my Bento Box. She then didn't come back to check on me till I was almost done eating. The ribs were great, and it may just be bad luck on my service experience, but it's true that good service can make up for sub par food and not the other way around. Cause I am leaving feeling not very taken care of (which is the point of dining out as opposed to cooking good food at home.)
(3)Tyler L.
Absolutely amazing. The drinks make it a little expensive but otherwise one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Highly recommended
(5)A K.
I had high hopes for this restaurant but in the end was unimpressed. Based on other reviews and the crowd, one would think the food was spectacular. I felt it was just so-so. My wife would have given it four stars. And our waitress would receive 5 stars because she was attentive and friendly. We started with the fried brussel sprout salad. The flavors were just ok, not great. We followed with the duck dumplings. They were not at all what we expected. It was essentially a roast duck sandwich with fluffy breading. The breading overwhelms the flavor of the duck. I ate the duck by itself. We then had the seabass in a coconut curry broth. It was served tepid and the flavors were just ok. Finally we had a dessert that was the strawberry rhubarb cobbler. It was not tart enough to taste the rhubarb. If the place were a 1/3 less expensive, I would have enjoyed it just a tad more. But earlier in the day we had a Vietnamese meal in Chinatown and four dishes left us extremely full and very happy for the price of $21. Our meal at Sunda cost us 5 times that and about half as happy.
(3)Simeen A.
Eh... it was ok. Came here on a recommendation. For starters, we had a reservation and the table wasn't ready. That's fine, but points off for the snooty front of house staff. I asked about our table, and the hostess said, your table isn't ready yet... and then she turned away. No suggestion to go to the bar, no apology- and FYI there's no place to sit in the restaurant by the hostess stand so we just stood around. When I checked back in again 15 minutes later, she said, the party at your table hasn't left yet, and "we can't make people leave." WTF! Yes, I realize that, thanks. No need to be obnoxious. Anyway so we finally were seated eventually, and we had a nice server. Food was good but I thought very expensive for portion size- even the mains were teeeeeny tiny. We ordered a bunch of food (because that's how much it took to fill up two adults!) and the bill with tip was over $200. With zero alcohol. I would rather take that money and go somewhere better. Anyway the food was tasty but I probably wouldn't return when there are so many other better places in the city.
(3)Maxie H.
We came here for dinner on a weekday, and it was jammed packed. This modern restaurant puts a delightful spin on asian american dishes. We ordered the Bang Bang and Crispy Brussels Sprouts to start. Each salad was impeccable and large enough to split between 3-4 people. I highly recommend both as an option for salad. The Tiger Shrimp Tempura is their version of Walnut Shrimp, and it's amazing. We also ordered a side of salmon sashimi, and it was super fresh. Hands down, one of the best sashimis I've ever had. For our main entree, we had the Malay Style Chilean SeaBass, and it was cooked to perfection. We couldn't leave this restaurant without dessert, so we ordered the Sunda Sundae and the Ridiculous. The Ridiculous is exactly how I would describe this dessert. I can't wait to come back to this restaurant again! Not only was the food wonderful, the service was great!
(5)Minjee Y.
The food here tastes phenomenal. But I am a new grad RN student who is broke as hell so the price range here for drinks and food is no bueno... I would definitely come back if I wanted a fancy dinner. I believe this place is more family style/tapa style. The tables are all very small, but then again the dishes are as well. The only thing I remember having that was very good here was their duck dish and some of their sushi. The lychee martini I got from the bar was really good! P.S. I came in with a large group of friends. Over 20 of us. That was probably not the best idea. so I would advise that this is not a good place to come with a group of more than 6-8 people.
(4)Melissa H.
The ambiance is really fun and trendy. Overall the food is great! It is a bit on the pricey side and very few sushi options however all in all greats drinks, good food and fun crowd
(4)Lindsay M.
I'm late to the party on trying this place, and perhaps that is my downfall b/c it seems many of my fellow Yelpers have rated this place much differently. Living in LA for a few years, I worked at one of the top sushi/asian restaurants in the city... I would like to say that I have a pretty solid pallet for asian food and know a high-quality meal from a mediocre one. That being said, this was very middle of the road for me and man, am I disappointed. My boyfriend took me here for my birthday - made the reservation ahead of time and told them it was my big 3-0... I mean.. 2-1. We arrived on time and had to wait - our table wasn't quite ready, no biggie. The menu is pretty huge... and we took total advantage of this ordering a few different dishes from every section - hey, it's my bday we going all out, san! Before I dive into the dishes here, I'll say that our server was OK. Friendly enough, attentive, etc. However, it was a little disappointing that he didn't look at the reservation notes or say anything about my special day as the server next to us did for their table. Guess I am not as special as that person. Now, for the food - we started off with a salad, the BANG! BANG!, which was actually one of the highlights of our meal- and that never happens and I'm not sure it should... I appreciate the quality of the greens - but the other food should have trumped the salad.. I mean c'mon! What I was most excited for out of the many dishes, was the spicy tuna on crispy rice and the sea bass - I FREAKING LOVE SEA BASS. And sadly, these were my least two favorite dishes of the meal. I have seen people ranting and raving over the crispy rice on Yelp, and I want to know - were you all drunk? This was the most disappointing crispy rice I have ever had. It lacked in flavor and when you say crispy rice - then it should be CRISPY rice, not a soggy, tasteless blob. Wah. I'm still sad over this. The MALAY-STYLE CHILEAN SEABASS, which costs you $35 freaking bucks, was sadly seasoned and overall underwhelming. The curried cauliflower puree definitely over shadowed the fish. None of the rolls were anything to write home about - flavors didn't always work well together and they really lacked in having that burst of flavor you wish to get when you bite into a roll. The wagyu beef is not true Japaneese wagyu beef, it's the American's sad version of it. Don't pay that kind of money unless you're getting the real thing... you dig? Before I leave you with only negativity here, let me tell you that there were two dishes that stood out from the rest - those being the tatakis. The SALMON TATAKI and the BLACK TRUFFLE TUNA TATAKI were definitely delish. If I was to return- I would steer down that route for the majority of my dishes again. Over all - I feel like I wasted a decent amount of money on dishes that were not worth it - such a let down.
(3)Kelly K.
Awesome experience all around! I was here for the first time last week with two of my friends. Richard was great, greeted us at the host stand and walked us over to a really nice table. He chatted with us for a little bit to explain the popular menu items....the Brussel sprout salad was delicious. Looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Jackie M.
I came in for sunday brunch and the menu is different then the regular weekday lunch. I had a great time and attentive service. The braised pork belly with crispy patty of rice was good. The pork was tender but bit too salty. I rcmd eating together with the crispy rice. The soft shell crab benedict was good but Nothing special. The salad that came with the brunch was delightful and it was spicy. The salad portion was very generous. The steam bun with duck and pork belly was very enjoyable and came with 4 bun per order. The bun was soft and the meat was tender. Lastly, the sunda sundae was amazing. It came with 3 small scoops (2 inches diameter) of ice cream which was the perfect portion for 2 girls. It was avocado, ube (taro),and sweet corn/cheddar ice cream which the flavor was light. Ice cream was complimented with coconut jelly, red mung beans, jackfruit, and bottom was slush that taste like passionfruit. Had a great time and will return for sunday brunch.
(4)Srishti K.
I went to Sunda for lunch with a coworker, and it was solid experience -- APPETIZERS/DRINKS - Spicy Edamame: This is so good! And, it is not for the faint hearted. They spice the edamame to perfection. Definitely a must have. - Watermelon Juice: For some reason, I just wanted a more natural drink. The watermelon juice was absolutely refreshing ENTREES - Chicken Pad Thai: Some of the best Pad Thai I have ever had. I had pad thai that is dry and this place did not disappoint. The pad thai was saucy and the chicken was soft. - Veggie Q rolls: These weren't bad, but they also weren't good. I would give these a pass. SERVICE Sunda has outstanding service. The waiters constantly check on you, and there is little lag in service time. Tips/Comments: + Pretty busy, so make sure you get a reservation + Order the Spicy Edamame + I noticed that they have different lunch/dinner menus. Their dinner menu is much more expansive, so if I went back, I'd opt for dinner over lunch.
(4)Elizabeth C.
AMAZING....plate after plate was always delicious never one better than the next. All just so finger licking good!!! Had the oxtail potstickers, firecracker roll, drunken noodles and adobo pork belly. Yum yum yum. Highly recommended!
(5)Erica L.
Sunda is the place to see and be seen, but mostly for the see. I'm always weary of "Asian Fusion" places because most of the time, quality suffers from the shear quantity of dishes represented from several countries. Of course, I have to give props from featuring some staple Filipino dishes like the Lumpia, Crispy Pata (one of my favorite Filipino dishes ever), pork belly BBQ, Pancit Canton, and Pork Adobo Fried Rice. Gave Sunda another try after barely remembering the first go a few years back because they were participating in the Yelp Summer of Sushi. Definitely nice atmosphere and décor. The cocktails were a little too sweet - I tried the Strawberry Fields and felt like I was drinking a syrupy daquiri. I do remember how good the Sunda Signature Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna sushi was, which was still the case. Generous mounds of tuna atop crispy sushi rice make for a great contrast in textures. We also tried the Summer Roll, which the featured roll for the sushi deal, but it wasn't as good. I don't think spinach and sushi mix in a roll well. Hubby ordered the Wok Fired Shishito Peppers, which were on the over soy-sauced and salty side. We shared the Tiger Shrimp Tempura, which was my second favorite dish. I'm a sucker for crispy shrimp tossed in a sweet sauce and candied nuts like walnuts or pecans. An order of Kai-Lan completed the meal. Although it was a side, it arrived last. I liked how it wasn't drowning in oyster sauce. The dishes were definitely on the small side, but that was enough food for the two of us. I forgot that rice was a la carte here; maybe it was good we didn't order any, but if we did the crispy duck fried rice looked tasty. We completed the meal with the Sunda Sundae, which was a gourmet halo-halo. The description on the menu says it all: avocado ice cream, sweet corn and cheddar cheese ice cream, ube-macapuno ice cream, calamansi granita, sweet beans, jackfruit, coconut gel, sweetened condensed milk, fresh berries, and toasted coconut. You had me at avocado ice cream and sweet corn and cheddar cheese ice cream, which my Lola used to make for us when we spent summers in the motherland. The calamansi granita was a surprisingly refreshing twist. I also wanted to try the pistachio Sans Rival, but perhaps that will be enough to lure me back to this place in another few years.
(3)Gretchen D.
Excellent. The room has a lovely Asian-inspired vibe. Service was good. It got rather noisy. There were a number of big tables for large groups--and we saw several big groups come in. This is a good place for sharing lots of small plates. Portions were bigger than I expected. We had the ginger tofu--the tofu was cooked nicely with a little crust and the ginger sauce was very good. Also, the steamed buns--also good. I would have preferred more hoisin but hubby says I am a hoisin addict. Oxtail gyoza were good--tasted the least "Asian" and the most fusion of all we tried. I had the signature crispy rice--with spicy tuna. I loved this dish. The rice had just a little crispy--and the tuna had been softened with a bit of spiciness added throughout. Yelpers! There was a free chef's choice with check-in. Ours was a little salad--very tasty--with fried tofu in it.
(4)Kate G.
There's a reason I love traveling and this restaurant defiantly is an incredible example of why. Not only is the atmosphere inviting and cool the food is an exploration in gastronomical flavors, textures, and blends. Definitely one of the top places to choose for food alone. The wait staff is also excellent and always there with great suggestions if you are overwhelmed by their menu. Our waitress Lindsey was top notch and very enjoyable to interact with through our evening. Definitely recommend this restaurant when visiting Chicago!
(5)Jennifer P.
The best meal we've had in years. We started with the brussels sprout salad. It was a good portion and very tasty. Next where the beef lollipops, just delicious. Third was the Hamachi, it was very fresh and unique with the plantain chips. We finished with the red Dragon and lobster/bacon roll. The last roll was most unique and favorite item of the entire meal. The red Dragon was our least favorite item yet still good. For dessert we went for ridiculous, yes that's what it's called. It really was ridiculous definitely suggest getting it. The Lychee wasabi drink is also amazing!!
(5)Sue E.
This place was great! It has a great vibe, great food and service. Sunda was great in accommodating our large party (10)people and our kids. Since we were a big group, we got to sample a variety of food. I highly recommend starting off with the Escolar "great white" which has shaved black truffles on it. The two compliment each other and has great texture. You also have to get the Brussels sprouts salad and the grilled ahi tuna and pork. Both were amazing ( if you like salty/sweet/spicy stuff, get the ahi tuna and pork!) We had a big bunch of sushi and all were good. The Unagi/foie gras was surprisingly delicious. The miso sebass rocked Pork belly skewers were fantastic. Pork belly adobo was good The foie gras and duck breast were heavenly! They don't have a kids menu but the kids seemed to have liked the edamame and steamed pork buns. I was too stuffed to order dessert and I totally regret it now. People said I should have tried the Halo Halo. So make sure you save room for dessert!
(5)Karen D.
The restaurant itself has a very trendy and modern feel. Our group of 5 was quickly seated at the chefs table by the sushi bar. I ordered the lychee luxury Cocktail with a hint of wasabi -- but it was way too sweet. We started with the spicy edamame, oysters, and Brussel sprout salad. The oysters were just typical, but the edamame and salad were delicious!!! Highly recommend them! The chef brought us out a special lobster wrapped tuna roll... Really great too. Also recommend the soy glazed ginger tofu and the sea bass. We were told we were going to meet the chef since we were at the chefs table but it never happened - bummer. Overall, great ambiance and the food was unique because of its twist of flavors on traditional Asian cuisine.
(4)Sunny K.
Make reservations! I love sushi and live two blocks from Sunda, so it was an easy choice. It's a dressier restaurant than most. Nice decor and ambiance, food pretty great, kind server, pricey bill. I prefer to go there rather than order delivery.
(4)Sarah N.
When I hear Asian fusion I think PF Chang's, however this place is truly fusion cooking. The service was exceptional and we ordered based on our waiters recommendations. Everything was fresh and well made. The combinations of ingredients and traditional favors will bring me back again. A must try place.
(5)Nick B.
Came on Friday night. Pretty busy even with dinner reseverations at 7pm and to wait at the bar for 30min for an open table. Service was prompt. Got a nice mix of things. However the sushi was to die for. A bit pricey for what you get but a nice night out is what you get here. Want to try it again
(5)Heidi H.
This place is great! Customer service and ambiance on point. We had the BBQ octopus with kimchi wasn't my favorite but cooked well.. The pho was outstanding! We loved everything about it. Very rich, meaty and filling. Definitely my fav. The Sunda hand roll was good. Overall we will return and do the pho again for sure.
(4)Melissa N.
I've heard mixed reviews of Sunda, but my experience here was spot-on. The ambiance is great: trendy but comfortable. Service was excellent the whole night. Our table started with a bottle of Prosecco, skipped appetizers, and moved right into the small plates/entrees. I only tried the crunchy pig hidden lobster sushi (yes that's right, I said CRUNCHY PIG HIDDEN LOBSTER SUSHI!!!) and the flaked pork adobo fried rice. The reason I only tried these two things is because they were both so freaking amazing that I could not stop eating them!!! For dessert I shared the green tea donuts with a friend, which were good but nothing spectacular. My French martini was fabulous, though, so it compensated for the lackluster donuts. It was a great dining experience overall, and pricing wasn't too inflated. I will definitely be back here.
(4)Scherjang S.
This was our second visit to Sunda and we were not disappointed. Since the first time we sat at the chefs table, I was keen on trying out their other items on their menu and WOW! We tried their roasted Brussels sprout salad with a sweet chili sauce and I have to say it's a "must get starter". The portions are large so if you just got the salad it's more than enough for 2 people. Also tried their sushi rolls and pork belly steam buns.. The buns had a little twist with pickled veggies (I liked it) in them. Finally we had their green tea sugar sprinkled donuts with chocolate on the side for dessert
(5)Jen K.
This review would be a 2 if the owner wasn't so incredible. I had a 9:00pm reservation with a group of 10 women on Saturday night. At 9:25, we were not acknowledged by any of the many, many hostesses. When the owner walked up, he immediately apologized and offer us a round of drinks. After the drinks we waited for another 25 minutes and then we were offered free appetizers when we were seated. Around 10:05pm we were finally sat. There was already appetizers at the table for us. The brussel sprout salad was my favorite appetizer. We order several rolls for the table for everyone to share. The "tail of 2 tunas" was my favorite. The meat and lobster was my least favorite. It had a good flavor but it was too heavy to be considered "sushi". Overall, I thought the pricing was high for each roll. We were also comped dessert, so we can creme brulee and green tea donuts. The donuts were light and fluffy. The creme brulee was unique to say the least. It had jelly beans on it... Overall, prices are steep, food is ok, and the people that work there have a bit of an attitude. However, the owner is fantastic and made up for a lot of flaws.
(4)Kosmo Z.
I had a chance to eat here when I was in Chicago. It was a pleasant surprise, since fusion places are usually a hit or miss from my perspective. I really liked the Peking duck because the sweet bun tasted soft and fluffy. The seafood was also fresh with a good portion. The oxtail potsticker was another highlight of my meal. I requested Jasmine tea and they gave me a fancy little honey wand and tea pot. The service could have been slightly better, but overall satisfying experience.
(4)Stephanie S.
Very disappointing experience here, which is a shame given our prior visits. Food was solid, particularly the kabocha rice and bang bang salad. However, the service really let us down. Food was slow arriving despite a less than full dining room. To make matters worse, the mushu duck was not properly cooked. We notified our waiter who explained that it was cooked as it was intended to be, but several bites were chewy to the point of being inedible. We received a re-made (properly cooked) dish and a visit from the manager, but when the bill arrived, no adjustments were made. If you'd like to pay $6 for a Bud Light and eat rare, chewy duck, then this place is for you!
(1)Mironda R.
I've only had the good fortune of coming here for dinner and it's been an amazing experience. I believe this restaurant is best enjoyed with a group of at least 3-4 since it is family style. It gives you the opportunity to try a variety of things without filling up too quickly on too few things. Some of the items we had were: Kale and Seaweed Salad Bang Bang Salad Rock Shrimp Tempura Miso Cauliflower Chicken Fish And a few of the specialty sushi rolls (sucks I can't remember) The bartenders also know what they are doing as well. The craft cocktails are awesome and are similarly priced to something you would have at a trendy bar. My friends also mentioned they had a good selection of sake. Now some inconveniences: The restaurant is "cozy" .. which means you can be sitting next to another patron or be bumped or squeezed between waiters because they don't have that much space to work with. Also if you have to "powder your nose" then don't wait until last minute. It's quite of a walk to get there between squeezing through tables and walking down a couple of flights of stairs. The food is soo good that it's still a 5-star experience. Now is this a regular eat, maybe not.. unless you go with a group. The price can add up fast.
(5)Stuti J.
Loved it.. This place can get very busy... On a wednesday night it was packed. Being vegetarian - I got the following (which are all highly recommended): Crispy cauliflower, garden (speciality cut rolls), Veggie Q. I loved the Japanese beer - hitachino (almost like blue moon) Must go for a sushi lover...
(5)Mark B.
I sat at the sushi bar over the christmas holiday. This place is a little full of itself....having said that I really liked my server. She was pleasant and sincere. The front door could have been little more welcoming. The shishito peppers were good, prepared simply. I loved the Sweet & Spicy Seafood Futomaki: Crab, Shrimp Tempura, Mango, Asian Pear, Avocado, Chili Sauce. The tale of two tunas was good also. For dessert I had a deconstructed apple cobbler. Met my expectations, nothing mind blowing but it was delicious. Would I go back? There are so many great places in Chicago and especially this area. Truthfully it was my very first impression, the interaction with the door, that will probably not lead to a return visit. I usually hate reading reviews that concentrate on bad service. If you're a young hipster dressed to kill, you would have probably received a smile and some attention. I'm an older guy and was wearing jeans. (I did have my burberry cashmere wrapped around my neck and I carry a Goyard wallet, dammit!) Can't always judge a book by its cover...(She probably doesn't even know what Goyard is...) Still, my server was great and I enjoyed the food.
(4)Andreas D.
Went for valentines day had a great time. The service was great and the food outstanding! We got the basil shrimp roll my girlfriend rarely likes shrimp and she loved this roll, also got the Zen garden roll was really tasty. She even said the shrimp was one of get favorite rolls she's ever had Tako taco was really good as well perfect octopus. The drinks were really good as well got the hibiscus lemonade and the old fashioned. Ended it with the special dessert of the month which I can't remember the name but was a great chocolate cake Definitely coming back and would recommend to anyone looking for some out of the ordinary Asian food!
(5)Tammy N.
On the first day of my visit to Chicago with my lover and friends, we were taken to this spot by our friend who lives in the city. There was a total of six of us which is nice because we all like to eat buffet style. I can't even remember everything we ordered, but in the end I was sooo happy that we ate here. It was delicious. I also just really love Asian food and am pretty easy to please. We had the lobster wagyu roll (which was my favorite I literally day dream about this roll all the time), the lobster spring rolls (they were okay in taste and were not wrapped tightly enough so it also fell apart easily, definitely get something else), duck fried rice (SO good, such a small portion TT___TT), rock shrimp tempura (super noms, can't go wrong), spicy jalapeno with tuna on crispy rice (good, but probably won't order again because I'd rather explore the menu), 2 or 3 other sushi rolls, noodles (wish I remembered the name, but they reminded me of pad see ew), and other plates that I don't remember. We really wanted to try to longevity garlic crab noodles, but I suppose it was a seasonal plate that they no longer served during our visit. Everything came out in good time, our server was attentive and answered any questions we had and was very helpful. I really enjoyed my meal. Probably my favorite stop out of all the other restaurants we tried.
(4)Manda Bear B.
********************* 1112 ******************** Sunda is a swanky, modern, New Asian and modern Japanese restaurant. It's a popular spot in Chicago and it's literally across from Roka Akor which successfully opened in San Francisco recently. We had RSVP and came in. We thought we go the table for 2, but they said my default OpenTable prefer chef table, but no one ever called me to confirm what I prefer. And Sushi counter is not a chef table, unless the chef was there which he wasn't. The hostess didn't bother to ask what would we like to do. She flatted out to tell us NO. Then asked us to wait for a 5 minutes, came back and offered us a high top at the lounge, seriously? I didn't think so. It was a SAT night. This is why I rarely dine out on SAT night, only when I'm traveling. Sunda is a PRICIER modern Asian and Japanese restaurant, offer dishes from Dim Sum to PHO, from Thai soup to Sushi/Sashimi. If you come here to eat just rolls, you will be filling up quickly but if you order more finer dishes, dinner for 2 with 2 cocktails would take you to average $250. Now if you order a bottle of Opus One here for additional $400, it'll be over the top. We weren't happy with where we were seated, but we ordered plenty of food anyway. HIT - UNAGI/FOIE freshwater eel tempura, seared foie gras, yuzu unagi sauce - this was a nice dish, reminded me of the late Japonaise in Chicago back on its hay day. - SUNDA'S SIGNATURE CRISPY RICE pan-fried sushi rice glazed with soy sauce and topped with SPICY TUNA jalapeño - you see this dish in a lot of Modern Sushi places now. This was a solid dish. - BAKED SNOW CRAB HANDROLL Alaskan snow crab, tempura crispy, dynamite sauce. My friend loved this dish. I love the soy paper wrap, it makes a different. - Uni from Japan, fresh, nice texture and tasty for only $10 2 pieces sushi. - Torched Wagyu beef was delicious, thinly cut, and perfectly done the way we requested. - Miso glazed black cod was cooked perfectly, moist and almost raw center, tasty, and nice. MISS - Miso Soup with mushroom - salty - CITRUS SCALLOPS - Hokkaido scallop sashimi, avocado, rice cracker, lime, banana sauce - this was a really off dish, overpowering by the sauce, I could barely taste the fresh and sweetness of Hokkaido scallop. - SUNDA'S YELLOWTAIL JALAPEÑO Japanese salsa, extra virgin olive oil, ponzu - too much sauce, it killed the dish. - Escolar sushi was dry. COCKTAILS & DRINKS Cocktails is $13-$16 each - LYCHEE LUXURY DROP absolute, st. germain, lemon juice, lychee syrup, hint of wasabi was an interesting. - Johnnie Walker Blue $55, Macallan 18 Yr $27, Yamazaki 18 Yr $30, so you are better off with after dinner libation drinks here. Sunda was extremely loud with the crowd and music blasting. We weren't enjoyed the food and drink as much, but our wonderful server BEN, surely saved the night for us. He got a British accent, handsome, tall guy, look like an aspiring actor/model does this for living while pursuing his dream. He was kind to knee down to listen to us, each time we ordered or requested anything. He was decanted our 2003 Opus One wine correctly. And you know how I'm with wines and "Champagne" (Champagne is a region name, in France, not a type of wine or drink, haha). Ben accommodated our food and drink requests. I'm sure if he was the manager in charge, he could have moved us to a table on the dining floor too. I wouldn't come back because there're plenty of good Japanese restaurants around Chicago and for this price point, I would get better food elsewhere. However, I would come back just for this server Ben. the extra STAR is for his impeccable service. Ben surely made our evening at Sunda. P.S. Their website is not functioning well, a few broken pages.
(3)John And Marcella B.
An absolute must! This place is amazing! We loved the brussles sprouts, kale and seaweed salad, and dim sum. You can't go wrong with the sushi.. everything is great!
(5)Sarah C.
Wanted to try this place out for having good reviews. However, I was very disappointed. First of all, price is way too expensive. Ambiance is hipster ish, but wayyyy too loud!! Everybody is basically talking over each other and there is no noise-canceling filter in the restaurant. It is an Asian fusion, but I don't feel like the dishes were innovative and literally just a list of different Asian dishes. Ordered the lemongrass lollipops for appetizer- it was okay, flavors weren't anything extraordinary and couldn't taste the lemongrass, but was unique bc the thin pieces of beef are wrapped around a lemongrass stick. The crispy Brussels sprout salad was good, but too oily. Scorpion roll was okay.. rice was too mushy for a sushi roll. Best thing we ordered was the crispy rice spicy tuna, but price is def not worth it and the rice was not crispy enough. I've had better. Ordered the Pancit Canton upon waiter's recommendation. Oily and salty are the only words I can think of. Too many random ingredients like the few pieces of pork with few pieces of Chinese sausage. I would not return and would not recommend this place.
(2)Mark K.
First, we have to thank our friend who gave us a gift certificate for this place as a wedding gift. Without that, I'm thinking we wouldn't have come. But we did, and brought other friends, and had a blast. The place is fancy but not over the top. Downtown Chicago, so of course it's expensive, and crowded on a Saturday night. Luckily Sweetie made reservations. We were seated right around the time specified, and started right in. A Yelp check-in yielded a free app, chef's choice, which turned out to be tempura jalapenos. Very good, not very spicy. We ordered some drinks, including a prickly pear cocktail for Sweetie (not bad,) and the day's special beer, a Japanese witbier (big, share-able bottles, pretty darn good.) Let's see, we had so many things. Some unagi, very good. An unagi/foie gras combo, excellent. Citrus scallops: pretty good, slightly spicy according to some of our group. Yellowtail, very fresh. A rainbow roll, one of the table's favorites. Also the Tail of Two Tunas (we ended up getting another) and the pork and lobster roll (again, we had to get another- everyone liked this.) Hm- Red Dragon and Firecracker: decent rolls, but just couldn't compare to those tuna and bacon rolls. We were all stuffed. Luckily for Sweetie, she stopped eating sushi before the rest of us, and ordered the night's dessert special: jasmine rice pudding with mango. She savored it, and let me have a few bites. Yow! It was so good. There was a superfluous crust at the bottom; the creamy rice and fresh mangoes were transcendent. I think I stayed stuffed until the next afternoon. We had a great time. Great service, nice atmosphere (though it was painfully loud, so loud it was hard to talk till people started clearing out.)
(4)Michael C.
Very surprised at how mediocre my experience at sunda was. Came here to celebrate a friend's graduation and the food at the table was overflowing. Had at least 5 different signature rolls and none of them were very memorable which is why I won't even bother naming them. However the brussel sprout salad and the tuna on top of fried sushi rice were tasty. After the apps, I was pretty apprehensive of anything too Asian sounding and rightfully so. I ordered the beef long rib which was tender and had a delicious sweet sauce. The others at my table were quite dissatisfied with their meals. One bite of the seven spice chicken had me gagging - it tasted like licorice. he chef did a crazy bad job tinkering with the flavors and my friend said he would rather have eaten vegan chicken nuggets. Another patron had the pho which was edible, but tasted nothing like the traditional. It got two visible thumbs down. At the end of the meal, my decision to be "safe" with my order was the right thing to do. Now it's river north and the service and decor were both great but when it comes to food, you should probably look elsewhere. If something looks unfamiliar, it should be avoided. Please.
(3)Andrea P.
I came here with some friends on a Wednesday night, it was packed and quite loud but the vibe was great. Our server was incredibly friendly and really helpful in giving us suggestions. We were seated in the back so the noise level wasn't as bad and we enjoyed our meals without having to scream across the table. We had some really interesting drinks, I had the pear sake and blushing geisha which were both okay but not my type of drink. They were a bit too sweet for my taste and their flavors were not working for me. My friend had a lychee cocktail and it was amazing, not too sweet and not too salty, just perfectly blended together. Another drink I would suggest ordering is a margarita type drink, it is green in color and has mint leaves, it was really refreshing and tasted like a margarita and a mojito mixed together. Our food was decent but it wasn't the "best" sushi I have ever had, it was really interesting and they had some really unique rolls but there was no, "kick, pow wow" melt in your mouth moment. I would definitely recommend trying this place, it is really unique and the experience is one that is worth having. The service was great, the drinks were unique, and their rolls were "A-OK."
(3)Marc R.
Braised Pork Belly. I don't know if it really gets any better than that. I would say that my favorite thing about Sunda is that you can get dishes that simply aren't found anywhere else. Places like Gibsons and Joe's Stone Crab are wonderful. Most all of these places (including Sunda) have outstanding service. But the unique cuisine separates this from others. For some, that is not a good thing. We have in Chicago the good fortune to be able to say that amazing steakhouses are a dime a dozen (again, Gibson's, Joe's Stone Crab, Mastro's, Keefer's, Chicago Chop House . . .) Places like Sunda (and Girl and the Goat and Japonais, to name a couple) are what really push the envelope. There are many favorite items that are always on the menu (beef lolipops, though I think they're over rated) they also feature fresh ideas. Sushi is top notch, too.
(4)Rhonna V.
This place is As Good As It Gets! The food is beyond words. We were greeted by the manager as well as the chef during our time there. We were celebrating my birthday, and the chef treated my whole table to shots of sake! I've never had such wonderful service, and even when we were putting our coats on to leave, the manager came back to say goodbye and even remembered our names. I thought that was a great touch to the evening.
(5)Farrah D.
I'm probably not the best person to review since I don't like sushi/seafood, but my family really liked this place. I enjoyed everything I had except the pad-thai which I thought was sub-par. Kobe beef was amazing. This place is ideal for family-style sharing so you can try a little bit of everything. The portions are really small so you have to order multiple dishes - fun time at a trendy restaurant.
(3)Mark M.
I dined the other night with some friends at Sunda, and we decided that we should share our food to be able to try as much as possible. We started with the Lemongrass Beef Lollipops (per other Yelp reviewers suggestions) and the Oxtail pot stickers (suggested by our waitress). The Beef Lollipops were exquisite. The way the beef was wrapped around the handles (of onion, I think) were very attractive. Our waitress warned us that the pepper that came on the handle was a very good, but very spicy pepper. I only tasted a bit, but really enjoyed the flavor of the pepper of the beef, along with the spicy chili glaze. The glaze was so good, that one of my dining companions actually ate a spoonful by itself after the beef was gone! The Oxtail Potsickers were great, very delicate and tasty. They were presented with a drizzle of white wasabi cream on top, which added the perfect contrast to the delicate beef. On to the main course. I tasted only one other person's dish, which was the Spicy "Tail of Two Tunas". It was very tasty with one tuna being in the roll draped with the second tuna. I only ate one piece, but yum! I ordered the Malay Style Chilean Seabass. All I can say is WOW! The fish itself was crusted with a tasty coriander, lemongrass and miso topping, which provide a perfect crunch to the "like butter" fish itself. The fish just melted in your mouth, and was very "buttery" tasting (not like butter, but the texture). It was perfect and everyone else at my table tasted it and we all agreed that I had the best dish of all of us. It came with a side of Curried Cauliflower Puree, which was, as it says, cauliflower, that has been pureed and seasoned with a mild curry (powder? sauce?), and garnished with some grape tomatoes and herbs. Dessert: I don't remember what it was called, but we had the Avocado Mousse dessert that comes in a martini glass with lychee and raspberry at the bottom of the glass. Taking a spoonful of all of the flavors together, I was in heaven. I would come back simply for dessert alone, it was that good. The service: I want to take a moment and say that we had excellent service while we dined, always attentive, not intrusive, and a joy to work with. Overall - I will definitely go back, but the prices make this, for me, a really nice "once in a while" dinner out.
(5)Sunil D.
Finally crawled out of bed to make it to their brunch on Sunday. I was surprised at the lack of a crowd (maybe because we got there at 2 pm), but it might be because Asian fusion isn't exactly what people crave on a Sunday morning. Either way, the food was amazing as always. As a semi-pro Bloody Mary aficionado, the best bloody mary used to belong to Joe's on Weed (pepperoni, jack pepper cheese and basically a side salad of veggies in your cup) and a touch of Guinness at the bottom really made the difference. The torch has been passed to Sunda though. Not even factoring in the literal buffet of exotic ingredients (red chili peppers, lemon grass, jicama, unagi, shrimp, seaweed, tofu, among the other dozen other ingredients I had to refer to the chart to figure out), the drink itself was unlike any bloody I've ever had. It was refreshing, flavorful and had such a unique flavor. The waitress insisted it was because of their house made mix, but I think substituting the vodka for Sochu (a Japanese liquor) was the real difference maker. Either way its a must try. My partner in crime on our sunday funday had the passion fruit Mimosa and we both agreed that they were hands down two of the top "breakfast" drinks we've ever had in our lives. Needless to say they are a must try.
(5)Claude F.
I was visiting from nyc, and as always i wanted to continue my quests of the beat japanese restaurant in the US. Sunda with more than 1000 reviews on yelp, deserved a visit. I got there and was welcomed with a warm, hype atmosphere. I sat down at the sushi bar. Right away i noticed the pre-sliced raw fish... For a premium place i would have expected the fish to be cut on demand... Oh well... I listened to the nice waiter and ordered his recommendations. Crispy rice, yellowtail sashimi and lobster/wagu beef rolls. First 2 were ok. Good but not very tasty. The roll was very good, thanks to the truffle. So why a 3? At that price point i expect everything to be very good! Not just good for an average mall restaurant... Still stop by id you get a chance and do not mind to pay a premium.
(3)Ramya P.
5 stars for the food but they have to learn to cope with the restaurant crowd a lil' better Typical of many of the restaurants in the Near North side, Sunda boasts a nice ambiance, lively atmosphere, local celebrity sightings and 20-something PYTs, but for me the highlight was the vast menu featuring truly delicious food. I was a tad surprised to find so many vegetarian options. We were able to get reservations only at 9pm on a Wednesday when the weather wasn't so good. So I recommend planning ahead and making reservations earlier. Since there are so many small plates featured in the menu, I recommend sharing (if you're a small group) as they are not stingy with the portion sizes. Pretty much everything we ate tasted fabulous and these were the highlights- 1. Amuse bouche - sticky bun with truffle 2. Mushroom n edamame dumplings 3. Ginger tofu 4. Roasted cauliflower 5. Sweet potato rolls For the dessert, we got the 'Ridiculous' named aptly considering its size, the sugar overload and decadence and I was about to scream out with 'joy' as I tasted it... just like in When Harry met Sally. We also got the bread pudding which was warm and delicious. Cannot think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than basking in a glorious food coma... Thanks so much Vaidehi T and Sushant D!!
(5)Joan L.
I'm rating the Happy Hour. So essentially this review pertains to the appetizers, signature cocktails, and beer / wine list. Happy Hours are 5 - 7pm and there are half-off appetizers. Seriously, sushi rolls for $4 - 7 and this awesome shrimp / egg sauce appetizer for even less. My memory betrays me. I had the Strawberry Delight, an indulgence on my part and it was STRONG and TASTY. Loved it! My friends had gin martinis, cucumber martinis, mai tai's and all were excellent. I also have to admit I like coming here because of the hope that I'll see a celeb with the owner, Billy Dec. Especially now that Shia and the Transformers crew are here in town ;)
(4)Jeff S.
I visited Sunda after hearing rave reviews about the atmosphere and food from a couple of different co-workers. As I live pretty close to it and my friend from out of town wanted to get dinner at a good Chicago restaurant (read: non-chain or tourist trap), I told her to meet me here for dinner. FOOD: Crispy shrimp "toast" and spicy tuna "jam" - Nice, fun dish. The shrimp were definitely ground up within the "toast", but this was delicious. Definitely something to get instead of edamame for a starter. Miso bronzed black cod - Fork-tender and flavorful, a perfect complement to the pork belly. I really liked this sablefish, and it was perfect with a side of Sunda's jasmine rice. Adobo braised pork belly - I LOVE pork belly. And the serving size was enormous. It was prepared with care. Add all of those up? This is one of my favorite pork belly dishes of all time. Lychee and raspberry sorbet - Light and refreshing, this was a perfect dessert for the time. It was gone before I knew it! Sunda also has great cocktails (don't remember what I tried...perhaps another reason why I think the cocktails are so good??), and it's a trendy spot to hang out on a Thu/Fri/Sat night. SERVICE: Service was fine overall. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable, and gave us good recommendations and suggestions. She was also around frequently to see if we wanted anything else and water service was top-notch. OVERALL: The hype is justifiable in my opinion. Sunda is popular for a reason - consistently good food, a great atmosphere (if not a bit loud), and a solid menu suitable for everyone. One small beef with Sunda - they don't have any "half-portions" like places like Sable have on the menu for its larger plates (although Sunda DOES have a good helping of small plates of their own). I'm the type of person that likes to try a little of everything, not a lot of one thing when trying out new restaurants. But the food quality and taste delivered, so no more complaining. Just more eating.
(4)Janet W.
I came here for the first time with some out of town foodie friends for a late night dinner and then second time kicked off a bachelorette party here. From having to plan the bachelorette party, I found that group reservations are really tough to make. When Sunda is busy, they are very busy and they won't seat you unless your whole group is present even if you are short just one person. Since traffic in the area coincides with peak hours, we had to delay our reservation and it took a while to gather everyone and get seated. The restaurant shouldn't be blamed for being popular though and Sunda is popular for a good reason. I never thought I'd say this, but you have to try the brussel sprout salad. Sharing the food family style is recommended. Everything from the pad thai to the maki rolls is delicious. Some of the food was a little oily for my personal liking but everyone still loved the food. Billy Dec knows how to put together a restaurant. The layout is cute and sophisticated and the service (after being seated) was great. If you're looking for a posh night out, this is a good choice to start.
(4)Alli U.
Food: 4 Stars Service: 2 Stars My boyfriend and I went here during Restaurant Week for dinner. They offered a 6 course tasting menu (soup, sushi, salad, hot app, main course, and dessert) for 44. The menu looked delicious online, so we decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the service here was awful. First, we had to ask our server for the restaurant week menu, instead of being offered the menu right away like every other restaurant I have ever been to during restaurant week. The server "strongly recommended" that we supplement from the menu because "the portions were small" (they really weren't...not for a 6 course meal). Then, our first 3 courses were brought out all at once, and no one bussed our dishes...and our waiter seemed to have disappeared. When we finally found our waiter again and explained what was wrong, he was very apologetic, but it couldn't change the bad impression we got of the place. The food, on the other hand, was very good. I don't know that it was worth the prices on the full menu- you can find similar Asian "fusion" food in the city for much less. But, 4 stars for the food! So, I don't think we'll be returning to Sunda. I'm glad that I had a chance to try the food there, but at the regular menu prices, there's more bang for your buck elsewhere.
(3)Edwin L.
Sunda... oh sunda!!! 5 stars!? Why? Well check it out! Want to know why I'm giving this place 5 stars? Well it's only because they have THE BEST FILIPINO FOOD EVER! well.. so far... (sorry mom, tita, tito, ninang, ninong, lolo & lola) I'm saying sorry to my family for those who are not Filipino 'Mah boi' had his bachelor dinner at a Filipino upscale restaurant in downtown... something elegant before we got stupid drunk and doing what boys do... -- HOLD ON.... TIME OUT!! Is there really a upscale Filipino restaurant in downtown Chicago? Really!? I mean really!? OMG this sounds AWESOME! This is a first! Although this restaurant is an asian fusion and not limited filipino food. if you're here for sushi... your missing out still... If you ask me, the fish is fresh, sushi is sushi. Hence I didn't order sushi. DONT GET ME WRONG... i'm sure their sushi is kick ass! For Sunda I will quickly shutdown anyone ordering sushi. C'mon fine dining with Filipino food! where else can you find that? Philippines? ha! -= Decor =- The decor and patrons are screaming A-LIST of the highest end of the bougy spectrum. If you are looking for a high end romantic setting... this isn't it. It's really loud. Otherwise the the modern and edgily touch will easily be your eye candy while you enjoy your meal; as you yell (or speaking up) at your date/buddies. -= service =- The waiters, food runners and other staff are all ROCK STARS! They are on their game on knowing their food and ensuring you are well served; without over huddling around you. Hands down the best service by far. the owner himself stop by a few times to ensure we were taken care of. Since it was my buddy's bachelor dinner, he order a round of sake shots and had the head chef join us for that shot. WOW! This is truly a first. -= yum yum, ummmm the FOOD! =- We had the following served in family style: 2x Pancit Canton ($16 - crispy pork, lap cheong, shrimp, carrots, cabbage, egg noodles) 2x Loompya or Lumpia ($10 - crispy pork and shrimp shanghai style egg rolls, boston lettuce, dipping sauces) Lumpia are pastries of popiah or fried spring rolls popular in the Philippines-- fried and fresh versions 2x Crispy Pata ($24 - confit pork shank with garlic-foie scented gravy, wilted greens) A giant fried pork shank. So delicious and juicy. 2x Adobo Braised Pork Belly ($25 - vinegar, garlic, caramelized onions, herb salad, mustard greens) Pork belly used in adobo, ummm #WINNING! It was amazing! 2x Adobo Rice ($? - not on the menu) Just imagine the gravy from the Adobo Braised Pork Belly mix with rice... it was awesome! Wowzers! -= in conclusion =- Sunda is freaking awesome times a million to the infinity power plus googolplex. If you want to experience awesome filipino food, I strongly recommend SUNDA!
(5)Desirae K.
Decent place for a girls night out if you're looking for a place with an energetic atmosphere. Reservations: If you don't want to deal with the reservation hassle, go early 5:30-ish (they open at 5) and sit at the bar. On a Saturday night they don't seem to start get going until around 7 or 7:30. If you do have a reservation, they only hold the table for 15-minutes so don't be late! Cocktails: (+) bd's super fresh sakitin - I'm not even a sake fan & I liked this drink. (+/-) singapore sling - too sweet for my liking Food: Overall the rolls I had were good, but not earthshattering if I go back I'd probably stick to sushi/sashimi. Here's what we had. . . (+) spicy "tail of two tunas" (+) crunchy pig, hidden lobster (+) suzuki (seabass) (+) escolar (white tuna) (+) hamachi (yellowtail)
(3)Ashley K.
Ahh, my triumphant return to yelp after a hellish 2 months at work where I was forced to dine on takeout and home cooked meals because I didn't leave the office in time to actually go to dinner anywhere worthwhile. Fortunately Sunda was the last meal I had before my dining out hiatus and it was a good one. Aside from the fact that we had to wait about 35 minutes past our reservation time and the hostess was kind of snobby, we had a great time at Sunda. The cocktails I had were delicious - some of the best I've had in recent times. I highly recommend both the Blackberry Hime and the Toasted Ginger Snap. It was my friend's birthday so the chef came out with a complementary sake shot. Nice touch, although the magic wore off a bit when we saw him doing shots with other tables too. Onto the food. It was pretty much a pork love fest. But who doesn't love them some pork? Vegetarians I suppose, but I digress. Two of my friends are Filipino and recommended we order mostly the Filipino items on the menu, though I did stake my claim in two sushi rolls for appetizers. The Crunchy Pig Hidden Lobster Roll and the Firecracker were two of the best (if not non-traditional) sushi rolls I've had in a while. Really good. In fact, I want some of those in my rumbling belly right now. We shared several entrees: the pork belly adobo, crispy pata, and the longevity noodles with crab (I guess you've got to take a break from the pork at some point) with a couple of orders of garlic rice. I try not to think about the fact that when I'm eating pork belly I'm more or less eating a bacon steak. I mean, it's so delicious, who wants to think about the fact that I'm probably gaining weight just by looking at the damn thing. So I put that little detail out of my mind until I can't button my pants anymore (not there yet). I think it goes without saying that this was a really good pork belly. The crispy pata was also a knockout. Get it. You'll like it. The longevity noodles and the garlic rice were nice and garlicky...I sure kept the vampires away that night. After we left, I rolled my cholesterol laden self home and promptly had a heart attack. Well, no not really. But if I did, it would have been a hell of a meal to go out on.
(4)Eric W.
Excellent sushi in a club-like atmosphere. This can get a little loud though. Also great non-Sushi options
(4)Tracy H.
So I'm upset with Sudna. I have been here before on two occasion and had a wonderful time. Recently, my BF and I went there for lunch. Not a busy day. We were dressed in casual, but nice clothes. We didn't have a reservation, but it was past one, and the place wasn't that busy. We were asked, as we were being led to the lounge, if the lounge was ok. We said yes mostly because it didn't really seem like we had a choice. Anyway, the "lounge" is a long, dark, sparsely decorated area with a few small tables and bar stools. We were seated literally right next to a cash register by a small bar. I always thought this area was a waiting room. The chairs were uncomfortable and there was NO ONE else there. At all. The entire hour we were there, not one other person/couple was seated there or anywhere near us. I felt like a leper. So when I went to wash my hands, I walked through the main, giant, beautiful restaurant. Imagine my surprise when I see there are lots of people here, yet plenty of open seats. And yet, my BF and I were banished to the eternally empty "lounge." Now, here's the thing, I was upset. I felt "not good enough" and frankly this a is place you go to for the ambiance and beautiful artwork. There is none of that in the lounge. Now, our food was good, although our sushi rolls were falling apart in our bento boxes, and our waitress was lovely. But I was very upset. I wish I would have said something, but I felt weird, like I didn't want to make a scene. Anyway, I felt compelled to email a nice letter to Sunda from contact info I found on their website. That was over a week ago. They never replied. So, yeah, the food is good, if a bit pricey, but this incident really left a bad taste in my mouth. The fact that they did not email me back is quite rude. I felt they could have easily smoothed this over and retained me as a customer, but they didn't even bother and I won't be going back.
(2)M M.
Been here twice. First time I ordered a chicken fried rice dish that was OUT OF THIS WORLD good. Second time, I tried to find it on the menu and couldnt, so I asked the server, and he brought me something with dark meat chicken in it. Killed it for me. Service is good, and good atmosphere as well-those would get 5 stars in my book.
(3)Aleks S.
Finally dined at Sunda last Monday for lunch with one of my girlfriends. It was very quiet and only a few tables were taken but you could still feel comfortable in a way that the place didn't feel deserted. We had the hardest time deciding on what to get! The menu is absolutely great and offers something for everybody. We decided on the Wok Fried Shishito Peppers to start us off...and I wasn't able to get them out of my head for the rest of the week! Best snack I ever had! The sauce they marinated in makes you want to eat the whole bowl by yourself! It's a must try. The Bang! Bang! Salad also grabbed our attention so we ordered that and shared as an appetizer. It was delicious! Didn't really understand the presentation of the salad but the taste made me forget all about the oversized lettuce leaves and the hiding green noodles underneath. For our main meal which at this point we didn't even need because of the taste explosion that was already happening in our mouths, we've had the Garlic Crab Noodles and Bi Bim Bop. We shared both and both were just as good. The crab noodles is definitely something for a carb lover who likes a deep creamy taste, I enjoyed my leftovers with the Shishito peppers that night and the saltiness and freshness of them paired perfectly with the noodles. The Bi Bim Bop which is a bowl of rice with steak and vegetables was another flavor explosion on its own. Although we didn't drink, all the tastes hit our pallet in so many different ways it almost felt as if we were intoxicated at the end of our meal! Amazing!
(5)Madison A.
We were in town for a work conference and were directed to Sunda for some fantastic sushi and boy am I glad! This was honestly some of the best sushi I've had in years, but I have to put it out there that the prices are very high. Most rolls are around $18 and you will want to try a few different things on the menu if you're like me. We dined with a group of 10, everyone has 2-3 dishes and cocktails, and we racked up quite a large bill, but everyone was in agreement with how fantastic the quality of their ingredients were and amazing flavor combinations (surprises like mango and chili sauce were scattered throughout the menu!). I would recommend the stuffed avocado plate; this was by far the most interesting and delicious thing I tried all evening. The variety of sashimi I tried was great quality and very fresh. Give Sunda a try if you are in Chicago and you need fantastic sushi and price is no object. Also I recommend making a reservation.
(4)Amanda F.
Sunda's menu encompasses just about every asian-style cuisine I can think of (maybe not pho?), so I would expect some misses trying to tackle so many dishes. My one-star deduction has nothing to do with the food, but with the semi-slow service and very high prices. The food is great!! If anything, its sushi is its second fiddle to its appetizers and non-sushi shared plates I was with a group of 6 last night with a 50% industry discount. Granted there was not a lot of cost-conscious ordering, but even with no desserts, one drink per person (two of which were non-alcoholic), and a 50% discount the bill was $35 per person. For the full price of $70 per person, I would expect multiple drinks and dessert regardless of its super swank interior and Riv North zip code. But onto the food.... The hits of the night are as follows: - Oxtail Potsickers are warm little pockets of savoriness. - Pork Sunda Steamed buns are a fantistic mix of doughy bun with dry by flavorful pork and asian slaw served in slider form. yummmm. - Crispy Brussels Sprouts salad was a good portion with lots of charred flavor and not too much sauce. - Crispy Rice with Wagyu Tartare is pricey for the little rice and beef rectangles, but totally worth it. You can really taste the quality beef. Honorable mentions: - Rock Shrimp Tempura was a crowd favorite, but I prefer larger shrimp and seafood that is not fried. It really more of a gussied up popcorn shrimp, but it sounds fancy. - Pad Thai is pretty standard, but at the better end of the spectrum. Its not greasy and only $12. Sushi: We tried a few rolls that all really tasted the same. Good, but similar. The Sweet Potato caterpillar was rather forgettable, but had a nice presentation. The Scorpion and Rainbow were both fresh, but a little on the small side for those prices. Perhaps I was dazzled by the earlier orders of Steamed buns and kobe beef, but the sushi just wasn't very memorable for me. The service seemed just a tad on the slow side. I also would have appreciated a little more thought given to when to bring our dishes out from the kitchen. The dishes came as ready with no real though to when we would want the dish in the meal. I will likely be back, but not without my friend and her discount.
(4)Melissa P.
Kimchi rice. OMG it's so great. Crispy brussell sprout salad and sticky buns are always a classic. Sushi is very fresh, great service and knowledgeable staff. You definitely get what you pay for so worth the price. Better for groups to share.
(4)Emily C.
Had a gilt city offer to use. I was pleasantly surprised that the service was excellent and the portion size normal even though we had a deal. The best thing we had was the shrimp tempura bites by far. They were so good. Pork belly was a HUGE portion and delicious. The miso cod was a good light option. The sauce was great. Very see and be seen crowd. Would definitely go back. 148/365
(5)Kristin H.
*Good fun vibe/atmosphere. *Tasty wine and good service. *So so food: -lemongrass beef lollipops were dry -salmon skin maki was lacking flavor *I'd recommend: -hamachi tartar -'No you didnt' hand roll -head on prawns
(3)Christa P.
I have been to Sunda many times. But last night may have been my last. I dont think I would reccomend it to anyone. I had a 7:30pm reservation and we were not seated until 8:20. I was there for a business meeting and waited almost an hour after our reservation to be seated. This is not the first time I have experieced this wait. The food is great but not worth the hour wait when you have a reservation. There were about 20+ people that came in after us that all got seated before us. I do not think thats acceptable. And the excuse from the hostess was that "people are staying seated for longer than usual" which i would accept had there not been multiple parties of 3 that came in after us and were seated right away. I really enjoy bringing people to Sunda for dinner but there are many other resturaunts in Chicago that I will start going to instead.
(2)Brady M.
The staff was nice. Decor looked good. Food was just average. The price was not to bad. (our server did try to tell us and get 6 plates when 3 was plenty.)
(3)iddells E.
Sorry, Sunda, but we are finished. Food is great...but $18 to cut a cake?? How does cutting a cake into 6 slices justify an $18 charge? INSANELY RIDICULOUS! One other time, the busboy did not know what tap water meant. We had to settle for sparkling water and by the end of the meal, more than two-thirds was still left. $8 wasted on nasty sparkling water!
(1)Allison V.
Great food. Great service. Fun seating (tall communal tables, short tables, lounge, or outdoor patio). I went with a friend for dinner we shared the short ribs, the pork belly, the steamed buns filled with duck, the firecracker sushi roll, and finally the deep friend carrot cake filed with ice cream. We split a bottle of a fantastic pinot noir and spent the night catching up. Since the friend and I were catching up we spent a lot of time talking and did not rush through our meal. Four hours later we felt as if we were being a bother because our water stopped being refilled. If there had not have been a large number of tables open I would have graciously left, but the place was not that busy. Needless to say we had a fantastic time at a fantastic restaurant. Bike parking out front, cab pull-up in front as well.
(4)Vaidehi T.
Loved the food and the ambiance at Sunda. Like many restaurants in the neighborhood, Sunda is always bustling and crowded. Even on a week night, at 9:00pm the restaurant was quite full. The ambiance is sexy and so is the food. We ordered the ginger tofu, roasted cauliflower, veggie dumplings to share. All the dishes were fantastic. Great flavor profiles and absolutely delicious food. We also ordered one of their signature veggie rolls, which was quite delicious too. Do not, I repeat, Do not leave this place without tasting their "ridiculous" dessert. Like the name suggests, it is quite ridiculous. Just forget the calorie count and indulge in this sugar-coma inducing dessert. The only thing that they can improve on is service. While it was friendly, it was very slow. We were a group of 3 and our dinner ran over 2 hours... which is quite unusual for food like this.
(5)Angela B.
Love this place! Get the chef's tasting as it will save $$ in the long run and you get to taste the most favorite dishes! Always wonderful service and exceptional dishes!
(5)Chris G.
This is another spot we've passed a few times going to our other favorites but decided to check it out for lunch today. Sunda is nothing like I'd imagined because at first, stupid glance... you can assume that it's shallow, pretentious and sans food worth digesting. I am enthralled that was totally wrong about the good cuisine here! I started with a nice glass of Trace merlot and ordered one of the best bowls of miso I've sucked down in about 10 years... ever since my favorite Japanese place near Wrigley closed that used to make homemade sakuri mochi wrapped in toasted cherry leaf. Well this miso isn't overly-salted and is quite generous with the seaweed and tofu. WTF is up with other places skimping on something so cheap as tofu in their miso? What gives? Not Sunda. This is a nice bowl of miso that comes to the table in heavy porcelain. Next up in my lunch special were 3 tasty and most spicy tuna rolls. They're the perfect size for a lunch special and did not have me wanting to reach for wasabi. Didn't have to dip it in soy sauce. Just ate it. Finally, a huge bowl of shrimp and sea bass green curry came to the table and it was so much fish in it that a hungry guy like could me split it with my friend and we both had well enough to spill over our mounds of rice. The dish was kissed with lemongrass, peppers and pineapple in the most sensual way. i wasn't supposed to be having these erotic feelings while on the clock! I'm usually NOT a fan of green curry (prefer red or yellow) but if I can find it the way Sunda offers it, it can become my favorite. We argued about dessert and finally decided to pick both the cookie bites sampler and the thai creme anglais choc molten cake with rice crispies. We made our way through the intensely-flavored cookies bites and found that the tangerine bar (will make u say screw lemon!), molasses and brown sugar tasting cookie and the brittle were awesome. The molten cake was saved for last and I swear to you I wondered if it was New Year's because this cake was so savory, it had a pleasant hint of black-eye peas in it! I know that may seem gross to read or imagine, but this really works along with the chocolate and cream. Never had anything like it! ------ UPDATE: We've since been back to Sunda a number of times for an early lunch and it hasn't disappointed. Andrea has served us a couple of times and goes out of her way to make us feel comfortable. We are definitely fans of their taro coconut bread pudding made from brioche. The LaVazza coffee is great after a nice glass of Trace Merlot.
(4)Tony A.
One-of-a-kind place. Hip atmosphere, creative Asian cuisine -- familiar food but prepared with a twist. Incredibly special service. No wonder the place is always packed. This is where we bring special friends visiting us in Chicago!
(5)Tracy L.
It is said celebrities sometimes hang out here. Oh? First impression: Very friendly hostess and waitress. No attitude and pretense. Second Take: Pear sake was fabulous. Third Encounter: Lots of options on the menu. Truffled tataki tuna sashimi was delicious. The two-piece, melt-in-my-mouth white tuna sushi was a nice treat. Longevity noodles were tasty but you can totally make them yourself. Final Glance: Spacious, sexy and suffused with romantic dim lighting, Sunda is definitely a good date night spot. No celebrities needed to enjoy a good meal. Recommended.
(4)Jennifer G.
I've been wanting to try Sunda for months now - ever since they opened and then were on Check Please. I went in with the expectation that it would be trendy and it would be a tad expensive. What I didn't realize was that the food wouldn't live up to the hype. We started with the Bang Bang Salad. Our first negative was when our drinks didn't come until we were almost done with the salad. Does it really take 10 minutes to make a drink? The salad was then completely lack luster. It barely had any dressing / sauce and just tasted like eating raw vegetables. We then had the specialty Red Dragon roll, and I will admit that it was good. But again - no real spice on the tuna. We also had the Tako Taco - which was octopus in a unique wonton taco shell. I give them kudos for the shell, but the octopus was again dry with no spice / flavor. My husband and I both felt the drinks were lacking in alcohol, too. We ended up eating outside and we're glad we did b/c when we first went into the restaurant - it was crowded and very loud...and it was only 6 pm. We won't be back - for $100 (w/o tip), we should have been full and satisfied with our meal, and we were neither.
(2)Ann J.
I had attended a cooking class at Sunda that I won through Billy Dec. It was so much fun and quite the learning experience. We made cocktails with the mixologist. We made spring rolls and pot stickers with Chef Jess. Everything came out great and it was super easy to make. I met some of the owners and many of the staff. They gave us gift bags, which included the recipes of the things we made, a Sunda apron, and a gift card. Fantastic. So, now we had two gift cards and we needed to use them. I sent a tweet to Billy Dec and asked if he had any recommendations. He responded and said to ask for Chef Jess when we arrived. So, that's exactly what I did. Although my server kind of looked at me like I was being ridiculous, Chef Jess made his way out of the kitchen to greet us. He didn't stop there. He placed the entire dinner order for us (Chef's choice). He explained the dishes, coursed them out perfectly and basically served us the entire night. It was the best restaurant experience I have ever had. The food was dynamite. The Brussels sprout salad is obnoxiously delicious. The sushi and sashimi are so fresh. The duck breast was cooked perfectly. You really can't go wrong here. Btw, the cocktails are the best way to go. Be adventurous. Oh yah, our gift cards had expired, but we didn't know. That wasn't a problem either. The manager said it wasn't a problem. Thank you to Billy Dec, Chef Jess, and the rest of the Sunda crew for providing such great experiences. It has truly been a pleasure.
(5)Mike H.
First time at Sunda and it was great!! My girlfriend and I shared a few items and all were great. You have to get the pork belly on a skewer, it melts in your mouth. Save room for the Sunda Sunday for dessert, you wont be disappointed. I asked for the Chef, Jess De Guzman, to come out to thank him and he was very nice. Cant wait to go back to Sunda!!!
(5)Sally B.
We came here for a special occasion. Excellent. It was fantastic. Just go and have fun. Some of these reviews are way, way off. The Brussels sprout salad is fantastic. Great service. Great time.
(5)Tricia D.
The good: totally a fan of the drinks! Try the mai tai, rising sun cocktail (with macadamia nut liqueur), or taffy apple! The pre-dinner rice with sweet sauce and onion was a cute take on the typical "bread basket". The bad: took a while for the food to come out. The charsiu bbq pork was dry, but I always love me some white rice. The sushi rolls we tried (crunchy pig, hidden lobster and spicy "tale of two tunas") were nothing mind blowing. A's chicken was ordinary and definitely something you've tasted before. The ugly: I's wine was served in a cracked glass! Danger! The manager was nice enough to come out and bring some alcohol wipes and bandaids and comp'ed the drink though. Like the decor. It's trendy and sleek; just be careful not to run into the glass dividers throughout the restaurant! +100 on Opentable and $12 for valet.
(3)Seina L.
Went to celebrate a birthday! Our waiter was amazing!! I told our waiter that we had to leave by a certain time to make a show! We ordered two appetizers and the second one was slightly delayed (came out maybe 5 minutes later) which honestly wasn't a problem, but our waiter comped that appetizer off our bill!! The food was amazing - I would highly recommend the kimchi rice side dish, amazing! Then our waiter toward the end of the meal brough a cake and a card signed by the whole staff with a ten dollar certificate in it!! He didn't have to do that, but the service was impeccable! The food, the service and experience was absolutely terrific! We will definitely be coming back!
(5)Cristina S.
Never coming back here again. Not because I think it was horrible, but I can think of many other sushi places way tastier than Sunda. I honestly do not understand the hype, other than maybe the clubby decor and good large drink selection, including craft cocktails that you would normally not find in the smaller Chicago sushi establishments. We had the crispy brussels sprout salad, it was good. The rolls were meh, not a lot of taste and the fish didn't seem as fresh as I would have liked. We also ordered a spicy citrus scallop dish which was horrid. I could not eat it. Raw slimy scallop, doused in a redish lemony sauce on lettuce and in a rice cracker cup. Texture and taste ughhhhh. This dish just sealed the deal for me. Service was inconsistent. We wanted a bottle of wine and asked to taste it before we ordered the whole bottle. Our waitress seemed annoyed by that and very rushed to get to other patrons. I asked for a gluten free menu and she looked at me like I was crazy (they do have one and its advertised on their website). Towards the end she redeemed herself by being nicer and checking on us a few times. Didn't bother to check if we liked our dishes though, especially the last one which went back almost untouched. Dissapointed :(
(2)Benjamin F.
Poor Service. We use to come a lot but we change to Roka. Bad service, some food was good, but we saw our wAiter every 20 minutes. I used to make big psrties, not anymore.
(1)Carla C.
I'm always a little skeptical of anything "Asian fusion." What's so fusion about mango chicken? Which seems to be on every menu at these kinds of places. End rant. Sunda absolutely delivered. Actually, it exceeded any expectation I might have had. The Space: Although I was traveling alone, I was told reservations were a must, so I made one. But when I walked in, the only place where I wanted to sit was their lounge area just to the right of the entrance. It drops down a few steps to make it an even cozier little area. You could either sit on the wraparound communal bench with your back turned towards the street/window + admire the whole restaurant or you could sit on the wobbly stool facing the street/window + people watch. I chose to admire the restaurant. It's a pretty cool space, super high ceilings, dimly lit all around. There's a sushi bar, a long communal table in the middle of the main dining room, and then tables all around. The Service: My hostess was definitely a bit rude in the "I'm speaking to you in a really polite tone, but deep down really don't feel like talking to you" kind of way, so I was beyond happy to have been given a server who was the complete opposite. Noelle - not the peppy "let me brown nose my way for a better tip" kind of server. She was a low-key kind of friendly, not over the top. She was also gorgeous! Totally girl crushed on this woman. BONUS! I am a Foursquare superuser, and therefore received 20% off my bill because I "checked in." Noelle had no idea about the promotion, but she was happy to honor it. The Food: The reason I chose to dine here was because a particular item caught my eye: Pork Adobo Flake Fried Rice. I am part Filipino, and Adobo (I prefer chicken) is a super popular Filipino dish I grew up with. I'd never seen it on a menu in a real U.S. restaurant before (other than my local hole-in-the-wall, home-cooking kinds of places). But adobo fried rice??? I had to try this. So I ordered: Pork Adobo Flake Fried Rice (5 stars) - This can be shared or enjoyed as an entrée. With a fried egg on top, this was tasty, had depths of flavor, rice was well-cooked, perfect balance of saltiness/soy sauce & garlic (really important in adobo), meaty chunks of pork (hate it when it's so fatty), an overall winner. Chicken & Mushroom Meatball (5 stars) - Three skewers with meatballs each. Served hot & fresh, very tender, juicy, delicious, another winner. Longevity Garlic Noodles (3.75 stars) - This is definitely a good side dish to share, and I think is more enjoyable in smaller portions. I could definitely taste the butter & the garlic without it being overkill. Could've used another ingredient to me, maybe a fresh herb, but that's just me. The noodles were a little too soft for me, but I'm not sure if that's how it's supposed to be cooked. I'm probably being picky, but oh well! Tellin' it like how I tasted it. ;) I do realize this is alot of food for a tiny girl, but when I travel alone I try to make friends with table next to me so I can share my food. As soon as it arrives, I'm always like, "Omg this is so much food... Would you please have some?" :) I hate wasting food! And it's not like I can heat it up in my hotel room. When unsuccessful at befriending a table, I give away to the first homeless person I see. Wish I had more people with me because there is soo much more on the menu I would love to try! Not going to start naming them because it messes with Yelp's review highlights. I will definitely be back, Sunda. Thank you for one amazing, memorable meal. I was here 6 weeks ago, but the flavors are still so clear to me. That definitely translates into: You must dine here.
(5)S I.
Went here on a recommendation from Check Please. Decor is super nice as they said. Food was mediocre at best. Crispy Pata- Was bone dry and lacked flavor. I hit it several times with my knife and I can hear a thud sound. I've had authentic Pata before and it was never dry like this. The sauces they served with it Pata wasn't good either. Tastes like watered down Hoisen sauce. Beef Lollipops-Flavor was ok. But the serving of sliced beef was way smaller than I imagined. It's very deceiving when it comes out. I would say at max about 3 oz if not 2 oz of beef for about $20. Bleh. Dragon Roll-Very uninspired. They tried to serve it nice but the rice was mushy and overdone. Not much seasoning on the rice. Figures all the sushi chefs are of Hispanic descent. Would've expected some Asian folks behind a sushi counter at a restaurant of this caliber. Miso soup-Organic really doesn't make a difference in taste. Adobo Rice (suggestion from server)-It was good but wayy too much burnt/charred rice mixed in that made it unpleasant to eat. Server-MIA for most of the meal had to flag him down on several occasions. We had tons of food leftover and usually the server will ask you if something is wrong with that much food left over but I guess the dont give a hoot. I asked my friend before I went and he told me it was overrated and overpriced...I should've listened to him. :( I'm really not picky I'm really not! :) FAIL
(1)Wendy O.
Absolutely fab! Possibly your best meal in Chicago. Going back in 2 days. Ryan was awesome server! Oh yes, do not miss the Brussels sprout specialty dish. I hate veggies, but this dish was flat out yum. Upbeat atmosphere. Seattle dining duo.
(5)Rebecca N.
I went here twice within two weeks. For someone who doesn't eat out all that often, that says a lot. Both times I went with girlfriends for the Sunda Social special which is their happy hour and food special from 5-7 Monday-Friday. This is the way to do Sunda if you are on a budget. The items on this menu (and a lot of their staple items are on it!) are half off. I listed the half-off prices to show what a great deal it really is. Both times it was only $23 a person! The first time I went, I went with 4 other girls and we shared everything. Some of us got the Mah Thai which was their special drink for the day and it tasted excellent. For appetizers we got the edamame ($2.50), rock shrimp tempura ($7.50) and brussel sprout salad ($7). They are pretty large portions--definitely enough to share with 5 people. The brussel sprout salad may be the most amazing salad and version of brussel sprouts I have EVER had!!! The shrimp glaze/dressing that goes over it is absolutely delicious. The rock shrimp is also to die for. For rolls we got the firecracker ($7.50), dragon ($8), tale of two tunas ($8). Firecracker is deep fried which I do not like-- I would not recommend this one. Dragon roll was also good. Basic shrimp and eel--can't really go wrong here. It did not stand out as original, but it was tasty. The tale of two tunas was the best roll of the night. Fresh and a little different than your classic spicy tuna. The fried shallots of top add a great crunch and is different than the basic tempura flake. In addition, we tried the hand cut spicy tuna and jalapeño on top of the crispy rice from the regular menu. This was okay. I thought the tuna lacked flavor and my friend said it was must better the first time she had it-- maybe it was just a bad batch! To end, we got the "Ridiculous" dessert. This was exceptional. Vanilla ice cream surrounded by ginger carrot cake and carmel. I die AND it is HUGE!!!! I came again with one friend who was dying to try Sunda and I was very excited to go back. For appetizers we got the brussel sprout salad and the toast and jam ($7.50). Sharing between two people you really realize how big the portions actually are. The toast and jam has such a cute nostalgic presentation. We tried the chicken and mushroom meatballs ($4.50) which were also outstanding. The hot mustard and sweet and sour sauce gives it that classic chinese flavor in a gourmet setting. For rolls, we went with the golden child ($7) and tale of two tunas. The golden child may be my most favorite roll I have ever tried! For a mango and escolar fanatic, this was my dream. Sweet and fresh. We ended with the ridiculous again and it did not disappoint. This restaurant truly lives up to the hype. I would avoid the communal seating because the benches do not have a back. I would reccomend going with 2 other people and sitting at the sushi bar. The service is absolutely outstanding. Water is filled instantly when your glass is half full and they fold your napkins when you leave. You really do feel like royalty here! The waiters I had both times gave great suggestions and I can't wait to go back again :)
(5)Joe G.
Felt compelled to weigh in on this gem. Often these Asian restaurants are over thought and the food doesn't live up to the presentation. Service was great. Highlights - Corn fritter Tuna crab cake - bar none best ahi I have had. I will preface this by saying I order it at least 5 times a month. Seabass - also fantastic and a huge portion. Overall a wonderful experience.
(5)Chelsea H.
Went to Sunda for lunch with coworkers to celebrate a birthday booked our reservation thru gdine.com and we were not disappointed HUGE portions I had the steak and my coworkers had the salmon everything was deelish! Will definitely be back!
(4)Jean-Paul M.
Went back again expecting another amazing dinner and was a little disappointed. I still like this place and will go back but everything we had was a little bland tasting.
(4)Tim G.
Just dined here tonight with a good friend after it came highly recommended by a few co-workers. I had youtubed a video on it which really stirred my interest. It's all in tagalog, which I speak, so for non-speakers you might find it hard to follow. But of course, it's all about the food, and that needs no words. youtube.com/watch?v=KTQf… Here's what we ordered: Mizu Martini (Watermelon) Lychee Luxury Drop Martini Appetizers: Ox Tail Pot Stickers Adobo Flake Fried Rice Main Dishes: Crispy Pata Honey-Ginger Braised Beef Shortrib Congee Review: The drinks were to be expected, a bit on the sweet side for the Lychee, but very good. We found the appetizers to be well-balanced. I particularly liked the Ox Tail pot stickers. They were truly different and the ox tail had good flavor. The sauce was similar to Toyo-mansi (for those familar with filipino sauces) maybe leaning more towards a citrus mirin/ponzu sauce. The Adobo Flake Fried Rice was also very good. It was a little reminiscent of the filipino-style breakfast rice dishes (Tapsilog, Longsilog, Tocilog) It was quite garlicky so for those who are put off by that, beware. I'm always a sucker for a fried egg atop rice, it makes me feel at home. Not too sweet, not to sour and definitely not too vinegary as some Adobo-infused dishes can be. Overall a well-balanced dish and flavorful dish. The main courses we found to be quite exquisite. The Crispy Pata was very tender and will be well received for those Lechon (roasted pig) lovers. The sauce it came with was very similar to the Sarsa Lechon that is always served with filipino style roasted pork, but with a slight hint of chili. It also came with some picked radish salad that was decent. We both really enjoyed the Honey-Ginger Beef Shortrib and Congee combination. I'm not a fan of arroz caldo only because I had overkill growing up. My mom would always make it when someone was sick and in large quantities, but this was something else. After watching the youtube video on this, I had to try it. The large quantity of beef was literally falling off the bone, spoon and fork tender, nicely seasoned. Literally, to-die-for style beef. The congee was good, could've used a bit more of it, but its taste complimented the beef well. They make the congee with butter and the drippings from the beef so it is overall a rich dish. Easily enough for two, but some/most will not want to share. Our bill came out to $106 before tip and valet ($11.99+tip). While it is on the pricey end, the food experience was well worth it. We left happy and will gladly come back. I'm actually planning on scheduling a group/family dinner here for my college grad in a few months.
(5)Jay G.
good place for asian fusion and sushi. it can get a bit loud so be mindful of noise level. we ate the duck fried rice, a few different types of sushi rolls all which were good. id pass on the fire chicken, seemed to be a bit greasy. overall 3.5 stars and id eat here again. we lucked out getting in without a reservation as it quickly filled up and there was a long wait so id highly recommend making a reservation. the server was excellent.
(3)Erkan Z.
Trendy ambiance. Great, kindly service. Good food, delicious sushis. Crispy Brussel sprout salad (3/5) Maguro sashimi (4/5) Rock shrimp tempura (4/5) Crispy rice with tuna (3/5) Baked seafood dynamite roll (5/5) Red dragon roll (5/5) Lobster and wagyu roll (4/5) Ridiculous -dessert- (4/5)
(4)Kate S.
I was here for the first time Saturday night working at the Piven Theater benefit...and I will definitely be back. The VIP dinner was upstairs in a private room, and they did a great job accommodating all the benefit guests. As an employee of the theater, I was busy working all night so I didn't get an authentic dining experience by any means, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself even with all the hard work. The cocktails they were serving guests looked and sounded delicious (although gala staffers weren't allowed to drink until after everything was over at 11pm, and this was all happening at 5:00, so we only got to look, not taste). As we meandered around the room mingling with guests and preparing for the live auction, the wait staff were bringing out courses upon courses of food, and it all smelled and looked so good. We were all getting extremely hungry, and very jealous that all these people were getting fed. About 15 of us volunteers/theater employees were in one of the random back hallways of the restaurant on these crazy Asian inspired couches that were super comfy and stylish (there are so many twists and turns in the hallways of this place I still don't understand it)...then suddenly 3 guys in chef uniforms came out with 4 platters of food, asked us if we were the volunteers, and they fed us! Oh man it was great...I don't know if I was just starving from looking and smelling the food all night, but it was some of the best food ever...and it was even presented very well and looked very pretty, but it only lasted a second because the 15 starving staffers were like vultures picking over road kill. We had 3 things to try, including some pork spring rolls with two kinds of dipping sauce (sweet and sour and something that was spicy and green...both very good). There were also a variety of sushi rolls on a platter, and fried shrimp tempura. I am still salivating while thinking of the shrimp...some of the best I've ever had, and one of the first things gone when they brought it out. Unfortunately I was on the far side of the couch from that platter and only got a piece or two, but had I known it was that good I would have trampled everyone else to get there first. Later in the night we came back to pack up some stuff, and the downstairs bar and restaurant was still packed, even around midnight. The ambiance in the place is very swanky...relaxed, but still upscale. Totally my kind of place. And the whole restaurant still smelled amazingly delicious...somehow all the dishes there must really compliment each other. Usually sushi/Asian restaurants smell fishy and the amalgam of dishes leave an unappetizing stench...but not Sunda. I can't wait to come back and try the much talked about brunch (one of the bartenders was talking about the mimosas they have and I made a mental note to come check it out for myself), as well as some of the other entrees that everyone else seemed to enjoy so much during the event. I can't give 5 stars because I haven't truly been a customer yet....but all in good time.
(4)Marisol D.
My hubby and I ordered an array of items and none were a disappointment.
(4)Sal D.
Our server was excellent. Lively atmosphere. We ordered sushi and maybe it's because I've lived too long out West but the quality was relatively lacking for such a highly rated restaurant
(3)Jaimey W.
Stumbled on this place whilst roaming the streets of Chicago and SO glad I did. The food is fantastic - great, FRESH rolls - loved the Summer of Sunda Roll (tuna, escolar, basil, mango, avocado, asparagus, soy paper, ponzu sauce). The Lemongrass Beef Lollipops (skewered on the lemongrass) were also delish! Good sushi is good sushi... however, paired with a great, after work young and sexy atmosphere AND killer cocktails = recipe for a sick day. I will absolutely go here again.
(4)ZZ K.
Sunda take 1 - The first time we came here it was my fiance, my mom and I celebrating birthdays. Despite the attentive service, we all felt the food was just SUPER salty. I actually felt a bit stiffed, especially when you come here with these grand expectations, only to be drinking down tons of water to get the salty taste out of your mouth after each bite of food. We did mention that we thought the food was salty, but we didn't complain about it...and nothing was really done. Sunda take 2 - Now....move ahead a year and a half later and I'm brought back to Sunda for a company holiday party. Sadly, no spouses, but I felt he could come along and have a drink a the bar ($75 later...). Anyhoo - the food I had this time was really tasty. indo corn fritters chicken and mushroom siu mai lemongrass beef lollipops - AWESOME! Also, there were a number of sushi rolls, noodle salad and ahi tuna. My hubby had a great tasting hand roll called "no you didn't...the ultimate handroll" and pancit canton - a nice noodle dish with pork and shrimp. He also could not help himself and ordered a dessert! He opted for for some kind of pineapple upside down cake (a special) and it was really tasty! I actually had bites of everything he had. So our opinoins have changed in regards to the food. As everyone knows, this place is a total scene. The bar is packed and everyone looks at one another and you may see someone famous, or someone trying to be famous, or someone whose company has been paid for that evening...but that is all part of the experience here. The food really goes hand-in-hand with the scene "experience". Get pretty and go to Sunda.
(4)Bonnie A.
Goodness, this place was sooo expensive. The food was really delicious though. I guess that made up for it. The truffle tataki was amazing but anything with truffle oil is good. The crispy rice was as good as they made it sound. The adobo braised pork belly was fatty and marinated perfectly. This place definitely deserves high ratings since every entree were scrumptious. You can taste that each entree was expensive.
(4)Mihir P.
The food and atmosphere is excellent. The service on the other hand SUCKS BIGTIME. Here is why: - Hostess was socially awkward and when seating us, she had no idea where she was going. - Before I met my buddy for lunch at Sunda, I was out Black Friday shopping and bought a new food product so I was showing it to him. The hostess said she has to hold it at the hostess stand. I told her we weren't going to eat it and I was just showing it to him. She insisted on the policy and wasn't polite about it. I used to work in the restaurant business and I understand that restaurants don't want outside food and beverages being consumed on their premises but this is ridiculously anal. - While we were waiting for our food. A food runner was serving the table adjacent to ours. He hit the chair next to me pretty hard and it hit my knee. I said "Ahhh". He just looked at me and walked away. - We didn't receive soy sauce with our spicy tuna rolls and when I asked another waiter, he was pissy about it. - Our waiter was pleasant but service was spotty. Overall, the staff there was miserable. I'm VERY surprised that there isn't better training at Sunda and that hiring more socially confident people is tough in this economy.
(2)Antoine J.
Great vibe - great food. Went with a group and we had the waiter surprise us. The brussel sprout salad was awesome, as were the dragon rolls. We'd definately go again.
(4)Olga C.
Interesting and inventive Asian-inspired cuisine. The sushi was not the best, but decent. There is quite a bit more on the menu than sushi and probably worth checking out (as the sushi is a bit overpriced). The decore was welcoming and whimsical, but not beat-you-over-the-head whimsical. The presentation of the food was another plus - a fun twist. Excellent service with knowledgeable staff.
(4)Crystal X.
dined during lunch hours: not as busy as dinner or weekend. cocktails: lychee martini (great as usual), house saki lunch: seaweed sunomono salad (over priced), hamachi, maguro, escolar over priced menu-- more reason to come back for their happy hour during the week day.
(3)Nocciola H.
I went here Sunday night and enjoyed myself. The staff is quick to clean the tables after each course, and refill water. I did NOT like how ice wasn't included with the water though. I DID like how trendy and intimate the place was. The food was really good too (not much of a sushi person)... On the pricey side. For dessert we got some type of icecream that i've never had before... it was good. The music was loud, but i could still have a conversation with the person next to me. I would go back! :)
(4)Adam M.
The ambiance here is great, I loved the Asian decor and it was a very fun place to eat. My girlfriend and I split a total of four dishes and I enjoyed each one (Loompya, Rock Shrimp Tempura, Adobo Braised Pork Belly, and the Firecracker Sushi Roll) I can't wait to go back to try some of the other options; there were so many great things listed on their menu. One dish that MUST be ordered here is the Rock Shrimp Tempura. Our waiter mentioned that it is the most ordered dish and I can definitely see why. One word... AMAZING!
(4)Stephanie J.
the Peared Sake drink is AMAZING! and I love the brussel sprout salad.
(4)Chester W.
I'm not a huge fan of asian fusion and Sunda seems to try and incorporate a little something from every east asian and southeast asian cuisine. I've only sampled their sushi and will give it a B- rating. The variety of fish was pretty mediocre and the quality/freshness was decent. Rice on the nigiri and rolls was cold and a bit too wet (meaning that the chefs probably dipped too many fingers in the water when they scooped up the rice). Perhaps the dark lighting did not help the visual appeal of the fish... I feel like really good and fresh fish seem to look very vibrant. The rolls were pretty weird too and definitely had a local influence (who puts BACON on rolls?!?!). If you consider yourself a sushi snob, then I would not recommend this place. Certainly, people there seemed to be enjoying what they thought was sushi... but my table seemed to be the only one that actually ordered nigiri. One great thing was that the servers and chefs there were really friendly and helpful.
(3)Michelle F.
Ok, so Sunda. I was excited to go here, but I gotta say....WAAAYYY over priced for what you get. Now, I knew going in to it it was expensive, and if the food was outstanding I would be fine with that. But it wasn't. It was ok. First, I was annoyed because we were seated at 7:30 for our 7:00 reservation. Jerry Seinfeld knows how annoying this is.....HOLDING the reservation is the most important part. Anyways, we sit down, our server is nice, but slow. We get a sushi roll and pork belly bao buns and both were delish. I got a Vietnamese noodle dish for my main course and it left something to be desired. My boyfriend's short ribs were very tender, but also bland. It cost me $35 for two drinks. After all is said and done, I will not be returning. You are paying for the hype, and that's about it.
(2)Andrea B.
Came here on Christmas Day (yikes!) with the bf's family and my mom. It was crowded of course (being Christmas we expected lots of people) but we were seated promptly which was nice (FYI they would not seat us until all of our party was together, so if people are running late, etc. plan accordingly). We refused to pay the $11.99 valet service fee. really? The ambiance of Sunda is nice, with warm lights and Asian inspired decor. However, it is LOUD. I could barely hear myself think. My mom, who has trouble hearing, could barely make out anything people were saying right next to her, let alone the waiter talking about the menu at the other end. We basically had to shout at one another at one table.They had music playing, which in the end, was not needed as people's voices took over any sound in the speakers. gross. They have Sapporo on tap, so that's good. My mom wanted a mango ice tea. Several minutes later, servers set down two carafes of plain ice tea and soda water. They then set down mango and pomegranate syrup so we could mix the flavors into our drink of choice. A nice effort, but there was no explanation of how much syrup to mix in a glass, or why we had to mix our own drinks in the first place. We had to help my mom get her own glass of mango ice tea because she didn't understand the concept, and really...I can't blame her. Appetizers were decent but overpriced in my opinion. Everyone seemed to be raving about the brussel sprout salad, but I...just didn't like it. It felt overcooked but no one else complained, so I guess I have weird tastes. The egg rolls tasted like hot dogs, and the crab dish we ordered came in a pot of cooked hot peppers that seemed only to serve as decoration since the crab itself was not spicy. I will say...the shrimp toast with tuna "jam" was the best thing we ordered. I usually don't eat tuna, but this was amazing and the textures were just right. I recommend it highly! The entrees were better. We ordered chicken, sea bass, braised short rib, and pork. The ribs fell right off the bone and was seasoned nicely. The chicken was decent, but nothing to write home about. The pork skin was a little too crispy for my taste, but otherwise delicious. The bass was cooked perfectly and tasted great (I recommend that one too!). We were pretty full by this point, but we ordered a few desserts to try. My mom insisted on the chocolate lava cake, which was AMAZING. I love chocolate and anything that oozes chocolate, so that was a win. The fried ice cream also gets my vote..for some reason it tasted like something from my childhood, which brought back crazy memories of summer for some reason. The chef's special dessert of the evening was a walnut/caramel cake with strawberry compote and that was...interesting but not my fave; I found it to be on the heavier side than the rest of the desserts. all in all, an enjoyable experience but I'm not sure if I want to return. Too pricey for what you get; and what you get is a loud room with mediocre appetizers.
(3)Adam G.
This place is four stars for the food. The rock shrimp was delicious and all the rolls were fantastic as well. And this place is two stars for the service. We ordered a mix of appetizers, rolls and entrees (6 in all for 2 people) and all the dishes ended up on the table at the same time at one point. Not well paced and entire meal was done in less than 40 minutes. Don't order all your items at once to avoid the same fate.
(2)Sarah M.
After reading through the reviews, I was unsure of how my experience at Sunda was going to be. I have been wanting to try this place for 2 years now, but never had a chance. Finally, the day arrived! I was hopeful that it would be a five star, but sadly it was not. I went there last night and got there 5 minutes before the reservation time and checked in with the hostess. The other guest in my party arrived on time, and even though it was the two of us, on time, we watched the hostess seat 5 other different sized groups that came in after us. We waited 15 minutes to be seated even though the dining area was empty, not cool. The interior is chic, and inviting. Once we were seated our waiter immediately came over to take our drink orders even though we were still taking off scarves and coats and settling in. At first he was friendly, but he became forgetful and bothersome by the time we were done. For drinks, my friend had the pear cocktail, it was good. I ordered a Lychee Luxe drop, not my favorite at all. It tasted like shrimp cocktail sauce strangely. We ordered the Bao's with pork belly, just all right, the sauce they were in masked the flavor of the other components. I also ordered the crab garlic noodles, wayyyyyyyyyy too much garlic, it masked the flavor of that poor delicate crab meat. My friend got 2 sushi rolls, she said they were excellent, Sunda Rainbow roll and Salmon Skin roll. We wanted a second round of drinks, but our waiter didn't ask if we were interested and instead brought the check. Between all the pomp and circumstance, I'll go elsewhere in the future.
(2)Kelly M.
Had a great time! Came for a bachelorette party and they spoiled us with the chefs table, free appetizer and dessert. Food was delicious and atmosphere was fun! Super nice staff too.
(4)Moe N.
Was there Friday, January 27 with a few friends. Had some of the best Sushi that I've ever had in my life. The spicy tuna roll was really good but the Tale of Two Tuna was even better. Our server was a beast. He recommended what was really good and told us what wasn't. I'm gonna come back here soon, I'm already craving it.
(5)Graciela D.
This experience was top notch without paying top dollar thanks to "www.gdine.com". The food was incredible, service personable and an overall excellent value.
(5)Misty B.
I've been to Sunda for numerous occasions. Girls' Night, Birthday (mine), Holidays, Weekends, with reservations and without. It's by far one of the best dining experiences in the city. The atmosphere is lively, upbeat and best of all you are able to have a conversation with the group, friends, date you're with because there isn't obnoxious music playing in the background. The service is perfection... from the Bar, servers, host and chefs! They all extremely knowledgeable about the food & drink selection. As well as VERY helpful and creative for those of us (me) Vegetarians. Just let your server know your restrictions and the kitchen will prepare something amazing! The Food will rock your world... My favorites are the Brussel Sprout Salad, Garlic Noodles and the Veggie Roll. Their Veggie roll is by far some of the best I've had in the city AND I find myself craving the Brussel Sprout Salad! I would recommend ANY food lover to try Sunda... trust me. These taste buds wouldn't send you in the wrong direction.
(5)Meredith G.
Another great recommendations from yelpers when looking for a cool lunch spot near the Mart. We had to walk in the rain a bit, but it was worth it to get fresh air. I was able to make a reservation on-line which I love and the restaurant called me the day before to confirm. The interior is appealing to the eye and we were seating near the back past the sushi bar and were able to see everything leaving the kitchen and it all looked good. The steamed buns with duck are a must. We each could've eaten the plate of 4 solo. I got the spicy steak salad (take a look at my picture) and it was very tasty. I don't do spicy a lot, so I had to pick off some of the pepper flakes since my mouth was on fire. Over all experience was pleasant, but it got very loud. I can't imagine eating here at night and trying to talk to anyone.
(3)Jeffrey Z.
Last night was our third visit to Sunda, and it never disappoints. The plates here are made to share, so we always try a lot of different items. The shishito peppers are our favorite appetizer--they're so simple yet delicious. The beef lollipops are great as well. The mushroom and asparagus salad is delicious with just enough freshness to bring up the grilled vegetables and some great crunch. We tried the shitaki and edamame dim sum, which was very good, and the ginger sauce it was served with was superb (I started using it on everything). The highlight for me was the beef short rib, which was fall-apart tender and moist with great sauce. The lamb was great as well, and the truffle mushroom brown rice that came with it was definitely one of my favorite bites of the night. The only thing that underwhelmed me was dessert. We shared the chocolate mousse, which was good, but the cake it was served on was dry. I can definitely let that slide after the amazing food we had. It's a loud place, so keep that in mind if you're looking to get into deep conversations at dinner. Despite the noise, the service is wonderful. Our waiter was great, and the food never took long at all. Sunda is a must-try.
(5)Sharon L.
Ok, let's get the downers out of the way: very loud (I.e. Had to lip read to 'hear' dining partner across the table), but then again, it was a Saturday night at 730pm. Miso soup came cold. That's it for the downside. Trendy, hip ambience. Groovy decor. Waitstaff and runners amazing. All apps and sushi were very good. Great drinks. Perhaps not "the greatest sushi I've ever had", but the whole experience was overall pleasant, and I would return....jet maybe not on a Saturday night!
(4)Adam M.
Strolled into Sunda for lunch a couple times this last week after seeing an advertisement for their lunch special. Nice place, good food and relatively quick to get in and out on for a lunch. Only a couple minor complaints. Made the mistake of sitting at the sushi bar, felt like I was sitting at one of my kids school desks. Seats were pretty small and at 6'4", felt a little awkward and uncomfortable in them. Took the community table the second time. Second, a little stingy on the soy. Gave me like two tablespoons both times for two rolls and a few sushi pieces. You'd think there was a soy shortage. Definitely would go back for lunch, not sure however if I'd wait for a table or deal with the crowd on a busy weekend night.
(4)Tom B.
Had an amazing lunch last week ! Service needs a little attention, but all in all the food was remarkable!
(4)Roberto G.
Pad Thai noodle Pork buns good Filipino food.
(4)Sam S.
Jennifer was our sushi guide for the evening. She recommended the Crunchy Pig - Hidden Lobster roll, and it was awesome.
(4)Christine J.
I have eaten dinner at Sunda many times. The food and service were always excellent. I have had the Crispy Rice with Tuna, Rock Shrimp Tempura (which is my favorite) and the Oxtail Pot Stickers for appetizers. All were delicious! All of the sushi was fresh and melts in your mouth. I love the Chilean Sea Bass and the Black Cod. The scene is trendy and loud. I would go here on a date as well as with a large group .
(4)Jamie L.
Simply put, spectacular. Great sushi, great entrees, amazing cocktails and perfect waiter service. It's no surprise Sunda has become one of the most popular spots in the city right now, and Michelin recommended. Reminded me of Japonais, but I liked the atmosphere at Sunda just a bit more.
(5)Yvonne O.
I went here for lunch with a colleague one Friday and LOVED every minute of the experience. Unfortunately, it was during Lent, so I had to skip some of the delicious things I was planning on trying, but I enjoyed branching-out and trying a green curry (SPICY!) I also got a spicy tuna item which was delcious and one of the special sodas that you basically create yourself at the table in a fun beaker. It is not a quick lunch, but when you have a litte extra time, it is well worth the trip from the loop and the time!
(5)James B.
Really great meal. Best part about Sunda is the décor and ambiance. The sushi is quite good, and even though we sat at the sushi bar on a Friday night at 7pm, our service was great. I highly recommend it for some drinks and bites before going out in the area. A couple bourbons, Rock shrimp tempura, duck bao, and lobster rolls are a great way to start the night.
(5)Dennis L.
I had the opportunity to visit Sunda on a business lunch, and it was as good as expected. We chose to get a few appetizers and a few rolls to share. The Rock Shrimp Tempura was out of this world. I would order that dish every time I walked through the door. The Duck....What...Pork? was also delicious. We went with the pork belly which was cooked perfectly and flavorful. I only wish I could have ordered half pork belly and half duck. Given the name of the dish, I think that would be a natural option. For our maki, we ordered the Spicy "Tail of Two Tunas" and the Scorpion. I love sushi, and I was not floored with either of the rolls. I did not feel like either was a good value nor anything truly unique. Nonetheless, they were solid rolls, but not work the price. Our server was very friendly and patient as we took our time to order the maki. Over all, a good experience.
(4)Gigi Y.
Why haven't I visited this place sooner? Thankfully I had a good group of individuals who recommended some great menu items for me to try! Below lists what we ordered--and every single one of these were absolutely delicious and well worth the money spent: - Oxtail Potstickers - Crispy Pata (confit pork shank) - Lobster and wagyu roll - The "Ridiculous" Dessert - tempura fried vanilla ice-cream & carrot cake dipped in caramel and topped with toasted walnuts. YES, it was ridiculously AWESOME! Cocktail of choice? The Divine Lychee: Belvedere black raspberry, Grand marnier, lychee, guava puree. I mean, helloo!? Enough said here. :)
(5)Rits T.
Love everything here. Decor to food to service. Enjoy my brunch. Recommended!
(4)R P.
Great drinks. Tasty food. Trendy Ambiance. I'd definitely recommend this place for fun date, night out w/ the friends, or in general. Food: Rock shrimp is good. Rolls are also good. And there are a couple of good vegetarian options as well (veggie appies seemed more appetizing than veggie entrees - my friend got the Pad Thai for her main dish, which was fresh but mediocre in taste; but we also got Indo Corn fritters and Eggplant/Tofu veggie appies and they were very good). Finally, I highly recommend the Kobe Beef Tartare. Creative made and very good. Service: Fine, no problems. Servers were friendly / accommodating both times I went. Cocktails: Quite vibrant and at times a bit too flavorful, but I'd still recommend trying the Peared Sake, Azure Dragon, Divine Lychee and Serenity. Well made and refreshing.
(4)Jim O.
I went here completely based on reviews. I was not sure i would enjoy because i usually stray from the pretentious moniker, or any place that may be trendy to the point of being mistaken for a dance club. So i went early. 6pm. Seriously. Service: All were friendly, our server was attentive and knowledgable and made great recommendations. Food: Insanely fabulous. Braised spare ribs, seared crab crusted ahi tuna and rock shrimp everyone talks about. So good. The rock shrimp tempura was great, spicy and hit with some candied walnuts. The tuna was amazing. It was a fusion on sushi, and was completely solid. I'm not sure what i can say about the spare ribs. I would order it as my last meal on earth. So tender, great flavors. Drinks: Tried a few specialty cocktails and did not disappoint. Very innovative and refreshing. Atmosphere: Asian Fusion, tasteful, sparse. I have a feeling i was happy i got there early, as I bet this place would be hard to have a conversation in around 9pm. Price: I'f you are going here, you obviously are prepared to spend above $100 per person. You can go way higher depending on your entree and drinks. It's all worth it, perfect place for an impressive dinner. I was skeptical. Completely impressed, one of the top 5 meals I have ever had. Go there.
(5)Mary L.
COCKROACHES!!!! ran on my friends arm!! SUCKED!! Serviice SUCKS!! People sucked!!! I would NOT go there if it was FREE!!! no taste to the food. if you could call it that I would not feed my dog that SH,IT!!! Billy Deck. you should be ASHAMED!! Total CRAP!!!! Distgusting, no toilett paper or soap in ladies room!!! should be shut down inmmediately11111 way over priced1111
(1)Laura N.
You do not have to eat sushi to enjoy dining at Sunda. But this is a great place for beginners or experienced sushi lovers. Plenty of other great options are on the menu though. This place is swanky by night and is more casual by day. When in doubt err on the side of business casual at the least. Or at least dust off your nice jeans and leave the Converse at home. You won't be the oddball in either a dress or pants here. What you should try: Devil's Basket: wok tossed crispy soft shell crabs (2), dried chilis, shallots, scallions, toasted garlic - Amazing. The crabs pick up the hint of heat from the chilis. If you don't like spice you'll probably be fine. This is a good spice, not a "fire in the hole!" sort. Oxtail Pot Stickers: braised oxtail, caramelized onion jus, "white" wasabi cream - extremely tender, just wonderful. Dim Sum style. Any of the Truffled Tataki Sashimi; the Summer of Sunda Roll, or the Lobster and Wagyu Roll. Or the Firecracker Roll. Delicious martinis; good wine list. Go there with friends, a date, family, coworkers - you'll do well no matter whom you eat with.
(4)Iman J.
Sunda is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in River North... wait I should say in all of Chicago. I've heard they might start serving brunch on weekends and that sounds like awesomeness to hungover weekends. I think some people give Sunda heat, because they think of it solely as a sushi place.... that's a mistake. The food here is so much more than just sushi. The other night I had the Kobe Beef Sirlion and it wasn't even close to something you'd imagine ordering at a sushi restaurant. I should mention it was absolutely delicious and was paired with whipped potatoes that were great. We also got the Garlic Noodles with Crab and I can say it's hands down my favorite thing at Sunda. No Sunda isn't your 100% authentic Asian restaurant and no it isn't just a sushi restaurant... it's the entire continent rolled into one beautiful restaurant.
(5)Danny W.
I've been living in San Diego for awhile now and am totally out of the loop of Chicago restaurant hot spots, but apparently this is one of the new ones. It's Asian fusion and to describe it to those who are not familiar let us pretend for a second that restaurants are dudes. Well Sunda would roll with an entourage of others like Japoinais, Nobu, and Sushi Samba. The average Joe like myself would probably not be able to hang with them because their occupations are all doctors, lawyers, and business executives that require a hefty income to keep up with. Back to normal. Restaurants are restaurants and people are people, and I was able to check out Sunda because my new boss was taking me out. Here is my analysis. We will start with my cocktail which was a pear seared sake. I was told it was their best seller and can see why. It was fruity but had enough kick that I wouldn't have been embarrassed to drink it in front of my buddies from college. As an appetizer we ordered some sort of sushi roll that had tuna in it. (The name slips my mind) It was very solid and woke my taste buds up for the deliciousness that was to come in the form of a main course. When deciding, I flirted with the cod for a bit but went with the sea bass. That entrée decided to party with my tastebuds like it was new years eve of 1999. Overall the food was great but as mentioned before came with a bit of a pricetag. In terms of atmosphere it was cool but loud. My new boss probably thought I was an idiot because I couldn't hear her that well due to the restaurant noise and rather than continue to yell "WHAT?" I just answered her questions to what I thought she was asking. EXAMPLE (What she said) How do you like living in San Diego? (What I thought she said) How do you like playing with legos? (My answer) Oh yeah, I love legos! (Her facial expression) This guy is an idiot! Anyways, If you have the funds to roll to Sunda or are really good at dining and dashing (though not to be encouraged), I would recommend checking this place out. Excellent food! Just make sure to bring your hearing aides as it gets very noisy.
(4)Jonathan Z.
A "be seen" place with lots of beautiful people to look at (along with some douchebags if you like them too). That said, we were pretty pleasantly surprised with our shared dishes. We ordered 6 shareable dishes for 4 guys, which was plenty as the portions are pretty good sized Standout dishes were the steamed buns with roasted duck, served as a sandwich, pancit noodles, with shrimp and pork belly, and duck hash served tossed with a sunny side up egg, daikon cake, and frisée. The fried Brussels sprout salad with fresh chilis was also quite tasty as was the Devil's Basket, a duo of fried softshell crabs on a bed of wok fried chilis that are blazing hot. Skip the desserts as we tried 3 of them, and found them boring and not worth the calories. Service for us was very quick, attentive, and friendly. Overall dinner was about $60 person including a couple of drinks each and tip. I recommended this to a local friend for he and his wife's date nights.
(4)Mike D.
Two stars only cause i like the Pad Thai I ordered, other than that, the only thing i can say about this place is i left with my butt hurting Maybe it was our fault for not having a reservation on a Friday night, three of us went and the hostess told we had to sit at the "High Top Table". Not knowing what that meant we were directed to the front of the restaurant to this long wooden high top with stools. Let me back up, the hostess station was such a cluster we didnt know who to follow to where the stools had no backs no bars on the bottom so your legs kinda have no place to go so you are always readjusting because the stool is not padded and your butt starts to hurt. got edemame and dumplings for appetizers, they were good, nothing to write home about, i mean come on its edemame I ordered the Pad Thai, friends ordered sushi my Pad Thai came almost 10 mins before their sushi came so i waited for them to get served and by that time mine was cold. it was over priced, wont go back
(2)Natalie S.
I was tasked with suggesting a diner spot for my culinary literary agent and her mother, who happens to own the agency. Oh, and she also once cooked dinner for Julia Child. No big deal. Did I mention that I'm a strict vegetarian and my agent is gluten-free and egg-free? Oy vey. So I tweeted a cry for help and smacked myself in the forehead with a big fat "duh" when numerous people tweeted "Sunda!" in response. I've only been working out of the office directly next door since the day they opened. We were seated promptly at 6pm as per our reservation, and were happy to be in the hands of a server who knew the menu inside and out. Not only was he able to rattle off every veggie-friendly dish on the menu, including substitutions that made several seafood dishes vegetarian, but he also got us started with several gluten-free options. If he wasn't sure about something he checked with the kitchen, and he never seemed the least bit put out with the number of times we sent him running. Not only that, but the woman who helped write the allergy guidelines for the chefs came out and spend several minutes with my dining companion explaining all of the options she had. I can't even remember everything we ordered - with so many options we over did it a bit. The warm spinach and mushroom salad was delicious, as were the corn fritters. The pad thai was light and citrusy and we also had these smokey hot peppers that we couldn't get enough of. The only dish I wasn't overly into was the eggplant and tofu toban - but I'm put off by mushy tofu, so that's a personal preference. Overall I left full and happy, and really impressed by how easily they were able to accommodate our requests. I will definitely be stepping down my office steps and hanging a left for lunch again soon.
(4)Lisa T.
I was definitely hyping Sunda up waaay too much in my head. It has been at the top of the list of "Places I Want to Go" for quite some time now.... and it was just....ok. Don't get me wrong; the restaurant is gorgeous inside.... decor is unbelievably well done and they whole place is quite the trendy scene. Our meal was really the "just ok" part. It's a bit perplexing to me that Sunda encourages a "shared plates" style of dining. Most of their main dishes do not lend themselves to a tapas type meal. Obviously, the "appetizer" type plates and the sushi rolls are great for sharing (duh); however, the main dishes and choices from the grill are plated as an entree for one person. Starting with drinks.... definitely one of the better Saketinis in town. Muddled with cucumber and was unbelievably smooth. Yum. 1 more, please. My friend had their espresso martini and loved it; I loathe espresso martinis so I didn't sample. A fun drink list overall. We ordered the lemongrass beef lollipops, the duck baos, the atlantic salmon "bundles", and the chilean sea bass with curried cauliflower puree...... Lemongrass Beef Lollipops - by far the highlight of the meal. Almost ordered another plate of them. These are the only thing I'd specifically go back to Sunda for, they are that good. Seasoned so well they don't even need the dipping sauce that is served alongside. Duck Baos - They are good, but I also love Baos. I wouldn't order this again; I can get the exact same thing at Wow Bao. Atlantic Salmon Bundles - Meh. Bland. The salmon itself was fresh and tasty, but the crab salad in the middle of the bundles had zero flavor. Skip it. Chilean Sea Bass with curried cauliflower puree - Very good, but again, was absolutely not plated to be a shared dish. A big, beautiful piece of fish, pan roasted to perfection. The cauliflower side dish was a really nice accompaniment. The flavors were all there and the fish was quite perfectly cooked, it was honestly just hard to eat as a shared plate. Server was fine; frankly the 7 other people that stopped by our table asking how the meal was were nicer and more courteous than our server. If I make it back to Sunda, I would probably try to come with a larger group. It's really a "night out" kind of place that would be a fun group meal.
(3)Learned N.
Food: sub-par, especially for the price. Service: I would give negative stars to the nasty woman who waited on our table. Atmosphere: The place is very well laid out and the people who frequent the establishment seem to be very well off and put together. But, with all its splendor, we were seated on very uncomfortable stools. I felt like I was in grade school. I found previous comments on this place to be spot on. It really does seem like a place to be seen, and is not a top class restaurant first.
(1)Cindy K.
I came here for a happy hour date with a few of my favorite ladies. Loved the decor and the service was great. All the servers were quite attractive, if that matters. Doesn't hurt, anyway. The apps and some rolls are half off, plus there are daily drink specials. This runs from 5-7 and it's totally worth it. The food is delicious. It was rather heavy for me since most of the apps are fried, but it still tasted good. I just can't take too much fried stuff. The only thing I didn't like was that salad thing that was also fried. Yeah, you read that right. Fried salad. Besides that, everything else was good. We ordered almost everything on the happy hour menu. The drinks are very reasonable and not watered down in the least. I would return again.
(4)Curtis H.
I'm still trying to figure out why this place is so popular. I ate here last night with two friends that were in from out of town. It was entirely my idea to go here and I was thrilled to have gotten a last minute reservation at 8:30pm. We arrived on time and waited for a half-hour for our table. During that time we wandered over to the bar and ordered a few drinks. We stood there for about 10 minutes waiting, when eventually the bartender who took our order made uncomfortable eye contact with us and suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to pour our $12 drinks! The worst thing about this was that the bar wasn't even busy. So first impressions are important and this was NOT a good one. We were finally seated...in a horrible location I might add. It was a tiny table meant for two but we had three. One of my friends was seated on the side of the table with his back up against a pole. He was uncomfortable the entire time and we could all tell. The service at the table was good. Every time we dropped a crumb or finished a plate, someone was there to pick it up. The food was ok. Nothing special. It certainly didn't make up for the other areas I mentioned in this review. Overall, 2 stars is generous in my mind. This place is not worth the hype!
(2)Anthony W.
This place was absolutely AMAZING. I had a roll with sweet potatoes!...I know...it sounds gross but it was delicious. The atmosphere was wonderful. It's a bit pricey but it's worth every penny.
(5)Bethany M.
Fantastic sushi. Great ambiance and killer service. Props to our waitress Noel, every suggestion she made was absolutely incredible. Great White Tuna sashimi with truffle oil is a must.
(5)Syngin A.
A very seen and be seen place with modern, edgy, Asian decor and the usual, yuppie crowd. I'm just happy to have a sushi restaurant in the neighborhood amidst all the pub fare, Italian, seafood, steak and American restaurants. I was underwhelmed by the dumpling appetizer. The dumplings were served individually in tiny bowls with a drop of broth making me feel like I was having a shot glass of dumpling. Too strange. The $50.00 plate of kobe steak was disappointing because it had quite a bit of grizzle, and after having cut it away, you wondered if that grizzle was $10.00 worth. I loved my spicy tuna, but you have to suppose any sushi restaurant could get that right. I ordered two plates because one plate wasn't filling enough. A glimpse at the dessert menu let me know where the fusion part is. I have a wicked sweet tooth, but the Asian twist on American desserts didn't sound appetizing to me. I can see why the restaurant is popular, but it just ididn't work for me.
(3)Dan R.
I loved this place. I thought the sushi was some of the more tasty, inventive sushi I've ever had. We had a wide assortment of sushi and apps-- the firecracker roll was delicious. I like the beef-lollipops a lot. Also, the names are funny: there is an "oh no you didn't" roll. Oh yes I did... and loved it. Also, any and all of the deserts are great. We ordered them all. Tasty Mochi. Chocolates with mango and cherry compote (yummola) and an item called "ridiculous." It was indeed ridiculous... ice cream with a tempora shell and caramel on the outside. Perfection.
(4)Chris N.
I dined at Sunda with one of my best friends over the weekend, and had a first-rate experience. This was just as good as the first time (last summer). We were greeted by a warm and friendly staff upon arrival, which was fantastic. Often times, you go to these hip and trendy restaurants, and the host staff ends up being complete jerks who are more in to themselves, than actually providing great service. This was not the case at Sunda, and I really appreciated their professionalism. Within minutes of being seated, we were offered a complimentary small chicken and mushroom salad (delicious). As for starters, we ordered a couple of Dim Sum dishes: soup dumplings and oxtail potstickers (good, but the least favorite part of the meal), as well as the longevity garlic noodles and baby bok choy. We also ordered the Oh No You Didn't hand roll, as well as the garden vegetable sushi roll. If I could have re-done anything about what we ordered, I probably would've dropped the oxtail potstickers and swapped it out with the chicken and mushroom shu mai. We didn't have dessert this time around, but I've had a couple of dishes before, and remember really enjoying it. The service was impeccable. We never had to ask for any water refills, and as we finished plate after plate, the server assistants were there to seamlessly remove it from our table. Overall, the meal was fantastic and the service was wonderful. Without a doubt, this is my most favorite "Asian" restaurant in the United States and I will undoubtedly miss it when I move out of the Midwest and back "home" to the Pacific Northwest.
(4)Karen L.
3.5 stars. First off, this place is very trendy and BEAUTIFUL inside. Seriously, if you want to impress, this is a great place to go! The menu is extensive and I loved the variety and everything looked liked it would be SO yummy... but I was a tad disappointed in some of the dishes, I will have to admit. Or maybe my expectations were just a little too high going in since I have heard many rave reviews. Overall, it was pretty good but not exceptional, and it was a bit pricey at the end of everything for what you get. We ordered a bunch of plates to share, which was what was recommended... it is my favorite way to dine! Here is what was on our menu: Brussel Sprout salad - yummy, definitely different and tasty Rock Shrimp - delicious, the shrimp were a bit small but the flavor was great. Sliced Kobe Beef Carpacciao - It is kobe beef, how can you go wrong? So tender and fatty, the way I like it! Pork Belly - WAY too salty. It was almost hard to eat Seabass - The fish was good but not great and the side of cauliflower was just weird... too mushy Green Beans - a nice side dish Oxtail Potstickers - was nicely pan-fried and I liked the tender ox-tail, but I thought it was an odd filling for the dumpling. Maybe just not used to it. Duck Hash - It was honestly just okay... and what was the hash? I thought there would be something with potatoes, and I also didn't taste a daikon cake. It was a good tasting of food for 5 people, and we left satisfied but not totally full. And it is a "night out" place since it is so trendy and $$. I would love to go back but next time I will definitely try the sushi rolls.
(3)Keri W.
I loved it! Great atmosphere, great service, and very unique sushi/roll/menu options! I love sushi, but plenty of options on the menu for people who are not full on sushi fans. Food was excellent! Very rare to order something, and then want to order it again...and we felt this way multiple times! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Celeste E.
I've wanted to visit Sunda since its doors opened. This is one of the first upscale Chicago restaurants to feature Filipino cuisine. There are many wonderful family-owned Filipino restaurants, but none fusion-ed with such upscale styling. My expectations were not let down! Everyone in my party left completely satisfied and wanting to come back. Great Chicago restaurant for those who want to try something new and non-chain. My best advice is (if at all possible), to make reservations for happy hour, Sunda Social. Weekdays from 5-7pm, a separate, smaller menu is available with sushi rolls and appetizers for Half Price! A number of their best and most popular appetizers are included. We decided to share some so we could have a taste of everything. - Everyone should try the Rock Shrimp (tempura-ed, cooked and glazed to perfection). - More adventurous types will love the Roasted Duck Bao Buns. They coat the duck with that delicious plum sauce. - Though I'll agree the sushi isn't the best Chicago has to offer, the rolls merge creative ingredients, are presented beautifully and still taste great. The Golden Child with Mango is a great summer sushi roll. Deserving of mention is the Number Ten sushi roll for those who like Shrimp Tempura. The restaurant ambiance reminded us of luxury hotels in the Philippines, Asian Contemporary. Sunda has a nice open layout so you can see the bar and sushi bar from practically any table. We saw all types of people, mostly after work business types, but our 5 person party of casual 20-somethings didn't stick out. There were a few families with smaller children there, also. With our discounted appetizers we spent the money on drinks, perfect for martini and wine lovers. I had the lychee martini to complement the Asian dishes. A must visit for foodies, out of towners who like Asian fusion, downtown Happy Hour folks and Girls Nights Out.
(4)Trish J.
Amazing. Get the pig sticks. Best pork I've ever had in my life. My boyfriend and I couldn't even speak while enjoying them. The sushi was fantastic too ! This place is def on the pricey side, but in my opinion, it is completely and totally worth it.
(5)Faith B.
I absolutely love the interior design of this restaurant. The food was great! A little on the pricey side, but well worth it. Drinks on the other hand were not all that great to me. Try the garlic noodles. You won't be sorry! Be sure to make your reservations well in advance. This place is packed during dinner hours!
(4)Gina H.
Went to Sunda for a company party and really loved the upstairs party room, for those of you that are looking for one for some sort of corporate event....as for the food: BEEF LOLLIPOPS!? Love them. If there is one thing I can say I love, it's meat on sticks, but meat on lollipos!? Get out of town.They were absolutely delicious. Also had the shrimp tempura which was very good as well. I definitely want to revisit to try this place out again.
(5)Peter H.
One of the best Asian Fusion experiences we've had. 10 friends at big fun table splitting salads, buns, noodles and sushi. Great advice from waitress at reasonable prices in a loud but hip setting.
(5)C S.
Went with a small group, and found everything to be excellent. The salads were normal fair but the following entrees really shined and would definitely return for them. Pork belly baos Adobo braised black pork belly Shaking beef Kobe beef sirlion Lemon beef lolli[pops
(4)Margaret J.
I dined in yesterday for my birthday celebration with 6 friends. The minute we walked in, we were told the staff was still setting up our table and it would take a couple of minutes so we waited outside. About five minutes later, we went back inside and were seated in the back room which was perfect ...only to find out shortly after that we had to move b/c this table wasn't for us. That was only the beginning...and already it was off to a terrible start. The server took FOREVER to take our orders...we were all waiting for about 20 minutes b4 he decided to come by and ask what we wanted. I ordered the devil's basket which looked like a good choice but turned out that 3/4 of my bowl was filled with hot chili peppers...(certainly not very filling or a good hearty meal)The description read that the basket would be filled with crab and other sead food delights....and it consisted of about 3 peices of it! When i looked around for our waiter to order something different b/c i wasnt satisfied...he was nowhere to be found....what a SURPRISE!. The only reason im giving this place two stars is b/c my friends secretley asked for a dessert to be brought out since it was my birthday and all.... and the dessert was simply amazing! It was fried vanilla icecream with walnuts! So0o0o delicious. & the waiter even wished me a happy birthday at the end so i guess my dining experiance at sunda was bitter sweet.
(2)Natalie M.
Sunda has great decor, beautiful people, classy atmosphere, AMAZING desserts. Unfortunately what made this review is what Sunda LACKS. I am usually not one to harp on price, as I am willing to spend a good bit on a fab meal, however, my meal here was not fab. $10 for a veggie roll- which is LESS tasty than the rolls I get at Green Tea for $2? $8 for cauliflower? $5 for jasmine tea? After these prices I was expecting an orgasmic dining experience. NADA, nothing happened. My tummy was no longer rumbly, and the food was edible, but....umm...NO. Not terribly pleased. Add that to a trip DOWNSTAIRS to go to the bathroom, acoustics so HORRID that I could barely hear my dining companion, uncomfy chairs and Sunda is left with 2stars. Our server was fine, nice enough, but nothing special. The desserts are the only thing that made my experience memorable, my bread pudding WAS very good- but If was looking for a great dessert place I would head to Hot Chocolate, NOT Sunda.
(2)Esther Y.
Meh. I'm very meh about this place. I know it's "trendy," "cool," and "hip," but the whole thing is just meh. To be fair, I didn't eat dinner here. I met some friends for happy hour, had some cocktails and had the 1/2 priced bar menu. Honestly, I thought the food was OK, but I'm not really a fan of fusion. It was all pretty good, and I guess I would meet friends here for drinks, but I don't think I would ever suggest this place as a meeting point.
(3)Jenn C.
Had a fantastic surprise birthday dinner here last night! We got there a couple minutes early and our table was ready, our server was so sweet and helpful, the service itself was great, and the food was DEEELICIOUS! It's a huge menu so we deicded to come hungry and order a lot of items. Started with edamame, the escolar sashimi (Great White Tuna) special with truffle chips, and the Firecracker roll. The escolar was so fresh - some of the best I've had in a long time. Also had the beef lollipops - wow, they were mouthwatering. For entrees, we split the pork belly (it literally melted in our mouths) and the longribs (again, very well cooked) but got through about half of each because we had eaten so much leading up to the entrees. The service was excellent - the timing of each dish was perfect but we never felt rushed. Also, the price was pretty reasonable considering how much we ate (and drank) and it came to $175 before tip. Sunda is quite the happening spot and the only negative is that it's so loud it can be difficult to have a conversation. However, gorging on all the fab food kind of got in the way of talking anyway...
(4)Angela L.
The first thing you notice when walking into Sunda is the beautiful décor and layout. I went with a large group of friends and we had a great night. The service was great, though a little slow (dinner took 3 hours)...albeit when you are with good friends the time always flies by. The food was ok but it just wasn't my thing. I wasn't super brave in my ordering and only tried a couple of things including the fritters (good but not better than any other tempura vegetables I've had), the pad thai (I've had better at multiple other restaurants), and some of a salad with noodles (I can't remember which on but the noodles had an odd flavor). Perhaps the sushi is their thing? Sadly, I don't love sushi so I will never know. I say check it out, you might like it better than I did as many of my friends reported loving their meals.
(3)Jen B.
I'm always skeptical of eateries with descriptions like "New Asian" or "Fusion Asian," because it usually means you are overpaying for decor and getting bite-sized potions. Thankfully Sunda avoids the usual pitfalls and does a lot of pan-Asian dishes well. Lucky for me, I got to try this place on the company dime, and they way overordered so I didn't feel bad stealing bites of a lot of little things. The sushi is decent. I wouldn't make this a destination when I'm craving it, but they were creative and made for a good conversation starter. I would pass on the veggie roll - it's like crudo wrapped around rice. Too healthy for my needs. Throw in some avocado or cream cheese and we'll talk. The shiitake mushroom roll was tasty, as was the spicy tuna. Also tried the seaweed and mushroom salads. The seaweed salad was actually awesome. It looked like a big bowl of stringy slim but tasted light and refreshing. The mushroom salad was a bit boring, and could have used a more flavorful dressing. Oddly enough, I ended up not liking the shrimp and wasabi appetizer, which is apparently what Sunda is known for. All I could taste was guacamole on top of fried nothing. On the other hand, the corn fritters were fried but pouring with flavor. I wanted to dump the sweet dipping sauce on everything. There were lots of meat dish that looked great. The one vegetarian dish appeared to be a kind of wet crouton salad, but that was just a cover for the garlic noodles laying beneith. They were really, really good, but I had dragon breath for the rest of the afternoon (even after two rounds of listerine). Not a good dish for date night. Last but not least was...mochi! A/k/a Japanses ice cream balls. I'd never tried them before, and was positive they couldn't be as good as "real" ice cream, but they were awesome. Plus, they came in weird (but good) flavors like red bean and green tea.
(4)Mei Z.
Ambience: Very trendy crowd but incredibly LOUD. I'm always a fan of a "happening" restaurant scene, but I could barely hear my date. Food: excellent Asian/American fusion although not as mind-blowing as I had been expecting. Obviously very expensive. Drinks: Creative and interesting. Nutshell: Better for a loud bday crowd who are willing to splurge!
(4)Marils R.
I recently hosted our company's holiday lunch party at Sunda. For the second year in a row we booked the small back room on the main dining floor. The team at Sunda are true pros: Nicole's sales team including Tenae and Kelsey know how to make throwing a party, even on a budget, easy and fun. Once at the event, we were well taken care of by Brian and Shannon, the managers, as well as the wait staff. The food is served family-style, and there are all inclusive options that include drinks, food and dessert. I highly recommend Sunda for private parties, and we'll be back again next year!
(5)Keerthi A.
Sunda is one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago. The ambiance, the crowd, the food, its just a great combination and never fails. The Chilean Seabass is definitely one of the best dishes here - a must try. It comes on curried cauliflower puree and is just mouthwatering and well balanced with the right amount of flavor. Corn Fritters are very tasty, great for an appetizer. I was very skeptical about ordering the Brussel Sprout Salad but was blown away by it. It was actually yummy and I finished it wanting more. The Oxtail Potstickers are interesting - nothing too amazing unless you are an oxtail enthusiast. The Garlic Noodles with Blue Crab are really good, very flavorful and comforting. Sunda, here I come again!
(5)Bahi K.
Being a bit of a Japonais snob, I was somewhat reluctant to try this place, but after checking out their bar on Saturday and then dinner on Sunday, I may have to change my ways. The lychee martinis (don't get the divine, just the regular) are simply delicious and not too sweet. The oxtail potstickers were super tasty, and the entrees that I ordered (yes, I ordered two entrees) -- the cod and the pork bell -- were simply heaven. Both dishes were so tender and mouth-wateringly good. To top it off, I had a dessert known simply as "Ridiculous" and, indeed, it lived up to the name. Unbelievable drinks, sublime food and dessert, and mesmerizing decor... this place deserves 5 stars. I've been told that I need to come back for brunch to try their famous Indonesian Nasi Goreng. I can't wait.
(5)Aimee D.
The food is delicious. That's the best part. While our server was very nice, the fastest item that came to the table was the check. It even took the waiter a while to first greet us, but as I said before, he was really nice. I know this is the place to 'see and be seen' but I can't imagine the noise level in there on a typical Friday or Saturday night (and I'm only 33). We went on a Monday night and they had a good sized crowd and our waiter still had to bend over to hear our orders. I can't imagine working there or trying to have a conversation with more than one person on a weekend. Again, the food is very good, so I would definitely try it - just go during the week... or don't expect to talk to anyone at your table.
(4)Kara K.
After hearing about the awesomeness that is Sunda for the past year, I FINALLY made it there. This beautiful restaurant was jam-packed on a Friday afternoon and a packed restaurant is always a great sign that the food and service is dy-no-mite! After being seated at a nice table in the back, we ordered a bottle of Ty Ku sake and began salivating over the menu. The sweet rock shrimp tempura, the spicy soft shell crab over a bed of red hot chili peppers (Devil's Basket),and one of each of the Sunda Signature Sushi had our taste buds doing the happy dance. Aaron, the general manager, stopped by to chat with us before sending over a dish that they will soon be offering on the menu. There are not too many foods that I dislike, but brussel sprouts is definitely one of them. HOWEVER, Aaron sent over a crunchy, shredded, perfectly seasoned brussel sprout salad which can only be described as BEYOND outstanding. The chocolate cake was greatly appreciated later that evening along with the other leftovers. I slept well that night. Now I see what all the fuss was about. Sunda lives up to the hype in every way--the sleek decor, friendly, attentive service and especially the food. I plan on coming back at night with a few girlfriends to check out the bar scene.
(5)Milo P.
We went for restaurant week. Based on our experience, we will never go back there. It's not that anything was bad, it just didn't live up to the hype and wasn't worth the money. The portions were small, and the food was uninspiring and bland. The chef's special sushi, which came with restaurant week, was like kid's sushi! If you've never eaten sushi before, then you should like this. For real sushi lovers, it was BORING- not to mention only 3 pieces. Seriously, it should be GREAT, but it was disappointing. Service was slow even though there weren't that many people in the restaurant. Our server rarely checked on us- he was friendly when he was there. Ambiance was good- seemed like it would have been good for a group. But food is FIRST, and everything else is a distant second. Food was just OKAY. For some reason, Sunda felt the need to charge the higher dollar amount for their restaurant week dinner menu- $44 instead of $33. Usually, this is the case if it's really special- it was NOT. The famous rock shrimp? It's like a knockoff version of walnut shrimp from Chinatown. Any place in Chinatown or on Argyle serves it better. The best thing I ate was the eggplant that came with the cod. But there were only 5-6 small rounds. We also got the short rib- talk about underseasoned! And they serve it with this congee stuff that is bland, and frankly disgusting. Even though it was restaurant week, we ended up spending about $200 with drinks, and I wish I could say it was fantastic, but it wasn't. Not even remotely. SO overhyped! Take your money and go somewhere else!
(2)Fei W.
Came here for brunch and here's the 411: The awesome: - Bloody Mary cart. For serious, best bloody mary accoutrements I've ever had. This is legit and worth coming for on its own. The average: - Food here is just okay. Think P.F. Changs style. We got the rock shrimp and it was tasty, but let's be real, it's breaded fried shrimp with a creamy sauce. Not exactly something you can screw up. - They have a section called "hot pot" but what they mean is soup. Hot pot for the truly ethnic is Shabu Shabu style. Misleading. My friend ordered the pork belly on crispy rice and the waitress brought the marinated pork version. I tried a bite, and while the pork was tasty and rich, the rice was not nearly crispy enough. Survey says? Come for the drinks.
(3)Kathria T.
It's dark and loud in here, but whatever, the food is good! That's all I care about. Service is great, too! Recommendations: Pork buns - this was so good we ordered another plate! Halo-halo is different here but in a good way. The calamansi def adds a nice touch to the traditional recipe. But really, I would order a little bit of everything. My group ordered a bunch of dishes and we were in heaven! Every bite was delicious. I would come here again if I'm ever back in Chicago.
(5)Chris T.
Has easily become one of my favorite spots in Chicago! I've yet to have a bad meal here, thus I keep coming back. This place has a swanky vibe to it: the decor is cool and the patrons are dressed up and looking hot. Most importantly: the food! Stuff you definitely should try: *Dynamite sticks - I could eat 5 servings of this. The multilayer dip they come with is amazing and you'll start using it with every dish you order. *Adobo Braised Pork belly: so much meat! And so well cooked. This is definitely to share between 3-4 people. *The food buddha's classic crispy rice - I could a buffet of just these. *Tempura French Toast - save this for the end of your brunch, delicious way to end your meal. *Miso Ramen - surprisingly good! You'll find better ramen if you search, but in the downtown area this is your best bet. I could keep going but I'd end up naming everything I've ever eaten here...
(5)Simon R.
Wow. One of the best places I've ever eaten. First off, a couple of things you should know: This place is LOUD. Like, scream-across-the-table-if-it's-more-than-a-two-Âparty-group loud. Your ears may ring after eating there. Also, this place is BUSY. Reserve a table. Otherwise, you won't be eating there without a very long wait. As for the food and drinks, absolutely excellent. The flavor nuances in the edibles were incredible, and by far the best I have ever had from an Asian Fusion-style restaurant. The "fusion" part of the cuisine was absolutely present, pulling together Japanese, Chinese, and Thai flavors perfectly. Everyone in our party of five enjoyed their meal, including the pescatarian in our group. The service was also excellent. Our server payed just the right level of attention to us, spending several minutes at the beginning to explain the menu and make suggestions. The only problem was that a couple of times servers bumped into the back of my chair as they were passing by to serve other tables. It wasn't a deal breaker, but definitely not something I would expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Our server was top-notch, though. If my travels bring me back to Chicago, I will definitely plan to return.
(5)Sabrina M.
I have been here three times in the past three months, and I will definitely be back! Not only is the food amazingly delicious (with a few exceptions, but that's when I'm being picky or I simply don't like a specific flavor), but the staff's amazing as well. Three different waiters, and they were all very nice, helpful, and attentive. So, let's start. Edamame: I love edamame anyways. Simple with salt. Nice starter. Crispy Brussels Sprout Salad: I cannot say enough good things about this. On all three different occasions, I brought different people.. And they all LOVED the salad. The sauce comes with diced shrimp. Sweet, but has hot peppers in it so it's very well balanced. Steamed Buns (pork belly): OMG. One of my favourite noms. Melt in your mouth pork, yummy pickled veggies, and of course the steamed buns were good.. Delicious! Lemongrass Beef Lollipops: So yummy. The pepper that comes on it really elevates the dish. The glaze on it was sweet and delicious, and I loved dipping it in the soy sauce. And it's cute how they're wrapped on a lemongrass. Haha. Tiger Shrimp Tempura: My sister, who loves the Panda Express version (ugh), absolutely LOVES this (as did I!). She said she could never go back. This dish is actually delicious. Perfect amount of sweetness, and I loved the walnuts. Brown rice: Typical. Signature Crispy Rice (spicy tuna): I was afraid of tuna. I'm not a big fish person, but this really blew my mind. So simple, yet so delicious. Tako Taco: Eh. Wouldn't order again. The cilantro lime cream was really good, but I couldn't get over the salsa. It was so cold it was off putting. Stuffed Avocado: It was just okay. Wouldn't order again. Lobster and Wagyu: Ordered all three times. Amazingly yummy. Would order again and again! So much flavor, and actual lobster. Firecracker: I got this the last time I was there (about a week ago). Hands-down my favourite dish. It looks like there's way too much going on, but it works. And the avocado underneath was a nice surprise as was the chili threads. I am getting hungry thinking about it. Will order every single time. The teas they have here are so yummy. I've tried both the pomegranate and mango. I'd definitely choose mango. Less bitter, but both are worth the try. I've had four desserts here. A crème brûlée that was delicious. Can never go wrong with that. The green tea donuts were fluffy but eh, and I didn't like the chocolate it came with. We also got the vanilla ice cream in a carrot ginger shell with candied walnuts. DELICIOUS. Never had anything like it. Last, the mango sorbet with fresh fruit. My favourite. Overall, I have had really nice experiences at this restaurant. My dad gets jelly every time I talk about it, so I will most likely take him here for his birthday dinner soon. :) I will always be back as long as the service and food remains on top.
(5)Christina R.
On the hunt for a later night dinner with a festive atmosphere and fresh food and Sunda hit the spot. A little on the pricier side but if you're searching for elevated Asian cuisine, Sunda is your place. The meal is meant to be shared so choose a few plates for the table. The Pho is on point, they even top it off with a half cut bone and marrow. Only complaint, the broth to noodle ratio is slightly off, more broth please!! The avocado stuffed with spicy tuna is fresh and well balanced. I'd stay away from the crab crusted tuna unless you're a mega fan of wasabi. Service is speedy and knowledgeable and the atmosphere is chic and modern. Thumbs up for Sunda.
(4)Megan W.
Great experience here. Definitely recommend reservations and sharing food with friends. The drinks were great and so was all of the food. The "Crunchy pig, hidden lobster" sushi was great for me because I don't normally love sushi.
(5)Albert K.
Very hip and trendy place on a Sunday night. Couldn't even get a table so had to go communal. It's a very lovely and trendy place with a sushi bar and tapas sized meals. The garlic noodle is absolutely delicious. The duck fried rice was actually impressive too. My favorite though was the pork belly - large portions of 8oz! The salmon was OK. Felt like a fried dumpling wrapped around a salmon. The best was probably the pancit noodles. It came with pork belly and shrimp and hit the spot. Great venue for friends or a date.
(4)Kevin M.
In Chicago for the day. Dinner with family, seven of us. Had nigiri and 4 rolls, all very good. Brussel sprout salad was excellent. Also had beef lollipops, beef long rib and pot stickers. Lollipops a little dry for my taste. Rib and pot stickers very good. Service was spectacular.
(5)Gina C.
Highly recommend the stuffed avocado - listed as a meal, but we shared it as an app. It is a must to try- you will not be disappointed! Our server was very knowledgable and friendly. This is one of my favorite places to go in Chicago.
(5)Brian N.
Fun place to go with a big group or a date. Food was very good, not incredible, probably costs a little more than it should, but you're paying for the atmosphere/location/interesting menu items, which were all plusses. Glad I went!
(4)Najah H.
holy OVERPRICED! Dear Chicago, what is wrong with you!? Have you not had better,., real sushi? I dont get all the love.. It wasn't even blow my mind away sushi and if I'm paying 20$ for rolls that's damn right what I expect. It was good, sure. But definitely not that deserving. I dont know if it was a one off case or not but the service was awfully slow from the kitchen. My server tried to follow up three times but seriously how long does it take to bring a bowl of goddamn EDAMAME!! 15 mins for edamame? The whole dinner took 1 hours 45 mins. Uh... too long Perhaps I'm just a sushi snob - but this visit only confirmed the fact that I'm never stepping into a fusion restaurant again. Ever. Where's the real sushi at?!.. Oh right, in Toronto ;)
(3)Tima D.
Love the vibe and food in this place! I always walk away from here thinking that the food was phenomenal. It gets a little crowded in here so make sure to make a reservation. I knocked a star off because I think the service is a little slow but that could just be due to the fact that I go during peak times (Friday/Saturday night). The chef really knows what he is doing because every dish is so well thought out. The decor is stunning and the service itself is good. The prices are a little pricey especially for the drinks. I guess its true though..you get what you pay for.
(4)Glen C.
Asian Fusion... the best thing hands down was the brussel sprout salad. I mean... I could have ordered that and been done. The rest of the food was meh. Sushi was interesting... given the way they prep the rice. The canton noodles were mediocre... the ox tail dumplings tasted "meaty". I'm not sure if really worth the price. Place is "happening"... even on a Tuesday night it was packed. Loud, Loud, Loud. Service was solid. Very attentive staff ... for that I'd give them another 1/2 star.
(3)Ashlee B.
I love this restaurant! The Sweet Potato Caterpillar Roll and the Brussels Sprouts Salad are my favorite! Also, the Green Tea Donuts are amazing and the Cappuccinos are good.
(5)Terrance H.
WOW! Sunda. I have heard of this place but never stopped by. I decided to eat my last meal in Chicago after being there for 4 long months. I definitely saved the best meal for last. The place was packed on a Tuesday night as if it were the weekend. This is always a great sign of good business. First off they had a great drink menu. I decide to take it easy on the hard liquor and stick to a nice red wine for the night. We started with Tiger Shrimp Tempura... After eating this we knew we were in for a treat! This is a must have. Absolutely amazing. We then had the FireCracker which was amazing and another roll that was had bacon which was also amazing. The bill hit pretty hard but for the experience and the amazing service we received it was worth the experience for sure. I will recommend this place to anyone who is visiting Chicago. It is a must have.
(5)Michael P.
First, yes, it's pricey, but it's a high-end restaurant in River North, so complaining about price is like complaining about getting wet after you jump into a pool. Second, the service was very good. Friendly, attentive without rushing or being overbearing. Third, the food. Mostly excellent with a few small misses. (Yes, the portions are a little small, but see above.) -Brussel Sprout Salad - a "must get." Flavorful, nuanced, excellent. -Duck Mushu - big miss, flavors were "eh" and the duck was VERY chewy, the fat was nowhere near done enough. Bad dish. Bad. -Pork Steamed Buns - solid. -Pork Belly Skewers - another highlight, great flavor, pork belly was not overly fatty, very good execution. -Seared Wagyu Tartare Crispy Rice - Wagyu prepared perfectly, just enough flavor added to accentuate the beef and not obscure it. -Stuffed Avocado - good, nothing great. -Red Dragon - awesome, how could it not be with those ingredients. Not heavy on appreciation of the fish, but a very enjoyable bite. -Firecracker - a notch below the Red Dragon but still very good, flavorful. -The Great White - the best thing we had all night, hard to savor as it was so good you wanted to just gulp it down, but savor you must. This will be the first thing I order next time I go back. Fourth, good atmosphere, they could space some of the table out just a bit more, but good lighting, wasn't too loud. Sunda definitely earned a return visit.
(4)Lauren L.
Definitely a fan! I started with a glass of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc which was delicious. My friends and I split the edamame and the Crispy Brussels Sprouts salad. THAT SALAD. It has to be one of the top 5 best dishes I've ever had. It was to die for! I ordered the Longevity Garlic Crab Noodles which were really good. The star of the show was my friend's chicken pad thai, however. Both solid choices but next time I'm back I'm definitely getting my own pad thai. It was so fresh and flavorful. For dessert we all split the Sunda Sundae -- it was so unique and creative. The presentation was beautiful and the waitress was so helpful explaining how to eat it. There are so many components that she suggested we mix it all together before we try it. Strange but it worked and it was really delicious! I will definitely be back!
(4)Cindy W.
This is a review purely based on the desserts. After a night at Ruxbin followed by a drop in at a Tacqueria, my sweet tooth was craving something. My friend raved about the Ridiculous so it was worth dropping by to finish the night. We ordered the Sunda Sundae and the Ridiculous. The Sunda Sundae was very underwhelming. Out of the three scoops of ice cream, the most memorable one was the corn-flavored scoop. The sundae also had lychee (a bit sour), red beans, aloe vera, on top of this lemon italian ice. I didn't feel like the flavors went well together, and it was definitely overpriced for a dessert that I could have gotten at an Asian mom-and-pop shop. However, I really liked the Ridiculous. It's a tempura/carrot cake wrap on a mound of creamy vanilla ice cream. On top, there's a bed of caramel sauce, toasted sweet pecans, and bits of ginger. The only thing that would make it better is if they chopped up a few bits of bacon and sprinkled it on top for a salty taste. Maybe that's too much to ask for. I loved the bustling environment on a Friday night! The waiters were very attentive and the decor was awesome. Definitely must try their dinner menu sometime.
(4)Shuang W.
Lively atmosphere. Maybe crowded at dinner time. Great food! Brussel sprout salad, MUST TRY! Also the mochi dessert. Uni there are fresh, tastes great. Sometimes they have crab claws! Overall, love it!
(5)Stephanie J.
I'm from the suburbs of Chicago so making a trip to the city is a special occasion. I was planning out a whole day of fun for me and my boyfriend to celebrate his birthday, and I knew we wanted sushi. I compared many places and landed on Sunda because of all of the good reviews, and the photos that showed a cool ambiance. I was super pleased, and my bf said it was the best sushi he's ever had! We started off with some edamame and drinks. I got the Hibiskus Hard Lemonade and he got the House of Bamboo. They were both impressive. A little gracious with the ice, but the taste was great and the servings pretty big. Then he got the Red Dragon roll and I got the California roll. My boyfriend has a big appetite, and the Red Dragon satisfied him. It was a nice serving with 8 large slices. My california roll was a bit smaller, but that satisfied me. They were all beautifully displayed. The ambiance was great. Lots of wood details, quiet and classy, felt upscale. We were dressed nicer casual but there were people there in suit jackets, and I felt like you could go either way. Our waiter, I forgot his name, was super helpful and personable. Overall, we definitely plan to come back, and now have a favorite sushi spot in the city.
(5)David C.
Smart, contemporary Asian fusion dishes. Beautiful cocktails. Fun venue to catch up with friends. Great presentation, great service.
(4)Brian O.
The honey ginger braised beef here is all you need to order! Oh, and I love the brussels sprouts, it's a real hit here! Definitely a great dining experience. Don't forget to grab a lot of the green asian candy before you walk out.
(4)Gene H.
Excellent service with excellent food. I would recommend this restaurant to anybody and especially those that travel to Chicago for business or fun.
(5)Jim T.
Fantastic Asian fusion food and atmosphere. Great bar for pre-dinner drinks. The shredded Brussel sprouts salad was awesome. Rainbow and Firecracker rolls are great.
(5)D D.
Food was decent - expensive but good. For $9 a bite, it better be tasty. Service - not so great. Sit down, waiter asks, "sparkling or still?" This is a pretentious question in my mind (who actually drinks sparkling water in the United States??), and I am annoyed and say "still is fine", figuring he would bring a Pinterest-shaped bottle of tap water that he would leave at the table. He brings us an $8 bottle of 'premium' (lol) water (which he opens out of sight), and starts pouring, knowing full well that we don't understand that we are receiving. This is poor etiquette, especially at a nice restaurant (well, the prices would indicate "nice restaurant"). Halfway through the meal, the waiter OPENS A SECOND BOTTLE WITHOUT TELLING US, and continues re-filling our waters. You can't bring me something I didn't order! $16 for 'premium' water (for two people) - without ordering it - are you kidding me??? This is bad form at best, and deceitful at worst. The bill arrives, I put down a credit card and a gift card. Waiter sees the gift card, asks "how much is on it?" Why are we talking about money in front of my date?!?! This is a nice restaurant - be classy. Stealthily take the check and figure out what I mean. It's a gift card and a credit card, this isn't rocket science. Just exhaust the gift card and put the rest on the credit card, don't you do this every day? Instead, you put me in a difficult position - I have to weirdly avoid the question or acknowledge in front of my date that I'm using a gift card. Wow. Think before you speak. Have a little tact. Be on my team. Be smooth. Think about what's going on. Never use 7 words when 4 will do. It's obviously a date, just take the bill and disappear. Isn't this all on the syllabus of Waiting Tables 101? I'm being a bit dramatic, but seriously, this move was not cool. The only reason this gets 2 stars instead of 1 - the ambience is great. I went on a Wednesday, and the place was absolutely buzzing. Almost too loud for conversation at times. Probaby the perfect volume for dinner/drinks before going out.
(2)Giovanna B.
Ambience: Not my thing - I prefer to hear myself think. But, if you are into the whole see-and-be-seen thing, and you are into waking up the next morning with a sore throat from having to yell your conversation during the meal to your companion(s), then you'll dig this place. I found this an interesting contrast to the decorations aiming to give the place an Asian zen-like feel. Service: Fantastic. Everyone was super friendly and accommodating. Food: Okay. We tried the steamed buns, and oddly enough, tasted like steamed buns. They were fine, just nothing out of the ordinary. The short rib meat was tender and had a decent taste, but nothing I haven't had before. The crispy pata was pretty large, but I found it dry, like it had been sitting under a heating lamp for a couple of hours, and it lacked a bit of seasoning (except for salt - it had a bit too much of that). The best part of the meal was a gravy/sauce that came with the pata - I could have had a bowl of that stuff - and the green beans with caramelized walnuts (nomnomnom). Drinks: *thumbs up* If I'm to go back to Sunda, it will be for the drinks. We tried the lychee cocktail (with a splash of wasabi) and that went down dangerously easy. The peared sake cocktail smelled "pretty", like perfume, and it tasted like it too.... it was decent, but not something I'd have again. The 110 and walnut rye Manhattan were both fantastic and I'd recommend them if you're into that kind of thing. I'd get them again. Overall, 3 stars because the place IS a restaurant first and foremost, and unfortunately it just did not deliver. Plus, by 9pm on a Friday night, they ran out of a few ingredients [for cocktails I wanted to try]. Really? Boo.
(3)N K.
Not bad but fairly overpriced for what it is. The Waygu sushi and drinks were excellent. Everything else was greasy, fried, and overly salty. Also agree with previous reviewers that there are gaps in service.
(3)Shauna K.
We went to Sunda for my birthday recently and it was DELICIOUS!! Troy was our server and he was amazing!! So attentive and suggested such great food and drink selections. Although, the food was so great that I have to go back for more to try new things. Menu has so many options you can't possibly try them all. But from what I had, I am sure everything else is just as great. Highly recommend going and requesting Troy as your server!! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Steve E.
Excellent! Great service. Killer sushi... Highly recommended.
(5)Mike B.
Usually, Asian Fusion sucks. Sunda does NOT suck. Sunda is amazing and you should try it. ++Crispy Brussel Sprout Salad - this was the best thing on the menu. It has the most amazing set of flavors I've ever had. You MUST try this. ++Lobster and Waygu Roll - this was my 2nd favorite, it tastes so good! ++Steamed Soup Dumplings - these were very good, the best I've had stateside + Rock Shrimp Tempora - very sweet, but a very good dish + Hand Cut Spicy Tuna and Jalapeno - this was delicious, and went quickly + Duck Hash was good, but I was expecting better (I was completely stuffed when I tried it though) - Spicy "Tail of Two Tunas" - this was the worst item on the menu, had almost no taste - Drinks were around $10 (I guess this should be expected) - Food CERTAINLY isn't cheap + Atmosphere was classy, good looking crowd, place was PACKED on a Monday + Had an AWESOME waitress, she made fantastic suggestions
(5)Ai M.
Chicken and mushroom dumplings, har gow, and mango iced tea for brunch. Get the shrimp tempura. I also ordered loompya and soup dumplings. I didn't see any adobo. I'd go back to try dessert. I liked the bread with coconut jam, I was too full to finish my loco moco. I should have been more adventurous. The pancit canton won't last the next day. There's nothing Filipino about the potstickers. My parents wanted to go here after seeing the chef on TV. Our table was barely large enough for all our food. The pomegranate tea is not as good as the mango. It comes in a carafe and you mix the syrup in to taste. You won't need any refills.
(4)B C.
My wife and I were in town for a get away. This place came highly recommended. We sat at the bar to wait for our table and the service was great. They had very interesting summer drinks. The gin and red pepper was amazing. Real attentive service at the bar. We sat for dinner and the food was incredible. Started with Brussels sprout salad and shrimp dish. Both were unique and fun. My wife loves sushi and was impressed. We had a blast.
(4)Aaron G.
I dined there yesterday with a group of 4 people. They sat us at a table in the middle of the room, with constant traffic going around us. Ambience: Extremely loud. Could barely hear the waitress, let alone the person across the small table from me. After a while you get more used to it, but it's nice to not have a headache after eating. Service: It started off slow, but after a while it became top notch. Food was delivered promptly. Couldn't have asked for more. Food: I only review really based on the food, and this was fairly uninspiring. We had the beef lollipops, duck bao buns, filet mignon, and multiple sushi rolls, including the lobster/wagyu roll. None of the food really made me think, "Oh wow that is delicious I need to try that again." We sent back a sticky rice chicken wrap because it was bland. In all, I won't go back to an expensive, loud dining place unless there is at least 1 item on the menu that I can honestly say I loved. Unfortunately, that was not the case at Sunda.
(3)Peter L.
The day after going to Japonais, our group ended up at Sunda, which offered an interesting comparison in sushi and Asian food. While Japonais focused on Japan, Sunda was more pan-Asian. Lemongrass beef lollipops and indo corn fritters were fun and tasty. While the sushi was pretty decent, the rice was overcooked and not as well-seasoned as Japonais. Rolls fared better and the firecracker roll was a nice combination of spicy and sweet, crunchy and savory. The dining room is well-lit and surprisingly quiet, which offers a nice contrast to Japonais. Overall, the food while good still had a few basic problems. But if you are looking for pan-Asian in a stylish and fairly quiet dining room, Sunda will work.
(3)Justine G.
This is STILL my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I LOVE the food, drinks & atmosphere. Kristi at the front is such a great hostess and is so sweet! Although it is sometimes hard to get into, make reservations ahead of time or go in at lunch time for a less crowded scene. If you don't like a fun, loud, & upbeat scene- this may not be for you. The food is absolutely delicious! I can honestly say, I've never had a bad meal here. Some of my favorite items are: Rock Shrimp, Pork Belly Bao Buns, Baked Snow Crab Handroll, Lemongrass Beef Lollipops. (These are perfect on a tapas style basis, SHARE SHARE SHARE & find what you love!) If you love jalepenos and bacon? Sounds weird I know, the Crunchy Pig, Hidden Dragon is a must. The combination of lobster, avocado, bacon, jalepenos, with a sweet chili sauce in this specialty roll is amazing. My favorite drink at Sunda is the Strawberry Palmer, which is a mix of absolut wild tea mixed with strawberries, lemongrass and lemon juice topped off withlemon lime soda. Last but not least: YOU CANNOT go to Sunda without getting "The Ridiculous" - it is one of the best desserts I've had in a long time! It is a dessert that includes, tempura vanilla ice cream with carrot cake, glazed walnuts, caramel, & much more deliciousness!
(5)Amber C.
I planned a bachelorette party and this was our first stop. The staff went out of their way to ensure our party was well taken care of and that the bride felt special. The chef even came out to greet the bride and wish her well. This was on a busy Saturday night, too!! The food was tasty, as it is in all the Rockit Ranch restaurants. The decor was modern and fun. I left impressed.
(5)Heidi R.
I've been to Sunda before but this time I came as a work function. We had the private room upstairs for about 25 of us maybe. They had a private bar set up and one large table for all of us. It was a 4 course meal with 4 courses in each course. An unbelievable amount of food! My favorite items were the spicy tuna roll, the rock shrimp tempura is out of this world, the NY strip steak and Chilean sea bass were amazing. We also had the chicken chop salad and a Brussel sprout salad which everyone loved. The bao's were pretty good too - my first time trying and I liked them a lot. Sunda stuffs their bao's with pork belly which is one of my favorite things!! To finish the meal we had an assortment of mocchi with dipping sauces, all delicious!
(5)Amy D.
I thought the experience at Sunda was amazing! I was with a group and it was encouraged that we share several plates. Everything we ate was so good. The sushi was fresh and really like the amount of roll options available. Also, the entrees we ate - the shortribs and pork belly were so tender, they melted in your mouth. For dessert, there's an item called "Ridiculous", and they weren't kidding. It's vanilla ice cream covered in a ginger carrot cake, caramel and walnuts. Truly ridiculous! The staff was very friendly. The only bad thing I will say about it is the noise level is off the charts. Be prepared to scream at one another, just way too loud. Other than that, I would go back anytime!
(5)Stephanie W.
I've only experienced Sunda for Sunday brunch, but I'll definitely be back for dinner/drinks First of all - the bloody mary bar? When they say it's all about the garnish, they aren't kidding. I've never seen such a bloody mary spread, with everything from the traditional celery to pickled cucumber to bbq pork bits and everything in between. Yum! Total bang for your buck, and a great way to start off the morning while you wait for the main course. The caramelized goodness they slap down on the table when you're seated is seriously to die for - don't forget to share with your brunch mates! I love the East meets West vibe of the brunch menu you. You've got all the traditional items - eggs benedict, french toast, protein omelette - for the less adventurous, and then a crazy variety of "Eastern" brunch dishes for those ready to explore. We ordered a combination of several and almost licked the plates. We also ordered some dimsum for the table to split. The soup dumplings, shrimp dumplings, and pork shumai were all delicious, but for $9/order, I'd rather go to Chinatown and stuff my face with cheap dim sum Icing on the cake: GREAT service and beautiful ambiance and decor. Can't wait to come back for dinner!
(4)Kristie C.
yummy drinks, fast service, great ambiance -- food's a bit rich, but good place for a date. notable dishes: - chicken shumai - tuna tataki drinks: - divine lychee drink was a great refreshing drink to go with the food downsides: - service was just okay, host/hostess seemed a little haughty - trendy place but worth it for the $$ / food? not sure - a little loud
(3)Boones K.
Really enjoyed getting to order small plates to sample more of the menu. The quality and flavor of the sushi and other items was wonderful. The service was great. We never felt rushed and their timing for taking multiple orders and staggering the plates brought to the table was spot on. The only thing I didn't like was that they only have low sodium soy sauce. They did have Tamari and brought some out for me. We did all small plates to share: *Spicy "tail of two tunas - The tuna was excellent with nice size pieces of tuna inside and out *Yellowtail Jalapeno - The yellowtail was excellent. I would have preferred a little less of the Japanese salsa which kind of masked the fish. *Crab cake crusted ahi tuna sashimi - I loved this dish. The combination of the tune and crab cake created a unique flavor. You just wanted to keep eating it. *Lemongrass beef lollipops - Probably the least exciting dish. The beef was tender but the flavors weren't that exciting. *Pork adobo flake fried rice - A must try. I could eat this just about everyday. We also ordered pieces of sushi which were excellent. A nice balance of fish and rice. I feel gluttonous after writing out all that we ordered, considering it was just two of us. I like to think the fresh fish helped balance the evening out. There were other items I wanted to try, but insisted the waiter take the menus away after our sushi order. I guess I'll just have to come back.
(4)Jane H.
We called for a reservation on a Friday and got in within 30 minutes. They have some communal seating with bar stools which I didn't love, but if it gets me seated quickly I'm cool. We started with steamed duck buns which were delicious and then ordered three sushi rolls, the best of which was ""Crunchy Pig, Hidden Lobster" (HAHA). Sushi with bacon on it sounds strange but TRUST ME. I loved Sunda.
(5)