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Name: Tanoshii
Address: 5547 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640
Telephone: (773) 878-6886
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.88

Tanoshii

5547 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640

(773) 878-6886
Store is closed

Tanoshii Menu

Sushi Bar

Sweet Shrimp

Atlantic Tuna

Shrimp

Super White Tuna

Yellowtail

Clam

Scallops

Squid

Salmon Roe

King Crab

Crab Steak

Tuna

Smelt Roe

Giant Clam

Mackerel

Fresh Salmon

Smoked Salmon

Sea Bass

Red Snapper

Octopus

Sweet Egg

Fatty Tuna

Flying Fish Cariar

Eel

Sea Urchin
Makimono

Salmon Avocado Cucumber

Shrimp Crab Cream Cheese Cucumber Masago Unagi

Crab Meat Avocado Cucumber

Crab Meat Shrimp Avocado Cucumber

Tuna Salmon Avocado Cucumber

Shrimp Tempura Avocado Cucumber Unagi

Mixed Seafood

Shrimp Tempura Masago Cucumber Avocado

Spicy Tuna Boston Lettuce Cucumber Avocado

Tuna Spicy Tuna Crab Meat Cucumber Lettuce

Cucumber

Cucumber Mayo Masago

Crab Meat Green Onion Yamagobo Kampyo Cucumber

Yellow Tin Tuna Scallions Picked Pear Onion

Unagi Cream Cheese

Japanese Pickled Radish

Smoked Salmon Cucumber Cream Cheese Avocado

California Roll

Spicy Tuna Crab Meat Avocado Cucumber

Spicy Yellowtail Green Onion

Spicy Salmon Cucumber

Spicy Tuna Green Onion

Soft Shell Crab Masago Cucumber Avocado

Unagi Lox Shrimp Asparagus Oshinko Yamagobo

Tuna

Eel Roll

Lettuce Cucumber Avocado

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tanoshii

Sushi Bar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flying Fish Cariar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Shrimp Crab Cream Cheese Cucumber Masago Unagi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cucumber Mayo Masago [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Meat Green Onion Yamagobo Kampyo Cucumber [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yellow Tin Tuna Scallions Picked Pear Onion [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Japanese Pickled Radish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Salmon Cucumber Cream Cheese Avocado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

Soft Shell Crab Masago Cucumber Avocado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Unagi Lox Shrimp Asparagus Oshinko Yamagobo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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Write An Anonymous Review

Ladan S.

One of the best Sushi I had in Chicago in a while. Love the creativity!!!
(5)
Jodi L.

This is the correct spelling; I notice there are more reviews posted without the extra "i". This place is fabulous! I will not go anywhere else for sushi. I am a vegetarian and was blown away by "Sushi Mike's" creation. My boyfreind was a little timid regarding raw fish but loved his as well. The BYOB aspect made the bill embarassingly small. The two of us ate lots of appetizers, sushi, and dessert, and spent around $40. It was nice to be around the obvious regulars but feel welcomed as newcomers. Waiter service was OK, you can't be in a hurry. Sushi Mike is worth the wait and obviously puts much thought and care into what he creates for you. Great food!
(5)
Bridget F.

For those who are frequent sushi eaters, this is a great place to go. It's great because you have the choice of standard rolls that you can get at any sushi joint, but what makes them different is their "made-to-order" rolls. You tell them what you like and they create something on the spot. I had an italian roll with fatty tuna, oregano, fresh basil and spicy tuna on the inside. It was fantastic and I've never had anything like it! Try the fish and chips -- they are a must. The staff was prompt and friendly. The ambiance is comfortable and makes a small space seem cozy. With the way some of the patrons were talking to sushi Mike, it almost seemed like the Cheers of sushi restaurants. It was a bit pricey for the made-to-order sushi rolls, but totally worth it for a special occassion. And, BYOB? Yes, please!
(4)
Allison N.

After too many cookie-cutter sushi places, I was ready for a change. Tanoshi isn't very interesting decor-wise. But they're more than creative with their food. We sat at the bar and the sushi chef handed us creations on a whim - each one was a surprise. And each one was a work of art. A highlight was an extra spicy crab roll (real crab!) that had my mouth searing for at least ten minutes. It was delicious, though. It's true the rolls are pricey, but considering the ingredients and the artistry, I think they're worth every penny. The seaweed salad was also excellent. Usually I can't eat the stuff because it's too slimy and fishy for my taste. Tanoshi's was obviously very fresh, sprinkled with sesame seeds and adorned with paper-thin slices of avocado. As other Yelpers have noted, this restaurant is BYOB, although they do serve sake. If you forgot your alcohol, no worries - just hop over to the Jewel across the street. I will certainly keep coming back here to sample all the fabulous sushi rolls!
(4)
Eavon S.

If you're a control freak, consider this restaurant your first step in letting go. When I go to this restaurant, I don't even look at the menu. All you need to do is tell the server you want Sushi Mike specials for each person at your table. Sit back and let the cogs in his sushi mind work on delicious roll after roll. The server will ask about food allergies and such, but otherwise, let the expert take care of it all for you. The only thing I do recommend is to order the fish and chips. This Japanese take on the London staple is sooooooooo gooooooooood!!
(5)
bri r.

This is by far the best sushi I've ever had. Trust your dinner to the sushi Mike special, but beware, the dishes range from 12-20 for a roll of your choice of ingredients. As Sushi Mike to make you his favorite, and don't forget the bottle of wine. Delicious food, great people, what more can you want. Average nice dinner for 2- around $100 with tip. If you're really hungry, try an appetizer here, then head elsewhere for the food. It's delicious!
(5)
Erica U.

I actually can't believe I'm about to say what I'm about to say. BEST. SUSHI. EVER. My husband thinks I'm being rash and that I should be cautious before I apply the aforementioned label to Tanoshii, but I can't help myself. We went last night with friends and 3 bottles of wine and had the most amazing sushi experience. The friendly server recommended that we try the "chef's special", where you choose your favorite ingredients from an extensive list and how many rolls you'd like, and the chef goes to town. We ordered 6 rolls total for the table and I was thrilled with each and every course. My favorite was the fresh tuna, unagi, and avocado concoction that came paired with some sort of Japanese flat bread. The chef ended our meal with a sort of "fruitshi" in the meat of a halved papaya. I will tell everyone I know about this place and might even make another trip this week. I also disagree with the other reviews about it being expensive. We paid about $40 per person for a ton of sushi.
(5)
Eddie U.

We went to have dinner and showed up on Saturday eve around 6pm. Sushi bar was all with 730 and/or 830pm reservations, but we managed to get a table on the adjacent dinning room. The space was a drab. I never expect extravagance in a Japanese sushi bar, but this was definitely stale with poor lite, candles not lit, loud disco (Donna Summers is awesome but not in this kind of place). Customer Service appeared rushed and made the mistake of assuming that every customer knows their menu -- waiter asked "you mean you never been here before?" No, sorry. Still, explanation was rushed and confusing. We ended up asking chef Mike to create something for us: we ended up with some sushi which was tasty, but nothing to talk about. Except that I had better customer services, better sushi elsewhere, and this restaurant was too expensive for what they offered. I hate feeling jaded and displeased. Worst -- NO SATISFACTION! I cannot suggest this place to anyone under these circumstances.
(1)
Wayne L.

The sushi at Tanoshi is art - and you are paying for the gourmet touches. Every time I eat there the sushi is creative and different plus very tasty. Definitely order the "Sushi Mike special." Also, don't count on using Soy sauce, because Mike, "The Soy Nazi" discourages it. If you want a "normal" sushi experience, this may not be the place. But if you feel a little adventurous, I highly recommend Tanoshi. Best of all, this place is BYOB.
(4)
Al G.

If you have had your share of the same old sushi try Sushi Mike's creations at Tanoshii. They are creative, tasty and fun to share with friends. Make reservation and bring a good bottle of Wine or Sake or Kirin or one of each and enjoy your evening. Don't go if you just want to eat straight sushi because your wasting valuable counter space for those who want to venture off the menu and taste a little bit of heaven. Just tell Sushi Mike how hot you like it and skip the soy sauce.
(5)
professorsmarty z.

I decided to visit Tanoshii because it's just down the street from my house and because I heard how the sushi is "artful" and "unique." All I can say after going there is I overpaid for the sushi and that the service was horrendous. First off, the chef took forever to bring out our order. When he did, he gave us only 2 eating plates even though we had three people. Since our waitress mysteriously disappeared, we said to this guy, "Can we get a plate?" Instead of saying, "Of course, I'll get your waitress right away," he told us sarcastically, "Hold your horses! Relax!" I was pretty incensed by his attitude and when we asked the waitress about it when she got back she apologized and said that that was the owner and that perhaps he mistook our request for a plate as another plate of sushi. But even if we did ask for another plate, it doesn't give him the right to give us the brush off, especially since he OWNS the establishment! It's as if he didn't want us there at all. The sushi wasn't anything spectacular and I went home angry that I paid good money for terrible service. Take your hard earned money else where. This "Chef Mike" doesn't seem to care whether you spend it at his restaurant or not.
(1)
Matthew L.

I have such mixed feelings about this place... First, the food is amazing... Chef Mike's special is the way to go if you have any sense of adventure. They will bring you as many delicious rolls of sushi as you can eat, and chances are one more because you'll naturally not think you're full, order one more, eat two more bites, realize you are full, have the next roll come anyway, take a taste, see how delicious it is anyway, then eat it despite being full, and accept the appropriate amount of gluttony happily without regard for the potential after affects on your soul or if a bald Kevin Spacey would be likely to show up to your house. However, I feel like there are more and more issues with the waitstaff each time I am there. I am not sure if the overly aggressive nature of the chefs is preventing them from keeping talent (there appeared to be some public scolding about ticket writing last time I was there) or if there is some bad hiring. I know it can be hard to work in a stressful environment so I am not sure where the blame should lie. But I do believe service is a significant part of a dining experience and when your custom sushi rolls take so long to create, you cannot have servers forgetting to take orders. And if/when you do make a mistake that causes us to go buy an extra bottle of wine to make our drinks last through our meal, perhaps comp'ed edamame is fair compensation while we hungrily stare at other peoples' delicious food. Go when it's not busy... which is... well, I don't know.
(3)
Christopher G.

OMG! We could not stop ordering roll after roll. Some great. Others okay. I just love the way Chef creates these sauces and the fact that he creates rolls around what you like, or you just tell him what you don't like. It's usually a present surprise and new flavor experience. Very fun indeed! 4 people we spent over $200 and BYOB. Cozy setting up in Andersonville. Decent service. Definitely a fun go to, but recommend a group so you can sample much.
(4)
Jesse L.

I went to the one in Andersonville. After looking at reviews online (both Yelp and otherwise), I told my friends that if we came here, it would be a bit pricey but the quality would be really good. The quality was fine, but it didn't make up for the total confusion of the experience -- the communication barriers, the mix-ups, etc. When I explain below, each gripe might seem petty, but add them together, and it was a frustrating night. The much-celebrated Sushi Mike wasn't there, and maybe that made a difference. Before the full party had arrived, my girlfriend and I arrived early and ordered sake to bide the time. The waitress took the order, but a few minutes later, she informed us that that was a mistake; she couldn't serve us alcohol, but we could go across the street to the Jewel to buy some. By then our friends had arrived, so I went to get wine while the rest of the party stayed at the table. The waitress then had a really hard time opening the bottle, which kind of stressed me out and I just wanted to go and do it for her (which is weird given the $8 corking fee). When we actually ordered, the idea is supposed to be that you tell the wait staff what you're in the mood for and the chef surprises you. But the wait staff didn't know how to walk us through it. They had a hard time understanding what we were saying and vice versa. Normally, sub-par English isn't a big deal at sushi joints where you just mark off which items you want on a paper menu. But it doesn't fly when you're trying to give an impressionistic sense of what you want and letting them run wild with it. You spend so much effort just trying to communicate literal meanings that there's no room for subtleties and for just breathing easy -- which is the point of going out to a fancy restaurant. Letting the chef choose isn't supposed to be stressful. After the first set of rolls -- which were good -- I asked what sashimi was particularly fresh that night. The waitress didn't understand; she just listed the kinds of items available (sashimi, maki, sushi, etc.). I repeated the question, and then she started listing every fish in stock. I'm not sure how every fish could be especially recommended. I tried asking again but gave up and just ordered yellowtail. A few minutes later she came back, seemingly having now understood my question, and said the tuna is actually especially fresh tonight, and do we want to change the order? I said sure. When we got the tuna, it was drenched in flavoring -- which is fine, and tasty in itself, but it negated the question of which fish is freshest, because the flavoring overwhelmed the taste of the fish. It also defeated our purpose that night of seeking out high-quality fish. When we finally got the check, I tried to pay, but none of the servers noticed for quite awhile that I was trying to get their attention, even though there were barely any other customers. So I walked over and gave it to them. None of this is awful stuff -- these are pretty much first-world problems -- but when you're paying first-world prices, that's allowed. Maybe things would have been different if Sushi Mike were there and we'd sat at the bar. But from what I saw, it was not worth the price and experience.
(2)
Monica W.

Sushi is fresh, original and flavorful. They have basic sushi including udon soup that will never disappoint the picky sushi eaters. Please do yourself a favor and order a roll off the menu "special".. You will never look at sushi the same again. Good sushi isn't cheap but amazing sushi is worth every penny. Sushi lovers, this place is your heaven. Let the chef create you something amazing please. I promise you won't regret it.
(5)
Alicia K.

Ever since moving to Andersonville last year, I've walked by this restaurant and wanted to try it. The one thing dissuading me are the 4 dollar signs on Yelp. Well, we decided to give it a go on a Tuesday night. We arrived at 7:30pm and the place was pretty empty. By 8pm it was full - which is what we are used to seeing when walking by. I loved the Sushi Mike Special! There is something so liberating about not knowing what you will eat and having someone else make the decision. Especially at a sushi restaurant, I tend to order the same types of things over and over again. Some highlights: - Fish and chips were delicious. It's an appetizer of tuna, avocado, and fish roe on a semi-crisp chip. Perfect starter. - All of the maki rolls that we got were amazing. My favorite was the chef's special rendition on spicy tuna. The sauce was excellent - the perfect level of spice that accented the flavor, without being overpowering. Make sure to BYOB. Dominick's is across the street. To be honest, I don't think it's place is $$$$. It's just $$$. Very fair considering how well everything is made. The rolls are mostly fish and very little rice. Just the way sushi should be!
(5)
Daniela V.

I always get Mike's special. I love it. He asks what we like and don't like and everything he makes is awesome. People need to not be such brats. Try something different. Obviously the guy who makes the rolls knows what's good. You gotta try the fish and chips. It's my favorite thing!! The only thing is it's pricey, but most good sushi places are. When you get the sashimi you can taste how fresh the fish is! Yummm I want that in my mouth now!
(5)
Yaeko M.

Overall, The food was a lot better than I expected. We walked pass in front of the restaurant everyday and I saw people are smiling from glass window. I always wanted to go in. We finally did. We found out it's Korean owned sushi restaurant. We had Tanoshi sushi combination, Anderson sushi roll, and few different kinds of Nigiris. The location, ambience, service and food were pretty good. The pricing is Chicago standard. We spent about $100 for two people. I had a good time.
(4)
Patrick M.

Best sushi experience in Chicago. Order the Mike's special - you tell them what ingredients you like and don't like, and they will make something special for you that is delicious and unique. Altogether a great experience.
(5)
Abby S.

Tanoshii is simply the best. Sushi Mike is very particular about what fish is acceptable from his purveyors so you can rest assured, even here in Chicago, you're getting the best and freshest seafood available. Don't order off the menu and you will surely have a unique and delightful experience. Just don't walk in expecting to be in a fancy sushi lounge. The environment is very casual and unassuming; be ready to jam to the best of the early 90's!
(5)
Candace T.

One of the best sushi spots in Chicago! Get the mike's special and ask for the fish and chips (not on the menu). It's like a Japanese version of ceviche. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Vincent C.

After my "dinner" at Tanoshii I had no intention of writing a review, but I was cleaning out my wallet and found the receipt and felt compelled to warn you that Tanoshii is way overrated. Here's the deal: you'll be told that you can order off the menu, but there's this super creative dude named Sushi Mike who will take the things you like and make a completely customized, one-of-a-kind roll. Sounds promising, right? So, I told our waitress that I like hamachi and avocado. I wasn't expecting to have my mind blown, but I sure as hell wasn't expecting a California roll with paper thin slices of hamachi on top. It wasn't a couple layers of thinly sliced hamachi, it was one. To add insult to injury, it wasn't even a nice California roll, it was made with imitation crab meat. I think the "creative" part was the shoyu/wasabi sauce that was brushed over the hamachi. I paid $22 for that. Overpriced much? Seriously the most unfulfilling and least satisfying $22 I have ever paid for sushi. My wife also got "Mike's Special" telling our waitress that she liked unagi and avocado. She received a shrimp tempura roll with avocado and grilled unagi on top. Holy shit, I've seen at least a dozen incarnations of this roll each with its own name, but at Tanoshii since they don't put it on the menu, they can call it a "special". If I were rating Tanoshii solely on the value of what I ate, it would probably receive 2.5 stars. Unfortunately, it's difficult to ignore the fact that 2 out of my party of 7, who ate completely different things, ended up getting violently food ill later that night. I think it's also safe to say that Yelp reviews of Chicago sushi establishments are completely out of whack.
(1)
Donna V.

The wife took me here for a random night of sushi craving. Blew. My. Taste. Buds. Away. This is one if the best sushi bars I've visited. I loved everything that Sushi Mike prepared for us. We told him the things we love about sushi and the things we did not care for. He was right on the money with each creation! If you're looking to be blown away, this is the place to go. Tanoshi is a must for sushi-lovers.
(5)
Frank B.

If you like 1980's soft rock, this is your new favorite place.
(4)
Jeff S.

For the food alone, I would have given it five stars. But alas, Chef Mike has a chip on his shoulder the size of Mt. Fuji. A friend and I decided to spend Friday night at Tanoshii, with the idea of ordering omakase. So we arrived at our appointed reservation time, sat at the bar and told the waiter that we will have whatever Mike is serving. Too much time went by before the "special" appetizer came by. The fish & chips lacked balance and was too sour. Much like the rest of our experience there... As the next roll was handed to us, we inquired to Mike what was in the roll. "Fish" was his response. We thought it a bit crude, but funny nonetheless. The roll was good, not great. Something with escolar on top, we presumed. The next roll comes out. Once again, we ask what it is. "Fish". Thanks, jagbag. It was some sort of spicy tuna roll. I wanted to close the bill right then and there, but we decided to stay for one more roll since this one was so good. A softshell crab roll followed. I didn't want to like it, but it was really good. We closed the tab and left for a real dinner in Chinatown at Go4Food (geoduck, salted egg yolk shrimp, whole steamed bass, crispy chicken). The bill was $60. If we were sitting anywhere but the sushi bar, we probably would have spent another $200. Unfortunately though, Mike has the personality of a grocery store California Roll. On our experience alone, I'd give this place 2.5 stars if that was possible. Don't sit at the sushi bar.
(3)
Todd G.

Most everyone agrees that Tanoshii has awesome sushi. I just read that the owners are opening a new location downtown to compete with the big boys. If you order the Sushi Mike special (where you tell the waiter what you like and Mike makes a roll catered to your taste buds), it will be delicious....and it will also be expensive. For a BYOB place, I've actually spent more money on sushi at Tanoshii than I have at downtown trendy sushi spots....so I'll be curious to see what their new downtown place will be like. Bottom line: the sushi is good, but it will cost you.
(3)
Colin E.

My favorite sushi in town. Beyond. Everyone is right. Get some sake at Jewel right across the street. They'll put it on ice for you at the table. Come with a big appetite. Start with their gyoza. Then order the 2-roll iteration of Mike's Special. Tell them what you like and don't like and stand back--such a great concept for sushi. Don't use soy sauce with the Mike's Special; the sauces that come on them are deliberate and perfect as is. Ask for one of the rolls to come with strawberrry and jalapeÃ±o. I would never have thought to ask for this but they sprung it on us and it was the hit of the meal. Nothing like you'd think.
(5)
Bytes G.

Mike's Special is a must. Honestly if you don't get that you're doing it all wrong. Pretty pricey but SO worth it! Yummy, yummy, yummy!
(5)
Sourma K.

I cannot wait to go back to Tanoshii. We had one of Sushi Mike's special rolls and it was out of this world it was a perfect blend and balance of sweet and spicy tuna and whitefish, avocado and sweet egg. For an appetizer we had the fish and chips which was basically a homemade chip, which was pretty large and topped with Sushi Mike's own creation of chopped raw tuna in a lime, sesame oil infused spicy sauce with avocado which was scooped up and put into the chip for us my the waiter. Keep in mind this is BOYB and some amazing sushi. I will recommend this place to everyone I know.
(5)
Penny L.

Wednesday night freezing winter temperatrue. We were able to find pay street parking close to restaurant. clean simple pleasant decor and lighting. Could barely hear 80's music in background due to a loud party. Able to seat family of four. Crisp salad but needed more zest for kids. My kids are into ginger soy dressing. Server always pleasant, informative and attentive. She brought glasses for our Sapporo beer. She brought wine glasses, saw we brought Ozeki junmai sake and switched to sake cups. Sake later put on ice. Udon soup good. Vegetables in broth, good. Tempura, good. Udon noodles had the right chew. Not overcooked. No mushy noodles. Chef Mike made two special rolls. One had a slice of strawberry which gave a soft bouquet taste. Almost reminiscent of a sake with a floral note. A surprising roll perfectly sliced into one bite size. Second roll, kids wanted unagi and spice. The roll looked large but was an amazing one bite. Pleasant texture. Spice was made with mayo but reminded me of mild buffalo sauce. Incredibly good. Both rolls worked with sake. Yes, byob. Did not open beer. Ordered sashimi dinner. All slices fresh and good texture and taste. Escolar, large clam, mackerel, squid, scallop, shrimp, salmon, yellow tail, missing two other. Good uni Nigiri. All worked with sake. The server brought soy sauce with fresh wasabi. Next time, I'll request fresh wasabi on the side. Good green tea ice cream and mochi ice cream-coffee, green tea, red bean. If I can't make it to Katsu or Coast, this is my new goto for sushi sashimi and Mike's special rolls. Macku, I've had 3 visits which were all omakse courses with reserve sake but I won't set foot at your place.
(4)
Jenny H.

Best sushi I've ever had. Ever. Exquisite food. Beautifully presented. Every course was better than the one before - and the one before was the best thing you've ever eaten. Get Mike to determine your menu - only way to go.
(5)
Barbara D.

3.45 Another Sushi Girls' Dinner. The coolest part of this sushi joint is the dark, wooden bar. Just looks so damn cool! It's not quite a sushi bar, I don't even think in serves alcohol, it fits yet it shouldn't. The second coolest part was the Tuna Tataki. Although, oddly the waiter scooped all of it evenly onto our three chips; it was impressively plenty. Spicy & Fresh. The rolls, usual sake and different varieties of maguro nigiri were all average. Fresh but average. So....for a quote from 3 non-anorexic girls: Appetizer 5 rolls 8 nigiris BYOB wine =around 100 bucks. Not bad. Cute place to catch up with friends....
(3)
Mike P.

Been coming to Tanoshii for a few years now. There's not much I can add. I would readily agree that it is some of the best sushi in the city. It's a touch on the pricey side for a neighborhood joint. However, the first taste will tell you that it's money well spent. Get a nice bottle of white wine and toss the menu aside. Let Sushi Mike take you on a ride. You won't regret it.
(5)
Erica T.

This place is awesome if you are willing to leave the options with the chef. I do recommend bring a group as I felt we had more options. Also, leave the picky eaters at home for this one. I can't entirely remember each roll we had. But it was interesting flavor combos like a tuna roll topped w sundried tomatoes and drizzled with oil infused w Italian herbs. A definite must try place!
(4)
Susan F.

The rice to fish ratio is in your favor at Tanoshii, especially with the Sushi Mike special. This place is not your run of the mill, all you can eat, soy sauce on every bite joint. Yes, they have a full menu with nigiri, apps, bento boxes, and special rolls but I would try the special at least once. First, we received a flavorful spicy fish, avocado, and roe-packed ceviche prepared for each of us on a giant tortilla chip. Are you allergic to certain fish, do you not like spicy food? Whatever you tell the server, he will bring you something you probably have not had at a sushi place prior. For example, we had one roll that had a tiny sliced strawberry in it. It didn't taste fruity at all, it tasted like sushi. The subtle hints of creativity they put into their food makes this place unique and worth trying. Things to note: Sushi Mike rolls vary from $16-$22. They take reservations. They have a BYOB corkage fee.
(5)
Jennifer D.

Best sushi in the city. No doubt! Always order the sushi mike special and the fish and chips. Definitely recommend whether you like sushi or not. You will leave a sushi lover.
(5)
Tina P.

Umm... for a party of 4 our expensive rolls that were advertised as "unique" ended costing us $190 for what would have been about half the price at any other legitimate restaurant with their specialty rolls listed. Sorry, Sushi Mike. I'm not coming back. I'd rather know exactly what's in my rolls and the price beforehand.
(2)
Binnan O.

Came here on a man-date and had a good time. Ambiance: Standard nice japanese restaurant. Staff were conversational and friendly, service was responsive even though the place quickly filled up quickly. Food: Started out with the fish and chips which was very interesting. It was a tuna-based mixture freshly prepared by a waitress and served on a large pita chip, very light and enjoyable. We went with 4 of Mike's rolls for the night and they were all very tasty and unique, varying from sweet to savory to mildly spicy. My complaint with the rolls were that they all revolved around a sauce almost like a crutch. Sauces are nice and they add variety but sometimes it's nice to let a roll stand out on its fish alone. To his credit, the sauces were not excessive and drowning the rolls. This place also didn't use tempura in everything like cheaper americanized restaurants. I guess if I had wanted that I should have just ordered some simple nigiri or something. The fish quality WAS really good being a good mixture of soft and buttery but not mushy. The last roll we requested a dessert roll and it was a fish mixture served on a asian pear. If the pear had been ripe it would have been amazing because the mixture was super savory and I can see how it would've worked well. Overall this place was pretty good. The quality of fish was great and the chef's creativity was applaudable. I'd be interested in coming back and trying some of the more regular rolls although having what i had tonight again wouldn't be bad either. My biggest complaint with this place is the pretty high price, fish and chips + 4 rolls came out to be ~$122.
(4)
Steve S.

This is my favorite place for sushi, and the reviews that recommend reserving a spot at the sushi bar are spot on. The quality of the fish is amazing, but the real standout are the sauces. The fresh wasabi sauce is really outstanding, and his sun-dried tomato, yuzu, spicy mango and brown sauces are excellent as well, and he goes easy on the salt so you can still taste the fish. (By the way, if you thought a sun-dried tomato sauce on fish wouldn't be good, I went in thinking that too. I was wrong.) But here's a really useful hint. Go a little later at night when Tanoshii isn't as busy. Mike likes to get really creative, but he doesn't have the time to make some of the rolls when the restaurant is crowded. We went in at 9 pm on a Thursday. If you do the same, your patience will be rewarded.
(5)
Rhoda G.

I live in an area in Lakeview where there are a ton of Japanese restaurants and Tanoshii is by far the best sushi I have had in Chicago so far. Since it's BYOB, we bought a bottle of pinot grigio. We came in around 6 pm and sat at the bar. The place was fairly empty but there were several reserved tables. For apps, we got the Fish and Chips. It's not on the menu, so make sure to order it. It's one big chip with fresh guacamole and fresh salmon mixed together. Delicious! I was pleasantly surprised. For sushi, we got three of the Sushi Mike's Specials. You just tell him what you like and don't like and he will make whatever creation. Since we were at the bar, we got to see all the action and the attention to detail was amazing. We did order off the menu as well. Fresh sake, tuna, along with their specialty rolls. Everything was fantastic and fresh. Yes, this place can be a little expensive, but it's worth it for the quality of sushi.
(5)
Yun P.

Everyone talks about sushi Mike being this fabulous person. I have been to many, many, many asian establishments and I was so disappointed in this restaurant. I really, really, really wanted to like him, but... First of all there's so prices on the menu for Mike's specialty rolls until you get the bill... i don't know about you but i dine out ALOT and $100- for NO ALCOHOL for just sushi is expensive for a small joint. $20 for a salmon roll are you kidding me? we're not at japonais.... i do have to say the spicy tuna was delicious but the softshell was eh, fish and chips which they think is a fabulous dish is just salmon tartar w LOTS of tomatoes, fish tonkatsu was good but the rice sucked... i can say that because i'm asian and i know what sticky rice is supposed to taste like, it wasn't as fresh as you think. Most importantly it took 1 hr to make three rolls. That is CRAZY!!!!!! if you are going to push sushi mike and fabulous rolls hire extra workers. I will never go back. Go to Ora down the street, AMAZING sushi for lot less and better service.
(2)
Benjamin L.

We live a few blocks away and this is one of our go-to places in Andersonville. It gets pretty crowded on the weekends, but on just about any week night you can get a table. The staff is extremely friendly, especially Sushi Mike, who is pretty well known around these parts. All I can say is that he is, as advertised, an expert at crafting and tailoring sushi to your tastes. We go here just about every chance we get!
(5)
Louise M.

WOW. I rarely get sushi... but it seems that every time I do, it's the same old vegetarian rolls. You know: the cucumber roll, the sweet potato roll, the avocado roll... blah blah blah. TANOSHII IS DIFFERENT! IT IS AMAZING! Before I picked up the menu I was debating which of the standard veg rolls to order... And then I read about the concept of Tanoshii; 'Tell Sushi Mike what you like, and he will make a customized roll just for you.' So, me and my dining companions all ordered one of the Sushi Mike custom rolls, and we were all AMAZED by how special and unique each one was! We loved them so much that we ordered two more rounds each! IT WAS AWESOME! Our server was also very accommodating, nice, funny, and quick. She made sure our Tanoshii experience was top notch! We will be back!
(5)
Maya C.

This is by far my least favorite sushi place I've been to in Chicago. I'm a huge sushi fan and I believe it's pretty hard to mess up the standard rolls, but this place was no enjoyable at all. The server didn't know what sriracha was which was a huge issue because I can't eat sushi without my favorite cock sauce!!! I also really enjoy a TINY sliver of a lemon peel in my sushi for freshness or a squirt of lemon on top of my salmon rolls, so I asked the server if she could put a TINY amount of the peel in my roll and got whole lemon slices. They put them in EVERY roll I ordered, and it was so overpowering I couldn't eat it. I explained this to the server in detail about how it's just a tiny sliver, and she didn't quite understand I guess. Totally ruined the whole experience for me. Took us forever to get soy sauce brought to our table as ours was empty. The pot stickers/dumplings we ordered were also drenched in sauce instead of the sauce on the side so that was an awful appetizer experience. Really, I don't even want to write too much more abou this place because I didn't like it at all. I'll never go back there and it's literally two blocks away from me. I'll travel a little further for better quality food no problem. Maybe this was just a one time thing as the average rating here is 4 stars, but I'd rather eat at Hello Sushi on Damen or a billion other places in Chicago than here.
(2)
Audre L.

I would give this a 3.5 if I could. The food is really interesting and you'll get some rolls that you wouldn't normally get - but its a little pricey overall. I guess if you're in the area, definitnely try it at least once, and if this is up your alley for sushi, good for you!
(3)
Matt T.

Not sure what all the hype is...sushi was good but about par for the course. We did enjoy the Sushi Mike special but for $19 it just wasn't worth it. I understand it was a big roll but I've had similar rolls for about $14. It was a take a spicy tuna with an interesting sauce and tuna on top of the roll with some tempura crunch but that was about it. We said we pretty much like everything including spicy and we got something without a wow factor. The other rolls we got were fine but nothing different for the price. The ngiri is $3-$4 a piece which is just ridiculous. There are other places that you will pay half that and get bigger pieces, including my favorite place, Rolls N Bowls. The other thing was the A/C was not working well and we went in on a 100 degree day. This took away from the experience a bit, so we ate fast and left. I might come back once more to try but for the price we paid I'd rather go elsewhere. Nothing to write home about.
(3)
Rebecca J.

Going to this place was a bizarre and unpleasant experience. It included the worst service I have ever experienced at any restaurant. Starts with us waiting longer than what is expected to get water and wine glasses and menus, and not everyone got the separate paper menus for the a la carte sushi. Waitstaff couldn't get our orders straight then wanted to argue with us about what we had ordered. Yes, I would like nothing more than for you to screw up our orders then try to prove that WE'RE wrong! Food came out at very different times, some of it came out incorrectly, and some of it NEVER came out after being there for 2.5 hours, so we cancelled the rest of the food so we could gtf out of there and cease our suffering. The food that we did get was just okay. Nothing was impressive- not even the sushi Mike special. Not sure what the problem is with service as they were not that busy and appeared fully staffed both in terms of servers and sushi chefs. Maybe they just don't care, maybe they're incompetent, or perhaps a combination of the two. In any case, there are dozens of better sushi restaurants in Chicago, even a couple in the same neighborhood that far surpass Tanoshii, so don't subject yourself to the torture that is the dining experience here.
(1)
Michelle L.

Woah. The rolls were amazing. You have two options when dining at Tanoshii: order off the menu (includes meals, rolls, sashimi, etc.) or let the sushi chef customize rolls based on your likes/dislikes. I eat anything and I'm not allergic to anything so we let the chef make 5 "surprise" rolls for us. Our appetizer was amazing! Then we had about 5 more rolls - all of which were delicious. The texture, quality of the fish, presentation, ingredients...EVERYTHING was delicious. Our chef (not Chef Mike) was super nice, funny and provided great service! This is a must try for sushi lovers. Plus it's BYOB!
(5)
Moose D.

Best darn kitty food (see, I am a puppy) I have had in a very long time. Simple, quaint and the perfect spot not to be seen, but gotta love the food. Freshest fish i have had this far from the water. Service is always impeccable, fast and courteous.place is clean and a great atmosphere. It is BYOB so come prepared. FOUR PAWS
(5)
Sean M.

I have tried 15-20 places in my life and Tanoshii is by far the best sushi ever. Everything is so fresh! Tell sushi Mike what you like and don't like and he will make you the best damn sushi you ever had! I strongly suggest the "Philadelphia" (smoked salmon) roll!
(5)
Jaclyn H.

A great sushi spot!!! They customize rolls for you based on your tastes/dietary requirements, it's BYOB, and it all tastes great! They had a special appetizer called Fish Chips that were unique, and tasty too!
(5)
Paul L.

Awesome. I highly recommend Mike's Special Rolls: you're given a list of ingredients (seafood, fruits, vegetables, etc.) to choose from and Sushi Mike makes something unique for you. The man clearly knows what he is doing. It's largely a matter of choosing what you don't want. Each of the Special Rolls we ordered was fantastic. As a note, the price for Mike's Special Rolls may vary depending on what you choose so if you're just interested in something simple (i.e., crab and avocado) you may want to just order off of the menu. It's adventurous and that's the point, but you do pay up to about $20 per roll if you're very adventurous. Each does come as a larger serving (10 pieces instead of the standard 6). I also really liked the fish and chips appetizer. It's like spicy, minced fish pate. One order is good for two people. Everything is fresh. It is BYOB but there is a Jewel just down the block if you need to pick something up.
(5)
Mar L.

Food: 5 stars Service: do I have to tip? Very Bad Service
(3)
Randy N.

You can't charge $15 for a roll and put fake crab in it. Good, but there's better fish elsewhere.
(3)
Clint B.

This is a great place! Sushi Mike rules the world......East of Harlem that is! Throw the menu away and have him make some custom rolls based on what YOU like! BYOB last time I was there!!!
(5)
Anand A.

This places gets 5 Stars if you do the following: 1) Order the Fish and Chips (Stunning explosion of taste on first bite) 2) Order the Soft Shell Crab Chef's special (perhaps one of the best rolls in the city) 3) Leave and go to another Sushi joint or another restaurant. If you veer off these steps and stay for other food here, expect an overall 3.5. The rolls are pretty good but they are quite expensive and you can get comparable food at other places.
(5)
Mikey J.

This place is what's up! So good, I dedicate my 100th review to Tanoshii. I came here today on a whim and, boy, was I pleasantly surprised. The place is just off Lake Shore, has ample parking, and a warm cozy interior. Service is excellent and quick. STEVE, you are the man. I was seated promptly and offered the menu and ice water right away. I ordered the teriyaki chicken bento box and was pleasantly surprised. I had just swam and was HUNGRY, and this bento box filled me up: miso soup, salad, rice, teriyaki chicken, tempura, sushi, and dumplings. Riding off my post-workout hunger, I then ordered two specialty rolls from the chef. I don't have their names but they were delicious!! One was a mix strawberries, egg, rice, and mixed sushi with a dab of wasabi on top. The other was a spicy salmon roll made with some twists that I couldn't identify, but came out excellent! Prices are good too. Oh yeah, BYOB. Holla! Will definitely be back!!
(5)
Kara D.

Having never eaten here, I definitely had an idea of what to expect going in. Yes, it was amazing and delicious and fun and awesome, etc., etc. I have to say, Tanoshii, Sushi Mike, and his crew of talented chefs have exceeded my expectations in every way. Let me begin (again) by saying that I don't even really ENJOY sushi - I made reservations at Tanoshii to celebrate a birthday. Upon entering the restaurant though, you have a distinct moment of realization that you are going to eat raw fish tonight, and you WILL LIKE IT. The friendly waitstaff greets you right away. (I would definitely give 5 stars for this alone - every person there was attentive without being pushy, informative without being snide, and genuinely welcoming.) After a quick explanation of the menu and Mike's Special, we had our order for fish and chips in and popped the whiskey. What can I say? You should be prepared to wait, but try to get a seat at the bar if you can. While your food is being prepared, you can watch the masters at work. Mike and his chefs definitely create a fun atmosphere, and even if you're not into conversation, watching them create these amazing sushi rolls should keep even the most impatient diner occupied. And the wait is worth it by the way - each roll we had did indeed feature raw fish, but after watching it come together right before your eyes, it's impossible to not eat. The hardest thing to do is not eat too fast!! In any case, the longer we were there, the better everything got. There were shots for the bar, as well as sake (whiskey?) bombs. The quality of the food didn't suffer - if anything, each roll was more enjoyable than the last. This place will definitely change your mind if you enter with preconceived notions of what sushi is. The only bad part about eating here is that afterwards, you realize you won't be able to eat sushi anywhere else without thinking that you could be eating at Tanoshii instead.
(5)
Stephen S.

Tanoshii is delicious and creative, providing a sushi experience that is unlike anywhere else I've been. The name of the game here is Sushi Mike and the best way to experience Tanoshii is to go with Mike's Special Rolls where you let Mike now what you like and he fixes you up something. Some people might find the price a little off putting, but what you have to appreciate is that the way you typically get this sort of culinary inspired sushi is to order an omakase which will cost you a lot more. Mike's Special is kinda like an omakase-lite and Sushi Mike has the culinary vision to deliver something truly exceptional. Plus you have more control that an omakase. We asked for something spicy and something fruity and sweet and specified our fish. Everything turned out fantastic! The place is BYO but has a small corkage fee. Don't go into Tanoshii expecting your run-of-the-mill sushi, but if you want a great experience with fantastic quality fish Tanoshii is your place.
(4)
Beth S.

The best sushi there is, period! Sushi Mike is one of a kind! Once you eat this sushi, you will never want to eat grocery story sushi again.
(5)
Tanya T.

Mike (the chef) is unbelievable. If you try Mike's special - tell him what you like and he will create custom masterpieces catered to your personality and taste. Truly authentic experience, super friendly staff which take pride about working there and unbelievably tasty plates which will play with all your taste buds. Yumm!!
(5)
Nikkie H.

My friend had talked about Sushi Mike for weeks, maybe months. I thought, "Seriously, how good can this place be? Sheesh." Well, it is that good. Indeed it is. Went there last night as kind of a spur of the moment thing (Him: Want sushi? Me: Yup.) It was, as some say, amazeballs. Started off with the fish and chips, which is really a nice mix of fish with spices on a tortilla-like chip. It was kind of impossible to not eat without slopping, but whatever. As others said before, it is not on the menu, but ask for it. Then we had several pieces of nigiri before moving on to three of Sushi Mike's specialty rolls. All I can say is that these rolls put other sushi joints to shame. SHAME! The mix of flavors just melt in your mouth - refreshing, then a kick of spice, then just delish. Mmmmmm. Towards the end my stomach started saying no more, and I finally had to give in, lest I felt sick and regret eating there. I couldn't let that happen. Without a doubt I plan on coming back, with or without my friend (sorry dude). The quality of the fish, the creativity in the rolls, the friendliness of Sushi Mike, and the overall atmosphere was outstanding. Oh yeah, and they play AWESOME music. Lots of great 80s tunes. I was in heaven.
(5)
s. m. j.

What a wonderful neighborhood sushi joint this is! I went with friends who live near here, and when we walked in, my friend greeted Sushi Mike and thanked him for the excellence of some recent party platters. It's like Cheers, here: Everybody knows your name. :) But more importantly, the sushi is divine! The menu is extensive, with a lot of choices of rolls. I went for the caterpillar roll, which was salmon and crab, I think, with avocado on the top. When I posted a pic on Facebook, I got a ton of comments, including one jealous friend who said hardly anyone makes rolls that look that beautiful anymore. My friend asked for Sushi Mike's off-the-menu special, which included fish and fruit, such as strawberries. I had a bite, and it was exquisite, just the perfect mix of all the flavors. Next time I go, I'm asking for that. As are many Chicago establishments, this is BYOB. They will bring you wine glasses for your bottle. We sat in the back and had a lovely, very cosy, extremely delicious dinner here on a recent Sunday night. If you have the opportunity to try out this great sushi restaurant, don't wait, and return again soon. I would if I could!
(4)
ashley m.

Damn I LOVE this place, never fails!
(5)
Cameron H.

I am a bit torn with this place. I heard mixed reviews. The general consensus was that the Mike's Special is what should be ordered. But if you ordered the typical items, they are good as well. The Special, which was custom (we were asked what we liked and disliked) turned out well. However, the typical items were not good. The Special came out first but was a but delayed (took 15 minutes). There weren't that many people in restaurant either. Then it took another 15-20 minutes to get our other orders. You would think the Soft Shell Crab, or the Dragon, or the Unagi would be delicious. But they weren't. Very bland.. Such a shame. It appears he focuses on the Specials more than the more traditional/every day items. Unfortunately, I will not be going back.
(2)
Gino W.

I honestly believe I have found the best sushi bar in Chicago. Instead of ordering from the menu, I opted for whatever the chef would prepare. The server asked if I had any favourite seafood and if I had any allergies. I responded to his inquiry and he said that he would have the chef prepare three rolls. Food bliss. Let me just say that I could not understand what the server said, other than "spicy" and "I recommend that you do not use soy sauce." My eyes were rolling around in my head, the rolls were so delicious. Fresh without a fishy taste or smell, I gobbled the rolls to completion and then had thoughts of ordering more. Instead I convinced myself that I shall have to return at a future day. And return again and again I shall.
(5)
Jennifer S.

Melts in your mouth........ fresh, clean and super friendly staff! This place knows what its doing. Sushi chef Chris made an outstanding dinner per his own recommendations and it surely did not disappoint. As mentioned by other reviewers, the glory behind this place is completely trusting the chef by telling him your preferences. I told them spicy salmon and spicy tuna and before you know it i had amazing creations that included honey&truffle(WTF??), fresh grated wasabi and a spicy concoction that i could not get enough of. Anyway, BYOB is a major plus and their hot sake is great. :) TOTALLY my new fave sushi spot!
(5)
Kim M.

Best sushi ever!! But you have to get the Mike's special, otherwise its just like any other sushi place. Trust it! it's amazing, I've never been disappointed.
(5)
Mad I.

Pretty cool experience, very different from any other place in Chi. Sit at the sushi bar, have Mike feed ya, and pay a LARGE bill, rolls if you are lucky average like $17-20 a piece! Reserved for special occasions for me. Those we my thoughts at first...now after my 4th time there, I decided I'm dunzo.... Reasons: * $21 a roll is just too much, and they are far too simple to warrant that price * You think Mike is making you 'special rolls' catered to what you like, but really he picks 4 or 5 to make that night and cranks 'em out to everyone * I cannot sleep at night lately knowing I paid $21 for rolls filled with crab stick and cucumber.... seriously... * crab stick and cucumber (I had to say it again) * I cannot be shamed for wanting some freakin soy sauce * I don''t like to be told "No". Ex: "Mike, I like eel, can you make me an eel roll?" Mike= "No". Me: "Mike I don't like salmon" Mike: "here is a salmon roll" Me: can I get some spicy mayo?" Mike: "No" Oooookkkkaaaaayyyyyy * random $4 at the bottom of my bill (cork fee??) * Being almost turned away at 5:45 even though the restaurant was empty...reservations were at 7:45...I can be out in 2 hours....sheesh... $104 tab (see pic) and I brought my own booze...ummmm...not happenin again
(3)
Jane M.

This sushi place is my favorite. Chef's special is the only way to go. Not crazy about the roll with truffle oil and oregano but just asked not to have it. Fish and chips appetizer outstanding and a must have. Service is very good. BYOB is just the cherry on top.
(5)
Eve S.

A good friend of mine recently moved from Brooklyn to Chicago and suggested, or more like insisted we have dinner here. I was the tiniest bit skeptical BUT that changed pretty quickly when I tasted the rolls. The big secret to to order the chefs special. We came without a reservation and were told there was a big wait so we were going to get a drink somewhere but as we headed out the door a table became available. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Lucy P.

The best quality sushi in Chicago, hands down, and Sushi Mike will make you whatever you want. No frills inside and BYOB but Sushi Mike, who owns Tanoshi and can be found making the rolls much of the time, is friendly and funny and awesome. The quality is much better than Japonais or Coast and the service is always great.
(5)
Kyle D.

I've only had sushi a few times here in Chicago, and so far this has been the best experience I've had. I'm sure it's not THE best, but it was very enjoyable. The service is friendly, the atmosphere is great, and the food is fantastic. It's BYOB which is a plus too if you are a fan. They have a wide selection of foods but everyone says go with the custom rolls, so that's what we did. With that said, the food was delicious. The 'fish and chips' appetizer, which was a mixture of spicy tuna among other goods, was fantastic. The custom sushi rolls were also great. There were some interesting standouts that I had never thought of in the sushi world, but there were also a few dull rolls. Overall great though. The downside is that the nigiri is expensive and, while I didn't pay for the bill this time, I'm sure the rest of the menu is as well. It is great sushi, but not super. They had uni, which is one of my favorites, so that was nice. Overall a great experience. Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Food: 8.5/10
(4)
Jason M.

Holy Mary, Mother of God. This is unequivocally the most inequitably priced sushi restaurant in Chicago. It's been a few hours since we sat down to eat there, and I'm still in a state of disbelief. I'm in shock. I'm going to do my best to write in this state, but I don't know how well it's going to go. The sushi was fine. Good even. I want to give it its due. It wasn't great and it wasn't special, but it was good enough. To be frank, however, for it being "specially made" and "based on our tastes," it was all pretty pedestrian. Yeah, calling something pedestrian is a douche move. I don't care. I calls 'em like I sees 'em. So, let's discuss that the cheapest of our three Sushi Mike specials was $20. $20. $20. To be clear, this is for a skinny maki roll of 10 pieces. Skinny like sushi you get at Dominicks. $20. At this point, I think it makes sense to point out that precisely 0 sushi rolls on the Japonais menu cost more than $16. The same price point holds true for Sushi Mirai. This math is telling me weird things. For $4 less per roll, I could eat at Japonais, a place that's not really my scene, but certainly has a 'cool-factor' and makes some great food. For $4 more than Japonais, I could at eat Clark and Bryn Mawr, in a dark, unimpressive back room where the temperature stayed at a brisk 55 degrees throughout the entirety of 2.5 hours of waiting and starving. We never even received our last two rolls. We had to give up. I'm glad. If they had come, we'd have broken the $100 mark for a party of three who were barely even fed at a BYO. That might be the new definition of insane.
(2)
Elizabeth A.

The sushi here is great. It's fresh and well executed. The service here is AWFUL! Our waitress never came back to ask if everything was fine and if we wanted anything else (even though I kept a menu and told her I'd be ordering more food). After having her avoid eye contact for a good twenty minutes, I had to hunt her down to order more food. I didn't want to do it again, so I ended up going home and having the rest of my dinner. She totally avoided any niceties overall and was generally worthless. Need. New. Staff. This is why people hate tipping. I had to tip this girl for being awful at her job. That's ridiculous.
(3)
Ariel R.

Phenomenal sushi restaurant... Visited while in Chicago in May 2015. Mike was an absolute pleasure to watch and speak with. I would strongly suggest against ordering from the menu. Let him know what you're in the mood for and let him take the wheel from there. If you manage to get on his good side, he may even pour you a complementary shot of Knob Creek! Cheers!
(5)
Racheal S.

Tanoshii is the only place in Chicago that I will go for sushi! Just as many other reviewers have said, sit at the sushi bar and let Chef Mike work his magic! He will ask about preferences and food allergies, and go from there, Every time I go to Tanoshii, Chef Mike makes something new and delicious that I have never had before. For reference, Chef Mike also loves Miller Lite. So if you are stopping by and planning on sitting at the sushi bar, bring him a 6 pack.
(5)
Brian S.

Decent sushi, albeit American style which translates into way too much sauce and rolled with a lot of rice so it can only be fit in the typical American's mouth. Over priced, which is again standard for the clientele in the city. Friendly staff and clean establishment. I am still in search of a nice reasonally priced place in area.
(3)
Shauntae W.

Went alone for a snack. Best sushi! Service great and attentive. Food delicious. Will return to this place for the Chicago roll!
(5)
Rebecca N.

Some of the best/ most fresh sushi I have had! Great service and enjoyable atmosphere. I would definitely recommend doing Mike's Special where they bring out food for you. The one "special" roll we got was out of this world-- wasabi puree with super white tuna and regular tuna. The Kamikaze roll was very good as well. The pieces were SO fresh. Melted in your mouth. Loved the mochi at the end of the meal :)
(5)
Sergio N.

Fresh sushi , good service ... Nice ambience .. Our second time to this place . Byob... And if you forgot to bring wine , jewel osco is just across the street ... Servers are friendly ... Good for groups .. The master chef owns the place ...
(5)
Elina S.

Okay so this place really annoyed me and I hardly get annoyed and I hardly give out two stars. A few weeks ago I made reservations at Tannoshi but to my own mistake I made it for the wrong location and really wanted it to be here. We arrived at 6:30 and the place was practically empty. The guy told me Made the reservation at his partner location and told me to head over there. That's at least a half hour away with little traffic and obviously we would have been late over there. What really pissed me off is that they could have made an exception even though it was my fault since the place was empty. He kept saying those are for future reserved spots like for 7:30 and 8:00 which was more than an hour away. I begged him asking him if we could sit at the bar or anywhere really and that we eat super quick and would be out before those times guaranteed. He said sorry no. I've never been turned down like that especially since there were a plethora of empty tables. He didn't care that we drove over an hour from the burbs to get here, just plain rude and lacked all customer service. Being the kind of person who believes in second chances I decided to give them another shot last weekend and made another reservation, this time at this place. We arrived and were sat in their back room which felt very desolated and I would have preferred to be where the action was at. Oh and the room was also more than 70% empty on a Saturday night waiting for future reservations. Our hostess had that "I'm too cool for school attitude" about her the entire meal. She didn't really offer any recommendations and I had to really ask her what she would suggest. She felt too busy to give us any ideas. We decided to order a few simple rules to taste the quality of the fish and a few of their renowned specials. The simple rolls weren't expensive but lacked a lot of fish and were oh so blah. The specials we tried were the salmon special and the soft shell crab special, only thanks to the yelp pics on here. They were $20 and $22 and I felt extremely ripped off. Were they decent rolls? Yes absolutely. Anything out of the extraordinary? Nope. I mean that salmon roll had a few pieces of salmon, some drizzled honey and what looked like imitation crab inside. Yes you get like 9-10 pieces but for $22? I mean this isn't Sunda or any special downtown place so where do they get off charging such prices for such mediocre, lacking tons of fish, rolls. You can easily spend way too much here and I'm glad we didn't do too many other rolls. Toro and coast are way better in my opinion and wayyy cheaper. This is not Morimoto, it's a little edge water place charging way too much. I won't be back, and not only due to the sushi but mostly, how I felt I was treated which wasn't very nice. Maybe the Randolph location is nicer on the inside which a much nicer staff and I should have ended up their after all.
(2)
Scott A.

First off, the space is pretty nice and cozy, not overdone like other sushi spots in the city. Service was prompt and server was really nice to my son. We ordered a couple different kinds of nigiri and our dinner mates ordered the omakase. We ordered hamachi, amiebi, maguro, chutoro, uni and the unagi. Hamachi was blah, not very fresh and lacked the melt in your mouth flavor I'm used to. Amiebi wasn't sweet, and tasted fishy. Maguro wasn't vibrant red like usual and had an oxidized look to it, not much flavor to it. Chutoro was definitely not fresh and was chewy? Uni looked fresh, but didnt have that fresh sea flavor and tasted old. Unagi was actually pretty good, but the sauce was a little overwhelming. All the nigiri also had so much wasabi that it ruined the flavor, but did clear my sinuses. I am not a big americanized sushi fan, but I did try the specialty rolls and while the flavors did go great together, the fish itself was not fresh. It was almost as if the sauce was there to cover up the low quality fish they used. We also ordered yakisoba for my son, but you could tell it was packaged or the chef just wasn't good at preparing Japanese food. This feels like a cheap sushi joint that charges premium quality prices. I don't mind paying for good sushi, but I wouldn't recommend this place.
(2)
Sheila K.

My husband and I came here for our anniversary dinner. I was in the mood for sushi so we decided to check out this place. They also have another location on Randolph. He got the Tanoshii Special and I the Chirashi. They have thick cuts of sashimi here which it nice, but I do prefer it sliced thinner. The meal came with miso soup and salad. The miso soup was good, not too salty. The Tanoshi Special came with the fried shrimp head, my husband's fav! Overall, the quality of the fish is fresh. However, the prices are a bit more steep than the other places around here. I could only imagine how expensive it would be for the specials. We have only tried Ora and Tanoshii on Clark, but between the two, I would choose Ora over Tanoshii. This place is bigger though so you might not have to wait during peak hours.
(3)
Natasha K.

Meh, starting with the service. Our server looked incredibly unhappy to be working (which I understand) however it didnt matter how nice we were nothing changed her mood. She was very inattentive, didnt check on us, didnt refill waters. I really didnt want to tip her because thank you for bringing us our plates? The food was nothing to write home about, we ordered 3 rolls, they were all surprisingly short (5 pieces). The sushi was packed with rice and little else. It was just mediocre at best. I was really kind of frustrated because as much as I wanted to order more food, I didnt see the point in doing so. We paid for our meal, tipped the server, and cooked a half meal at home. I will not be returning to eat here, as there are many other sushi options in the area.
(2)
Stephanie H.

Went here for the first time this past weekend and it was quite tasty. A few of us did the Mike's Special and it was good. Basically you let them know what you like and they make rolls for you based on that. For example, there was a request for truffle oil, avocado and fruit (yes, berries!) at our table. I did the veggie udon and the kamikaze roll of the menu and was really good. All of did the 'fish and chip' appetizer which was really fresh and tasty. For those who prefer cooked food, the menu had plenty of the regular bento box dinner entree options too, so no excuses!! Also, it's BYOB but there was a $2 charge per person for it. It's not that big a place so reservations on a weekend might be a good idea. Our server was really nice and they play 80s music on Pandora all the time, so that's a big win for me!
(4)
Andrea B.

I must have been Japanese in my past life because I love sushi!!!!!! I can eat it all day and all night and Tanoshii is seriously the best sushi ever. I try and go there once or twice a month ( I live in the suburbs so it's quiet the hike), My brother and his fiancÃ© introduced me to this place and we have hosted a few events there and it is just the best. The service is great and sushi is even better. Recommendation: Don't come here if you want plain sushi, order the Mike's special, you can't fail. My personal favorites are the spicy shrimp Mike's special, Honey truffle ( salmon or tuna) Mike's special, Spicy Strawberry Mike's special and the truffle tuna IS THE BOMB.
(5)
Jenna J.

The sushi here is some of the best I've had. If you're going to eat at Sushi Mike's, here are three recommendations to get the most out of your experience: 1) don't come here with a party of more than 4 people. 2 is ideal. this is because... 2) sit at the bar. it's cozy and you get to watch them make your food; it's a great show 3) order The Special. the rolls are a little pricey, but you won't be disappointed Sushi Mike clearly has a following and it's easy to see why. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be rushing to come back any time soon. About 3 rolls into our amazing dinner, Sushi Mike pulled our waiter aside behind the register (in front of all the customers and other staff) and started reaming him. It went on for what felt like ages. I don't know whether the guy deserved it or not, but it made us feel really uncomfortable. I kept worrying if it was something we'd done that had gotten this poor guy in trouble. It left a bad taste in my mouth that lasted far longer than any of the tasty food they served us. There are lots of places in this city that serve amazing food. The next time I want great sushi, I'm going to a place that treats their staff with dignity.
(2)
Jeana C.

Very small place so you probably want to make a reservation, and BYOB. Meter parking on the street. Great thing about this place is the Sushi Mike creation roll. You simply tell your server what you don't like or like and he'll accommodate to that and make a roll for you. Ranges from $16 to $22 per roll. My favorite roll he made was one with shittake mushrooms, avocado, super white tuna and a truffle/yuzu type sauce. So good. And they don't overdo the rice either.
(5)
Anthony J.

They managed to make two members of our party cry, and just about ruined my sister's birthday. Avoid this place at all costs. Party of 11 on a Saturday night. We all arrived a little bit late for the 7pm reservation, so maybe the wait staff just felt like being vindictive, but more likely they just didn't care as we sat there waiting for menus, glasses, any sort of service. Took about 20 minutes. Once we finally got that stuff, and eventually placed our order for some appetizers, we seemed to be back on track. The apps came out quick enough, though they were kinda lacking in flavor, especially the calamari. Guess we shouldn't have ordered 3 of them sight unseen, but we just assumed they'd be tasty. Nope, bland breading and bland dipping sauce. Oh well, we're here for sushi, not calamari, right gang? We got our sushi orders in pretty promptly, and then waited. And waited. And...waited. Not so for those of our party who had non-sushi entrees - they were served while the rest of us twiddled our thumbs. Unprofessional. My pregnant wife can't have raw fish, so the sushi Mike special, where you tell him what you want and don't want, seemed ideal. She was clear on disallowing raw fish or avocado (not a fan), but when around 9:40 (remember we got there at 7:20), a roll was finally served her, she dutifully and stoically began peeling off the large slices of avocado on top. That's when I finally lost my mind. Never in my 35 years have I been so close to flipping a table, throwing a plate against a wall, and storming out. I would've felt justified. The story ends kinda anti-climactically with us paying for what food we did get. They gave us an alleged discount, but the bill was still over $150. I hated the idea of giving them anything, and they deserved far less than that, but whatever. Sushi Mike should've prostrated himself before us in a gesture of deep apology, but clearly he didn't care. Several of us left hungry, some were reduced to tears, and all were unhappy. Tanoshii should be embarrassed.
(1)
Karl H.

Took my six-year-old here at 5:30 for a "date night." We sat at the sushi bar, and ordered within a minute of sitting down. she likes two simple rolls, I like sashimi, and the people who recommended it said to trust in the chefs. My kid's first roll came more than an hour later. my sashimi was primarily two spicy tuna rolls. They charged us almost $100 for that. My parking ran out twice in the 45 minutes we waited for the check.
(1)
Kim Z.

Great, great fresh sushi. Very creative and mouth watering good, the cucumber roll literally melted in my mouth like butter. I can't wait to go back!! It's BYOB, which certainly helps keep the bill on the lower end minus a bar.
(4)
Chi D.

There is nothing you can say about Sushi Mike and his quality ingredients and flawless technique other than...HANDS DOWN BEST SUSHI IN CHICAGO
(5)
Joel G.

Ok it just get's better. Tanoshii just opened an 2nd location on Randolph in restaurant row. Place is big, bit more modern, but same great sushi. Mike was here when we went on Sunday. Brought a couple with us that also love sushi and we introduced them to "Mike's" rolls. Basically you go in and ask for Mikes rolls and he makes this incredible selection of maki that are unlike most you have had at normal sushi places. One roll in particular everyone loves is the shitake mushroom roll. Man that's a good one that I highly recommend you try. Home made gyoza and a solid selection of sakes. I do like that the original location was byob but it's great that there is now a south side location as the original one is up in Andersonville. If you like sushi this is the place to hit in Chicago.
(5)
Laura S.

We began coming to Tonoshi about 2 years ago and have been loyal customers - I mean EVERY Saturday! In the last 2-3 months the place has become a huge disappointment. Example: we order everything when we sit down and don't get our first roll for OVER AN HOUR. This is not an isolated incident. I write this because it has happened every weekend for the last few months and I can no longer put up with it. Anybody going on a Saturday night should plan on 3 hours. I was told the reason is because they hired "slow" sushi chefs. In Chicago that shouldn't be an issue. I'm not a fan of excuses. We actually have left 3 times now before Getting all of our food and they made NO acknowledgement or accommodation. OFF tonoshi for good!
(1)
Adele n.

It was expensive, but the food was excellent. The gimmick is the Mike's Special. Tell your server some ingredients that you like and don't like, and Mike will whip up (an allegedly) one-of-a-kind maki for your table with some unusual ingredients. We went for this option and were served a generously sized smoky, salty roll with shiitake mushrooms, avocado, white tuna and truffle oil. Pretty cool and definitely unique. We also ordered some nigiri, which is where I feel like Mike really justified his fairly steep prices. The fish was excellent and (in addition to all of the standards) they had my favorites: raw scallop and uni. Both were awesome and were pretty generous servings. It's BYOB and street parking is available on the block. I'm adding "eat at Tanoshii all the time" to my list of "things to do when I have more money." (My favorite thing to daydream about).
(4)
Becky M.

+ Good quality fish and friendly good service on a Friday night. - Weirdly huge amounts of wasabi smashed between fish and rice in nigiri. Like, tons of wasabi. Like the chef thought he needed wasabi adhesive to connect fish and rice (no dude, it doesn't
(2)
Chris B.

Very awesome sushi, and I don't go for sushi very often. But Mike's special is very good, a little pricey though so bring friends. The only other thing I noticed was I went twice, and thinking the Mike's special would be different, was very excited. But as the plates started arriving they were the same dishes as the first time I went. Still really good, and very creative, but would be nice to have something different each time. The place is also great because it's BYOB, and of course I love that! Also they take reservations, which is great, even if you think you won't need them, it's always nice to have.
(4)
Kristin R.

I was recommended to visit this place by an old co-worker, and they have since opened a second one downtown. I am a huge fan of sushi, and coming from California, I am often critical of the ones I have found here since it's hard to find some fresh fish! Alas, this place was certainly an experience. While I thought the cost was a bit high (hence the four stars plus I'm not sure if my husband got food poisoning here or from the Starbucks we went to after since we ate off the same plate) but it was worth it for the truffle roll we had. As suggested by my co-worker, we sat at the bar and ordered the chef special. He gave us three delicious, good sized rolls that were not the typical sushi rolls I've had in the past. They were beautifully presented and tasted both fresh and new with the different ingredients he added into each roll. They were all different too. I can't tell you what rolls they were because I don't think they were on the menu! The cool thing about ordering the chef special is that they create some pretty neat rolls and they ask if you have any allergies to make sure you are taken care of. This place was definitely an awesome date night place. I think we went here on a Friday or Saturday in the early evening but it's a small space, with easy to find paid street parking.
(4)
Phil K.

Omg, get the chef special They gave us this roll with shitake and super white escolar. Holy effin crap. My favorite all time roll now. Then this octopus roll comes out. Ridiculous. I don't know, I may have brought too much sake (byob) But these rols came out before I got wasted. So Thumbs up. Oh, the staff. .. Hilarious.
(5)
Christy B.

This is the best sushi will you eat in Chicago! Sushi Mike is a genius. My advice is to always sit at the bar and get Sushi Mike's rolls. Mike, the owner, will ask you what you like/don't like and then create magical sushi for you. He lets you choose if your next roll will be sweet or spicy but don't mind asking what's in the roll, his answer is always "fish". The best part about the Andersonville location is it's BYOB and sushi Mike loves bourbon! So do not forget to pour him a shot. The specialty rolls can be pricey (around $20-$25 per roll) but it's worth it because you get one-of a-kind rolls. These rolls aren't mostly rice covered in seaweed like what you find in most places. It is fresh fish and mike-made sauces...no need for soy sauce here! Also, if you love tuna, get the 'fish and chips' appetizer! **I would not necessarily recommend Tanoshii as the place to go with a large party or if you are more interested in chatting with a group of people. I have been to Tanoshii 4 times. Three of those times I have sat at the bar, with my focus on eating, and spoke with Mike as he prepared my rolls. Great experiences. Mike even gave us a history lesson on rice and fish, along with complimentary saki. Once, I took my girlfriends and we were sat in the back room. This experience was not as exciting and I totally understand what others mean in their reviews when they complain that the service was mediocre and it took a very long time for the sushi to come out. However, with that being said, I believe this restaurant offers an amazing experience if you are alone or with one other person and are as involved in your sushi as much as I usually am with mine :) **
(5)
SS H.

Warning: If you dine here, no other sushi restaurant will ever satisfy you. We used to live in Andersonville and were regulars. We moved to Evanston, which isn't that far but we don't dine here as often as we would like. We have struggled to enjoy sushi at any other restaurant since moving. We recently made the effort to revisit. We always get Mike's specials and they never disappoint. You must start with the fish and chips. This sushi is so well worth the price. You won't mind it when it revisits you if you happen to burp after your meal. The only reason I did not grant 5 stars is because I am a stickler when it comes to a decent and clean restroom. While it isn't the worst, I always wait until I get home. Upon working many years in the restaurant industry, I know that a clean bathroom usually means there is a clean kitchen. The sushi bar always seems spotless which is key.
(4)
Dj S.

Best sushi in North Chicago. Great service. You don't need to any Soy sauce or Wasabi with your rolls.
(4)
Monica S.

Consistently serves up the freshest, most satisfying sushi platter (i.e., the "Tanoshii sushi combo") I've ever experienced in any city. This place is somewhat upscale (read: expensive), but I think the quality of the food makes it well worth the price tag. One of my favorites for solid Japanese cuisine.
(5)
Jennie K.

By far the best sushi I've ever had. I just moved to the area at the beginning of there summer and have probably been here 7 times already. Slightly obsessed? I guess you could say so.... What I really like about Tanoshii are their Mike's special rolls (Mike is the head chef I believe, he works at the downtown location, must be a sushi wiz). it's fun because you don't know exactly what you will be getting. You can let them know what you like and what you don't like in your roll, and they incorporate what you tell them, and they come up with a magnificent roll! For instance, I love mango and cilantro so they come out with with this ridiculously amazing roll with mango slices. It's heaven.... They also have a menu with your basic rolls as well. I love the Super White Tuna Nigiri (fat slab of tuna on a bed of rice)-Superb. My favorite is when I get to sit at the bar. It's fun watching them do their thing and the guys that work there are really friendly. Sometimes I make a reservation too late and have to sit at a table, but it's still enjoyable, but better at the bar for sure. It's BYOB also, so that's nice too. I really love it here :)
(5)
Phillip L.

Cool music and good sushi:-) The staff was super nice. I had a bowl of the miso soup, a glass of water and a Chicago roll which was perfect:-)
(5)
Kristin M.

It's official, I have no interest in trying any other sushi places here in Chicago. I'm committing my sushi-manogomy to Tanoshii. I honestly can no longer imagine eating sushi any where else in Chi-Town. This place has it all, inventive rolls, great value and BYOB. Although, you must absolutely sit at the bar with Sushi Mike. Definitely opt for the chef's selection, its just the best way to go. Every time its different, and he's always coming up with completely unique flavor combinations.
(5)
nancy b.

i really love the concept, but i wasn't a fan of a $21 roll, especially one that had little fish on it. i love the idea of telling mike to whip up whatever based on my few dislikes/likes, but i was left feeling a little robbed after two 10 piece rolls that were $18 and $21 respectively. i'm glad i went once, but it's not going to be my sushi standby. i rather have really good quality fish for way cheaper (e.g. Lawrence Fish Market), but that's just my preference. i also really liked the unusual ingredients he put together that i might not see again in sushi - diced sundried tomatoes or truffle oil. however, our second roll had way too much rice to charge $18. good to go once, but not again.
(3)
Hai B.

Sushi Mike is funny and crazy all at the same time. I have a picture of him carrying me...enough said. This place is pretty fun because I'm from California and this place allows BYOB! That's just so cool to me. The fish and chips is pretty awesome. It's tuna tartare on top of fried won ton chips. The portion size is pretty decent (enough to feed 3 hungry people). I can't remember which rolls we ordered but overall the food was pretty good!
(4)
Katty D.

i brought a few friends here on the recommendation of a college friend who said that this is her FAVORITE place to get sushi. After trying this place, I can see exactly why. I will say, it is one of the most expensive sushi places I've been to, but their fish is very, very fresh. A special thing they do is something called Mike's Special Roll (I think). Genius! You just tell them what your favorite fishes and ingredients are, and he'll make you a custom roll. We had a Yellowtail custom roll and a white tuna w/mango, cilantro and more. For an appetizer we tried their fried calamari which was breaded in something lighter than the typical breading and came out soaked in a light soy/sour sauce. The table next to us had udon that I wanted to stick a spoon in, something that I definitely plan to try when I go there again. Between 4 girls we had 10 rolls. My favorites: Kamikaze, Dynamite, Red Caterpillar Ambiance - Very chic, without overdoing it. Food Quality - fresh fish, innovative rolls Service - a little slow to be honest, only 2 servers for the whole place, but its made up for in the food. Value - expensive. our bill was $160 for 4 people.
(4)
Jill D.

Here's the deal: Sushi Mike knows his stuff. He's decided to take a creative, nontraditional approach to sushi, and it may well be the most delicious food I've ever eaten. If you are looking for a purist sushi experience, go somewhere else. Experimentation is the name of the game at Tanoshii. That's the whole concept. Get the Mike's Specials. I don't even know why Tanoshii has a menu. My favorite of Sushi Mike's special rolls is the "Italian." He actually doesn't name any of his creations, but regular customers have developed their own names for their faves. The must-have appetizer has been dubbed "fish and chips." When you order, just tell them if you have any strong preferences and let Mike run wild. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Brenda S.

Mike's special here is great. I have never had a bad special, but that's all I order here, so not sure what the other menu items are like. To enhance the experience definitely make a reservation at the bar to see Chef Mike in action, and BYOB!
(4)
Jenna K.

We live down the street from Tanoshii and decided to grab dinner here tonight. When our (American) server greeted us, we were met with a haughty pseudo-superior tone that spelled, "Have you ever had sushi?". We thought, "what's with the attitude?" but dismissed it . The service was a little on the slow side (after 20 minutes I had to ask for glasses) but whatever. If these were our only problems, I wouldn't be writing this. However we were verbally insulted when our entrees arrived. Our horrible server accosted my husband with a LOUD and OBNOXIOUS display of disdain when he dared to reach for the soy sauce. "Oh NO!" she squacked in furor, we were absolute IDIOTS for RUINING the food. "That's not how it's done". Really? Because I think it is. Apparently "Sushi Mike's" sauces are so divine it warranted this valley girl to yell at us and embarrass us as she made a grand display of taking our soy sauce away to the kitchen. I will NEVER return to this place. They obviously hire tacky, boisterous people who have NO idea what a demure Japanese place of "enjoyment" should be. I'd give it one star because I'm still smarting, although I have to admit, "Sushi Mike" makes some rolls. EDITED: because I forgot to add the music sucks! It was like traveling back in time to 1999 and flipping on a boring adult contemporary station. It was more weird than anything, so I'll keep this at 2 stars.
(2)
Gwynne R.

I made a reservation here for my 23rd Birthday dinner, mainly because it was sushi...which I love, BYOB...which I also love, and they were able to accomodate 12 people easily. They gave us a private room with a big table. I'm sure ordering for so many people was kind of annoying, but the staff didn't seem to mind. In addition to the numerous bottles of wine and champagne we had, my friend walked in and plunked down a mini-keg on the table. They didn't seem to mind that either! Great sushi, great atmosphere, great staff. I highly recommend!
(5)
Allie J.

This is a great place for sushi. I've been to Tanoshii a number of times and always had a good experience. The wait staff is very kind and attentive. It's a fun place to come if you are open to experimenting with sushi. Simply tell your server what you feel like eating and Sushi Mike will create something that is more perfect than what you imagined. The flavor combinations that he creates are fanastic. He worked us through a sushi dinner starting with a light appetizer roll, meatier dinner rolls then a sweet dessert roll. The dumplings are also fantastic. It's byob and they always offer straight away to put your beer in the fridge. I would definitely recommend Tanoshii for a date or group of friends.Oh- and the 80's music they play is awesome: )
(5)
Joy L.

Some of the best sushi in the neighborhood. The Andersonville roll is a must--delicious! And for those who can't decide what to order, the teriyaki bento boxes (served with chicken/beef/or salmon teriyaki AND sashimi AND gyoza AND shrimp tempura are just perfect. Good stuff. All the sushi on the menu is divine. That being said, be prepared for mediocre service if you're not sitting at the sushi bar. All in all, a good place to go if you have some time on your hands and a hankering for top-notch sushi.
(4)
Amanda Z.

Left starving late one Saturday night...after waiting 45 minutes for a #22 bus that never came, we hopped in a cab in search of a sushi joint. After hollering STOP to the cab driver upon seeing an open restaurant, we entered Tanoshii... First impression? 80's music BLARING. It was so loud, we had to ask them to turn it down (yeah, we're old!) They did turn it down, sorta. We ordered 5 rolls...they were all flavorful and delicious (The fish was really fresh) but I thought they were pretty small. We did get offered the custom made rolls by Mike the Chef...but at $17 to $22 a pop, we couldn't do it. All in all, the sushi was good, but not really anything that I would rave about to my friends... If you go, try the Japanese Sprite...it's super-fun!
(3)
Eric B.

As other reviews said, Sushi Mike makes Tanoshii a wonderful place for adventurous diners seeking a casual place with stellar, creative sushi and not a lot of pretentiousness. We had Sushi Mike's Specials & enjoyed the variety of flavors represented. We liked them so much we ordered a second round. And we were impressed that even on a busy Friday night, Sushi Mike asked us personally (We sat at Sushi Bar) how we enjoyed our roll! Will definitely return.
(4)
Shawn B.

We had a very good experience at Tanoshii. We ordered the Sushi Mike special because it's the thing to do. Everything was good and interesting and they clearly listened to the guidance that we gave them in terms of what we liked. We found the service to be good. There were two servers and they both seemed to be working every table, so someone was always available. The biggest downside is the unpredictable price. I suspect that if you asked them to keep it below a given price they probably would. in our case each item averaged about $20. At that price they weren't abnormally expensive, but perhaps on the high end. However, since the place is BYO, you almost certainly make it up alcohol. On the whole, I wouldn't make it my regular sushi place, but we'll definitely be back.
(4)
Deep D.

The best sushi in town, period.
(5)
L N.

If you love sushi and byob, you must try this place. The best part is you just pour a glass of wine and relax!! The chef will customize your order to all the things that you love. My favorite is the italian roll.. The setting is pretty low maintenance, but the food is excellent. I was very impressed with the quality of the fresh fish. I am a big fan of tuna, and their super white was melt in your mouth delicious.
(5)
James D.

Sushi Mike is the real deal, bringing creative inspiration to his food and impressing your taste buds with flavors you don't expect. Granted, letting him handle the menu can be expensive, but I suggest going in a large group. It'll let you try more Sushi Mike for about the same price (and you know you want to try at least 7 different rolls). BYOB at this place is great, but there are a few things to keep in mind. 1. There might not be enough clean glasses in the restaurant for you. No worries. Run across the street to Dominick's and get some plastic Solo cups. It's just like being back in college, only with better food. 2. The service can be spotty. Take it as a sacrifice for the food. Oh... and leave a beer for Mike. He gets thirsty.
(4)
Jon L.

If you're looking forward to a bespoke sushi experience that conforms to your personal marine proclivities, addictions, or phobias, you may be left wanting more. When ordering my Mike's Special, I told the waitress I liked oily flavorful fish like mackerel and shad, preferred octopus to squid, and didn't mind spice. This was met with a blank stare and an inquiry as to whether or not I liked tuna and yellowtail. Apparently, the old Chicago adage "Give the Lady What She Wants" is not alive and well at Tanoshii. For dinner, our party of three ordered as many Mike's Specials. Much to our surprise, the first showed up as an appetizer, "Fish and Chips," interpreted as a mushy pile of under-flavored tuna to be scooped up by fried wonton shells. While the two Mike's Specials presented as entrees were admittedly tasty, I had long soured on the restaurant due in part to our obnoxious dining companions. I don't usually judge a place by its clientele, but Tanoshii is the sort of joint where Lincoln Park Trixies and Chodes keep autographed sake cups behind the sushi bar. It wouldn't surprise me if Tanoshii has played host to a sake bomb or two over the years. The food is just fine, but the restaurant's premise and popularity is driven largely by a bizarre cult of personality and the blatant mistruth that you're getting a customized dinner when the kitchen is just sending over two or three of whatever they happen to be making that night. Andersonville's sushi scene would be none the poorer if Tanoshii moved back down Clark Street four miles or so.
(1)
Crystal N.

Good sushi AND right down the street from my house! What more can I ask for? I'll tell you what more...the Mike Special! I was hesitant at first when the server suggested this but I made the plunge. I told her what I liked (salmon, flounder, mackerel, SPICY) what I didn't like (octopus, eel, mayo, that weird egg thing) and she brought back a concoction that made my toes curl! Because of this, I'm hooked!
(5)
Beth N.

My boyfriend and I go here any chance we get! Andersonville is a bit of a hike for us but absolutely worth the drive whenever we can. We always start with the same two appetizers, the "fish and chips" (amazing, it's like some delicious finely chopped ceviche that they put onto toasted housemade chips for you table side. Do not miss), and the muscles (so good, warm with some spicy sauce). Then we let sushi Mike do his thing. We both love super white tuna so we just give him that direction and added that we like spice. We got a roll back one time that had super white, oregano, strawberry slice (!) and something spicy. We don't know what all was included, but it melted in our mouths and we could have died happy, so we didn't care. He can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Plus that all they play is '80's music and it's BYOB.
(5)
Kim R.

We used to love this place, but after a recent meal with not-so-fresh fish, and the following morning with an upset stomach (for both of us), we won't be back. Bummer, its close and used to be reliable, but the good ones come and go, don't they...
(1)
Jessica R.

I went here a couple months ago with my girlfriend, and aboslutely loved it. I LOVE sushi, and have for quite some time, but now that sushi has become such a big thing, lately I often feel like every new sushi restaurant I go to tastes about the same and is all "pretty good". Until I went to Tanoshii. I felt comfortale and sort of like I was at Chef Mike's home when I walked into the restaurant. It was kind of late on a Sunday or Monday night, so it was pretty dead and we sat up at the bar. There was another obviously regular group that had Chef Mike as their "server" up at the bar, and so we had one of his sous chef's, who was very pleasant as well, as our server. As we were looking over the menu, we noticed a lot of different rolls that aren't at your average sushi restaurant and we were very excited, but were having a hard time deciding what to get. But, our sous chef saved the day when he came and described their menu thoroughly, and also told us about their "chef's choice" menu, where they ask you in general what flavors you like and whether you like spciy, etc. and then they make you different rolls that are essentially surprises based on how you described your palatte. We were immediately sold on the chef's choice, and it was SUCH a fabulous experience and made our tastebuds go crazy with different flavors. I think we ended up having about 4 rolls plus an appetizer hand roll. He incorporated all different sorts of fruits, veggies and some of the freshest sushi grade fish I have ever tasted. After over eating, but we weren't complaining, Chef Mike came over to talk to us. He described all of the different ingredients he has imported, where they come from, and how he really makes an effort to get ingredients that most places in Chicago simply do not have. He also asked all about how the rolls tasted for us, of course we said fabulous, and he actually suggested that next time we get less rolls, eat slower, and spend less money! He was very genuine and I just found this extremley polite and over the top nice for a restaurant owner to encourage his clients to spend less money because he wants them to enjoy his food and not walk out stuffed to the gill. Chef Mike continued to strike up conversations, and ended up also giving us a free half bottle of some of the best Sake I've ever tasted, just because he wanted us to try it and noticed we did not BYOB that particular night, so wanted us to enjoy a drink as well (we were just a bit hungover from the weekend). Needless to say, we had a fantastic experience and I can't wait until the next time we go back. I have already referred Tanoshii to a couple of other friends, all of which went and said they had an equally fantastic experience. Major props to Tanoshii, Chef Mike and his Sous chef's for making a Sushi restaurant that stands out from the rest. The only reason I'm not giving 4 stars is because it was a little on the pricier side, but rightfully so with all of the incredible ingredients and on the spot-tailored to your tastebuds made rolls. I'm just broke and therefore will subtract one star for priciness no matter how great the restaurant is. :)
(4)
Shakeia T.

My friend and I went to Tanoshii on Saturday and I was all too thrilled to go after reading some of the reviews. While I was expecting a different atmosphere, I enjoyed it nonetheless. It's BYOB so I took a bottle of riesling. (the corkage fee is $2 per person, but worth it!) The sushi was fantastical! We also had a Sushi Mike Special made with eel, avocado, spicy tuna, and a some other stuff I can't remember- but it was like a party in my mouth. I will most certainly go again, AND I'll take more friends! Who's with me?!
(4)
Amy H.

Wow, this place is the definition of mixed reviews! I like it, personally - the fish-and-chips is always tasty, and Sushi Mike makes a good non-traditional roll. He'll tell you about all the ingredients if you sit at the bar and chat. It has a nice mix of regulars and newbies, a very friendly place. You can hit up the new Coffee Studio across the street and down the road a bit after for some yummy coffee. (plug plug, it's about time Andersonville got a good coffee spot.) It is wicked expensive, though, so keep an eye on what you order. But I've never had bad service here, even the night the waitress squirted lemon juice in my eye by accident. Got me some free dessert, which is a yay in my book.
(4)
Rochelle G.

Loved loved loved it! Went there for girls night out and had a great time. Sushi Mike is the way to go. Tell the server what you like and they create rolls based on your likes. So delicious! I will definitely be back. The BYOB is a bonus. Caution the custom Sushi Mike rolls are twice the size but they are about $18/each. I do think its worth it. Four gals with tax and tip $42 ea.
(4)
Jennie S.

I came here for the first time, yesterday and was blown away by the food here. The restaraunt is dimly lighted, and has a smaller front dining area across from the sushi bar. It was rather crouded for a Monday night, but I'm guessing that's a pretty good sign! There is a larger dining area in the second room. my gripe is that the service was not that great. There was one waiter for 9 tables. Since I'm new to sushi I settled for something practical and something more off the cuff. My date and I decided to have the Vegetable sushi and the Red Snapper special. The Red Snapper special was phenomenal. I will most definitely be back.
(4)
Carine M.

It's rare I travel outside of a mile radius for food, but I must make an exception for Tanoshii. I've only been twice, but I promise I will go many more times. You need to eat at the sushi bar, and if you want it to be quick you need to go early. I totally agree with Leslee H., the music is bizarre, but awesome:) Have Sushi Mike make you whatever he feels like, no need to look at a menu. One last thing, this is a great place to take rookie sushi eaters, but it won't disappoint seasoned pros. EDIT: Ok, now I have gone back many more times and still love it. Even moreso now. I love you Tanoshii.
(5)
Clover S.

This really has nothing to do with Tanoshii. I was a customer of "Sushi Mike" way back in the day before Tanoshii. Best sushi chef, ever. Really. Unfortunately, he's also unbelievably racist. One night full of amazing sake and sushi, Mike told my friend and I a story that made my jaw drop. It shocked and offended me deeply - cuz' I've never heard the "n" word come out of someone's mouth more than it did that night. No joke. Sushi Mike may be skilled with the raw fish, but he's also a terribly hateful person. So, I won't spend my money anywhere he works. 'Nuff said.
(1)
Anna C.

visiting one of chicago's best picked sushi... dont even look at the menu... just pick the chef's special... you'll be in an awh with deliciousness with every plate!!! ... it's so good .. you dont even need to use soy sauce!!!!! mmmm mmm mmmm a nice cozy friendly space!!!! it was worth the trip to the north side after walking in this rainy day and being sandwiched in the red line forgetting about tonight cubs game... LOL will be back again!!!! (oh... and gotta love chicago's byob's) OH! MOST IMPORTANTLY... THEY HAVE THE BEST DAMN CALAMARI APPETIZER IVE EVER TASTED!!!!!!
(5)
Nancy Z.

This is the best sushi in the world... Go there and plan to spend what you spend for sushi anywhere in the city (30-50 a head) but understand you will never want sushi from anywhere else. Sushi Mike is the best sushi chef in Chicago and surely one of the best in the world. You can even have him just create his own signature rolls for you. Oh and another great thing is that Tanoshii is byob!
(5)
Andy S.

I've known Mike for years, going back to the Hama Matsu days. After I moved from the neighborhood I explored some other sushi joints around town. There are good ones, but Tanoshii has always remained my favorite. Mike is a true culinary artist and never fails to deliver a true work of art. He taught me how to savor sushi and has never led me astray. If you're looking for a hidden gem, look no farther.
(5)
Patty S.

4.5 stars!!! I'm not easily impressed w/ a sushi restaurant - especially with how many there are in the city. However, we went here with a group of friend and it was by far one of the best in the city. We didn't even look at the menu as our hosts have been here before and knew exactly what to order. We started off with "fish and chips." I know what you're thinking.. fried fish? What special about that?! Well, their version of the "fish and chips" isn't what you are thinking at all. It's actually tuna tartar on top of a large pita chip served table side. WOW! It was absolutely delicious and had all kinds of flavors in it ranging from salty, sweet, spicy, and sour. What a great way to start a meal! We also ordered the "Chef Mike Special." All it means is that you allow the Chef to make whatever maki rolls he wants. Obviously, if you are allergic to something or don't like octopus (as an example), he'll make sure to not put that on the roll(s). I don't think there was a roll that we didn't like. I thought they were all very innovative and just the right size. None of these gigantic rolls nonsense that makes your cheeks look like a chipmunk when you try to eat it. We got 8 unique different rolls and ended up reordering a couple that we all really enjoyed. The best part about this place? It's BYOB! And there are no limits on how bottles you can bring (unlike another popular BYOB in the city) and they are very accommodating with glasses, ice, and whatever you need. I would definitely go back. My only compliant is that I wish they were closer to me! Hum.. I wonder how I can get them to move closer to River North????
(4)
Dave H.

It took me a while to realize that this place wasn't a tapas restaurant (hey, their awning is the same colors as a Spanish flag!) Glad I stopped in. Definitely let Sushi Mike make dinner for you; the rolls were really clever and not what you would normally expect. One star off for blasting the 80s radio station. Van Halen was funny for about the first 5 minutes, then it got really old.
(4)
Culinary P.

Started going here because it was BYOB but this place really is so much more. This is a great place to check out if you're adventurous and don't mind letting the chef choose what you eat. You must request the fish & chips though...they are to die for!
(4)
Christine S.

My favorite sushi place in the Midwest....honestly. Sushi Mike's fish is fresh and inventive and I don't even get tired of the big band CD that plays on repeat. Don't order off the menu, sit at the bar and ask for Mike's specials... inevitably a combination of unagi and peanut sauce, maguro and basil and oil, or himachi and shataki mushrooms. Don't wrinkle your nose.. you got to try it. And what could be better than BYOB.. pick up a bottle of your favorite something across the street at In Fine Spirits.
(4)
Lisa M.

We stumbled upon this place after trying to go to Hama Matsu down the street and not finding parking. It was a Saturday night and we sat down without a wait. The place was rather packed though but we got a great table in the window. I love BYOB and we had a nice bottle of white wine to accompany the sushi. This was the most creative sushi place I've been to yet! I was hesitant to try the Sushi Mike special because I didn't know what to expect. You tell the server the kind of fish you like and Sushi Mike whips something up for you. He created an Italian roll that was topped with oregano seasoning. I know what you are thinking, that this sounds strange, but it was outstanding!! He also made us a white spicy tuna roll that was excellent as well. I think it is a unique offering that Tanoshi brings to the table and I would come back again to see what he could whip up next! Don't be afraid to try new things.
(4)
Daniel B.

This is my best Sushi place in Chicago. I always go for the mike special and am never disappointed. The BYOB is a nice, as always. I don't give it 5 stars because it's a bit expensive for what you get, but other than that, this place is great.
(4)
Rachel Y.

This place is amazing! The rolls are so inventive (the italian roll with the white fish, olive oil and spices is to die for) and the "fish and chips" is enough to keep me coming back. I went with a friend who knows "Sushi Mike" so we sat at the sushi bar, and all the other patrons were regulars, and we had a really fun time and of course amazing sushi. I have heard table service is extremely slow. I admit I haven't had a table seat but I promise it's worth the wait--make sure to ask for Mike's special that night and you are sure to be blown away. This is also the only sushi restaurant I've been to where you don't need soy sauce--in fact it might ruin it. Plus there's a Jewel right across the street to grab a bottle of wine as it's BYOB.
(5)
Nastassia J.

HOT DAMN IS THIS PLACE GOOD. If you're new to sushi, or scared, tell Sushi Mike what you like, and he'll make something amazing. I was very very impressed.
(5)
Josh E.

See, now I'm all tossed up in this Tanoshi - Hama Matsu debate. Prior to eating at Tanoshi last Friday night I had no doubt in my mind that the best sushi in Andersonville was absolutely Hama Matsu, and now I just can't tell anymore. First, I have to admit that my meal was *not* served by Sushi Mike. But that was fine. In fact the other sushi chef was really good too. We ordered 3 special rolls and they were outstanding. Amazing even. It looks like Tanoshi is the kind of place where if you come back often enough for the chefs to get to know you then it will just get better and better. There was one dude in there for his birthday and the it seemed like the chefs were on a first name basis with the entire group of 8. That's promising, but not all that abnormal I guess. The minus one star is simply for the price. Call me cheap, but $17-19 per roll is a little pricey, even if it's "custom made." I'll definitely be back, but will only order from Sushi Mike if it's a special occasion.
(4)
Dave A.

Stumbled onto this place, as I was searching for a DIFFERENT sushi spot, but I wasn't disappointed. The inside was clean and decorated as a typical sushi restaurant would be. The service and the menu options were very good. We went with an assortment of rolls to get a feel for the chef. The caterpillar and Chicago rolls were excellent, but the spider was so-so. Overall, a nice dining experience. I'd go back.
(4)
Don M.

My goddaughter was in from out of town and her friend recommended this place. I have heard good things so we gave it a go. We brought our own wine. The waitress told us to try the Mike's special they are very good. Well I guess everyone has their own tastes. No one at the table was impressed. Nothing met up to the hype food was bland. Service was so so and the prices are high. No need to go back.
(2)
Stephanie M.

i used to really love coming here but i brought some friends from out of town here about two hours til close on a thursday night and had super shitty service from our waiter. idk if he is new, i have never seen him before. we got mike's special and our ONLY requests were no eel and seasonal fruit please. the waiter comes out with our roll and no fruit... because they were all out... could you have told us this possibly?? so we could have ordered something different?? and as we were leaving sushi mike gave the stink eye customers that came in about an hour until close. i work in a restaurant and realize it is a pain in the ass when people come in close to closing... but a hour? and you are the owner? it made me sad. i had such respect for him :(
(2)
Mag M.

sushi mike's custom maki is the greatest invention on earth. hyperbole is my thing, i admit. but the fact that mike will make you a giant maki to your specifications (or, if you're feeling really adventurous, just order it and see what comes up) is pretty fantastic. tell him how spicey, what kind of fish you like, if you want fruit ... he will do it all. the nigiri is great too -- always tastes fresh. i recommend popping into In Fine Spirits to grab a bottle of something before heading in here, then take your time enjoying something creative a la mike.
(4)
Michelle C.

I'm not sure where some of these people are eating, but I LOVE this place!! Best sushi I've ever had-fresh, delicious, and uniquely prepared. We have young kids and don't get out much, but this is always my choice when we have a date. The best experience is to surrender yourself to Mike. Tell the server you want however many "Mike specials". My favorites are Fish and Chips (sushi grade tuna salsa on large chip wedges), the Italian Roll (they pour olive oil heat infused with italian spices over the sushi-YUM!), the eel, and the spicy tuna...oh, and the one that has yellow tail, salmon, and tuna on top of little bite sized rice pads. Each of these is 1 Mike Special. and all you need to do is tell them how many you want and what kinds of fish you like (and how spicy you tolerate things). We don't even use soy sauce because the seasoning is perfect as served. We don't bother with appetizers-no need! We have never been charged to bring our own alcohol, but we usually bring Japanese beer.
(5)
Tiff D.

First of all, I love yelp because I use it ALL THE TIME NOW. So, I went to tanoshii on a first-time date. My date was raving about sushi Mike, and when we arrived, apparently sushi mike had already went home (it was a tues night). So, the waitress called Mike to ask him to come back. He did. And... it was worth it! Sushi Mike is no joke: he will take care of you. Now, I can see someone getting upset to pay $16 for a roll, but then again, Sushi Mike is an experience. If you are just hungry, go find a $20 per person dinner that is so-so. But, with sushi Mike, $40 per person and you will have the best sushi experience on the northside. F.Y.I., This place is BYOB and Mike doesn't refuse a drink. He likes bourbon....
(5)
Damien J.

#1 Make a reservation to sit at the bar if you have a small party. #2 There is a Jewel conveniently close in case you need to run back over and get some more to drink for the perfect BYOB at the place. I have never ordered off of the menu - I just ask Sushi Mike for the specials and he will ask you what kind of sushi you like & its amazing. I have always had good times here & miss it bunches.
(5)
sarah y.

One of my favorite sushi places in Chicago - I love Sushi Mike!!!
(4)
Michael M.

I read a review from someone today and felt I should write an amendment to my last review to clarify what to expect from Tanoshii if it is your first time going. Tanoshii is not your average sushi house. It is a modern infusion restaurant build on deep rooted tradition. When you go and you want to have the best experience you MUST, I repeat MUST sit at the bar for your first time. Tanoshii has a ordering style all it's self and this is something you will never learn at a table. It sucks that the waiters are not better explaining this but the only people who can are the chefs them self. So please if you had a okay experience go back, get seats at the bar with the regulars like my self, and get strapped in for a culinary ride like you have never seen before. If you ever feel you are not being impressed speak up and tell the chefs they are there to help. Also if you want the best input on what to get look out for Jeff, Mark, Janet, or me Mike and we are always happy to offer suggestions.
(5)
Joel S.

Just skip this place. Had basically three bad experiences here in one visit with a friend of mine. 1) Ordered 2 appetizers, they were out of one of them - they subbed something else without asking for us and said "Sorry about that, we made this for you since you were inconvenienced," we were really thankful as this was a seemingly nice gesture - but then they proceeded to charge us for it. 2) Ordered 2 "base ingredients" for sushi each and one to split, where "sushi Mike" decides what he'll make you. We made it clear what we were ordering, and both wanted our own unagi dishes. "Sushi Mike decided you already had unagi so he subbed this roll instead." "But we both wanted unagi, can you please make another unagi roll?" "No." 3) I ask the waitress to take off the roll we didn't order and the app we didn't order. She says no. I say ok, I feel really bad about this but I'm not leaving a tip (I've never left no tip before or since) because twice you didn't bring what we ordered... she says ok and takes the app and roll off... we leave the same amount, which at least gives her 15% or so - I mean I'm pretty sure it must be Sushi Mike who's the nutjob, not her so I would have felt bad stiffing her. I understand the concept of letting sushi mike craft the ingredients, but be prepared to get whatever he decides, main ingredients included - your menu choices are not really respected at all. If it were presented in that manner or anyone communicated with us at all, that would have been 100x better. The food wasn't even good, overuse of avacado in every one of our rolls - if you're gonna rep soup nazi style antics, your soup better back that $@#$ up! The one good thing that I took away from this meal is that now when I eat with my friend and we order, one of us saying "Sushi Mike has decided that you do not want this, you want yellowtail" always gets a good laugh. (Note: this review is from an experience about a year ago, but was too good not to share.)
(1)
Z. Z.

Look, i get it...this place is pricey. If you read any of the reviews, that will be clear. But of COURSE it's going to be expensive. Asking for cheap maki rolls that other places serve is like going to a fine steak house and asking for a mcburger. Along the same lines, would you tell Picasso that you think his art is over priced? Bottom line: you get what you pay for. This fish is fresh, fresh, fresh. The mike's specials are so expensive b/c they cram lots of quality ingredients in to one little roll - and they do it with imagination and artistic flare. Start with the "Fish and Chips" - a delicious tuna mixture served on flour tortilla chips that could be likened to a ceviche. Suggest that they put soft shell crab in your special roll - it's always my favorite, no matter what they do to it. Great for sushi aficionados as well as sushi novices (I've brought both and they can't get over how amazing and unique it is). If you sit at the bar and share your wine (it's byob), you might be lucky enough for a free nibble or two.
(5)
Jason H.

go here. sit at the bar. let them make you whatever they want. deliciousness will ensue. tanoshii = sushi genius. i am absolutely amazed by the negative reviews here on yelp. i wouldn't trust any three-star or lower reviews.
(5)
Jonathan H.

Tanoshii is phenomenal. A wonderful date - sit at the bar and get a couple of Mike's specials. Half the experience is hanging out with Mike, so go on a midweek night when it's not so busy. I love this place and will go back again once I can afford to. Tanoshii is expensive but worth it for a special occasion.
(5)
Erika G.

Flat out, thee best, most creative sushi in Chicago. "Sushi Mike" is fabulous, he tosses the menu if you sit at the bar and will make something awesome with your favorite ingredients. "No soy sauce!" a frequent refrain, and you don't need it! We got there before the owner was in, but he entered during our visit - the energy of the place really picked up -clearly he's a man who loves his work.
(5)
Marie L.

I was not sure what to expect after reading some of the more scathing reviews on yelp, but I tried Tanoshii anyway. Boy, yelp, will I ever learn? NO. Tanoshii was a huge let down. I waited for about an hour while I watched my girlfriend eat udon with chewy noodles, no vegetables and a sickeningly sweet broth. Meanwhile, I was holding out hope for a toe curling combination of unusual flavors and textures offered up by chef Mike. Then, my much awaited Mike's Special came out and it was, well, bland and uncreative. To make matters worse, we were seated in the back room, which has no ambiance whatsoever and watched all the other parties get served before my main course arrived. Moral of the story: If you want to pay 20 bucks for a so-so maki, you may as well go to noodle zone and get more bang for your buck.
(2)
Johanna C.

This place is okay. The service isn't that great. We didn't have napkins on our table and we had to flag down the waiter a couple of times just to follow up on things (the bill, some more water, etc.) I really wanted to like this place but it seems like when they're busy they can't keep up. We had the unagi and it was fishy tasting and chewy. That's when things become unpleasant. The sushi was okay but not great. There are definitely interesting options on the menu but based on the 3 choices we made, I do not need to go back.
(2)
Erin J.

My friend and I met here one night. We both love sushi and I was so hungry I could not stand it. When we arrived the place seemed clean enough, but after a bit I detected a fishy smell. I know that many will be quick to tell me that sushi has fish in it and that may render an aroma of fish, but sushiphiles near and far will tell you that very fresh fish has no odor. Our server was nice enough, and our food came quickly, but I was less than impressed with the presentation of the food and how sloppy our maki was rolled. It looked like something that an apprentice or not-so-good sushi chef or possibly a three year old had made. The nori was separated from the rice and the fish fell out when we picked it up leaving us eating nori and rice with gobs of spicy mayo (which seemed to be on every roll we ordered, even though I'm not a fan and didn't order rolls with said condiment on it.) That was kinda gross.
(2)
Jack C.

love this place... heard about it back in September and been dying to go ever since - it did not disappoint and I can't wait to go back! Sushi Mike is super cool and his rolls very inventive. arguably one of the best sushi joints in Chicago (and I have friends that will argue such all day long). definately worth checking out!
(4)
Adam S.

This is the second time I've been to Tanoshi and both times did not disappoint. The place is pretty small, only seats about 30 or 40 and has a dozen person sushi bar. The sushi is priced about the same as higher-end places on Randolph, $12-$15 for fancy rolls like dragons, caterpillars, and spiders, and $4-$7 for ebi, spicy tuna, etc. We got edamame, miso, and then 3 rolls, plus a "Sushi Mike" special. The edamame was WAY over-salted; I felt like I had just spent an hour in the dead sea after eating it. But the miso and sushi more than made up for it. The rolls off the menu were outstanding, and the sushi mike special, while certainly not even close to anything I had ever tasted before (I think that's the point) was great. As for ambiance, date-worthiness, etc. this is definitely a locals place and not a see and be seen establishment like Coast. However, depending on the kind of person you're with, they may be impressed with your ability to find outstanding sushi off the beaten path and you certainly don't get the up and down looks to make sure you paid at least $120 for your jeans and your girlfriend is carrying a Longchamp purse. Also, I'm writing this the next morning and feel totally fine so even though it's a small indy place, the fish is fresh. :)
(4)
Amanda T.

"Mike's Special" & 80's music
(5)
Ken A.

This is the BEST SUSHI IN CHICAGO. If you are the type of person who is satisfied with the standard stuff--a California roll, a few pieces of tuna and salmon, etc, then this is not the place for you. But if you want a truly unique experience from a master craftsman, then you need to go here. I cannot stress this enough. Mike is a legitimate genius when it comes to making unique, flavorful, creative, and visually appealing sushi rolls. Besides using high-quality ingredients, Mike creates delicious sauces that complement the fish without overpowering it. If you can, try to go on an off-peak time, sit at the bar and watch Mike work his magic. As others have said, ditch the menu and put yourself in his hands, you will be glad you did. By the way, I'm surprised that others have commented on the price. Yes, Tanoshii costs more than the typical neighborhood sushi joint. Our meal came to $110 before tip for 2 people (and we were stuffed.) For a sushi experience of a quality this high, we thought it would have been more--we've certainly paid more for less at other places. The only downside to our experience at Tanoshii is that I don't think I'll be able to eat sushi anywhere else. I'm ruined.
(5)
Glenn L.

This is hands down the best sushi I've had in Chicago! The service, presentation, even how fresh everything tasted was truly remarkable!! Highly recommended!!!
(5)
Karen C.

i walked into tanoshii a vegetarian and walked out a sushi lover. since being turned onto sushi by my ex and sushi mike, i've since had a lot of different kinds and i've never had any as good as here. do not use soy sauce. do not order california rolls. bring mike a kirin to warm him up, sit at the bar and chat with him. if you tell him "i don't eat ___" he'll make you love that thing you thought you hated. if you want the real deal, order the mike special and prepare to sit and wait for excellence. it can only enhance your experience and he'll remember you next time. and if you can convince him to, get him to meet you for drinks after close. he's a riot!
(5)
Julie K.

Agreeance with all of the other fans of Sushi Mike. We didn't even bother looking at the menu. My friend, a Mike "regular," just told him "medium spicy" (you could say whatever) and voila! Just sit back and enjoy the delivery of delicious sushi goodness to your mouth. (In one case, quite literally: Mike spoon-fed our party of three some yummy raspberry sauce.) The great: fish n' chips. Went from merely good to great by the addition of a wacky, slightly rambling story about Mike's travels in Amsterdam. Also 2 out of three rolls he served us (wish I could be more specific, but when we asked what was in them, he replied "Fish. Rice. Sauce." Decide for yourselves whether that is charming or surly.) The meh: whichever roll had the Italian seasoning. Not gross or bad, just...meh. Mike took our criticisms well, though, and rebounded with a fantastic roll with sesame oil and tempura something. I'd be more specific, but "Fish. Rice. Sauce...." you get the picture. The superfantastic: The mango w/fish, avocado, onions and sour raspberry sauce we had for dessert. Totally messy and flavorful and delicious! Now, Sushi Mike's services can get a little spendy, so be ready for a little sticker shock. However, if you bring more people, you can split the costs and eat more. I'll just have to save up a bit before my next trip there, but there will definitely be a next time!
(4)
Carolina P.

This is a place I go for a special night out. This isn't your typical sushi joint. Ask for the mike special and you'll love what you get. A mike special usually runs about $16 but the rolls are big and excellent. We just said 3 mike specials and let them know we liked spicy and crunchy. Our dinner was great. He makes traditional rolls but they're not what I'm looking for when I go to Tanoshii. Oh and its BYOB.
(4)
Kyla B.

Hands down best sushi place in town!!! I never order off the menu, leave everything up to Chef Mike and you can't go wrong!! The rolls are so good you keep ordering and ordering and the bill can be a little high if your not careful but well worth it!
(5)
emily c.

i loooooove this place. mike's special is always phenomenally tasty. my partner and i have kind of made this our special date place. it's also byob which is always a bonus. it's definitely on the more expensive side (okay it's really pricey) but it's totally worth it every once in a while. the regular maki is delicious and all but really, get a mike's special. tell them what you like in a roll and he'll whip up something super delicious.
(4)
Christina K.

Popped in for a spot of sashimi and a roll for a light meal, and wasn't disappointed. Portion size was excellent, their quality good, and the artisans behind the counter a spirited, loquacious trio who seemed to relish engaging their patrons in chitchat. They do seem to pride themselves on their rolls, so I'll have to make a point of coming back and sampling those more extensively.
(3)
Stanley T.

The custom sushi thing is really cool and all the custom rolls I've had were pretty good. I'd recommend going with a group so you can try a variety of flavors. The price can add up pretty quickly though as you ask for more and more rolls so be mentally prepared for that.
(4)
Michael V.

I had a taste for sushi and was tired of the same old places, so I hunted Chicago Reader for establishments around work and found Tanoshi. Quaint little place; sushi bar or table seating. But what a surprise! Just tell the friendly waitress what kind of fish you generally like---it you like spicy or not so much---and they bring you a roll custom made for you. I was by myself but ordered two different rolls and they were both fabulous. The second one even had fatty tuna included in it and I walked out of there with a beverage and miso shiru for $40. I enthusiastically recommend Tanoshi!
(4)
Dan M.

My wife and I have been to Tanoshii several times and have always walked right in (even at 7 on weekends). We haven't experienced the special, but really enjoy the rolls.
(4)
Nicole V.

There are a ton of sushi places in Chicago....but only this one has Sushi Mike. Sushi Mike is the most creative and spectacular sushi creator I have ever come across. Here's the thing, when you arrive at Tanoshi (which comes across as your typical BYOB sushi restaurant), they seat you and bring you a menu. If you are not familiar with Sushi Mike or a regular...then you review the menu and begin marking your sushi choices. If you are familiar with the greatness that is Sushi Mike, you say "I would like a Sushi Mike roll please", which your waitress will respond to with "spicy or regular?". After you tell her your preference she simply walks away and then the magic begins. Sushi Mike will then create your roll out of the freshest ingredient they have that day and mix in his special touch. Now that is the way I like my sushi! Granted, I am not picky...and I love trying new things (if you are picky I wouldn't go this route). Also, if you get a Sushi Mike roll...don't bother asking for soy sauce, wasabi or ginger, you aren't getting any. Sushi Mike doesn't like people drowning his creations in such things thereby ruining the taste. One of the best ways to get the complete effect of Tanoshi is to go in one day and sit at the sushi bar and watch Sushi Mike in action. I promise, if you are a true sushi lover...Tanoshi is your place.
(5)
jennifer r.

Good sushi no doubt. Every time I forget about the HORRIBLE service, I head back there for more punishment! Three times.....enough for me - especially when I have a choice. The service is beyond bad. Having lived in Chicago for over 20 years and never have posted a negative review, this means a lot! If you have 2-3 hours to wait for your sushi, if you just ate, then go here to enjoy the special rolls that 'sushi mike' creates. Otherwise go somewhere else.....'cause being upset with the service makes for an unhappy dining experience. I also want to mention that it is pricey....
(1)
Michael K.

We went to Tanoshii for the first time last night after hearing about this place and "Sushi Mike" from some friends. We live just down the street but never even knew of this place and how great it was! All I can say is that we have been to a vast amount of sushi bars in many cities and this was one of the best sushi experiences we have ever had! Needless to say we are hooked and the "Sushi Mike experience" and it was something that you should experience! All I can say is trust me ---- GO NOW. And put your trust in Sushi Mike! He is amazing we will be back for years to come. I have no idea of any names of what he made just try anything he does, its amazing!
(5)
Leslee C.

The best sushi in the city! When you order Mike's Special, you never know what you're going to get. Being byob makes the bill very reasonable and worth the trip so far north. Sometimes the service can be questionable. They play awesome 80's music.
(5)
rachel p.

what a disappointment! service can make or break a dining experience for me; the food was good, but not good enough to overshadow terrible 80's music playing from a broken radio and atrocious service. we entered at 8pm on a saturday night and were seated promptly. they were busy, but not at full capacity. the focus of the food here is chef's choice, so we decided to start w/ 8 pieces of nigiri (chef's choice) and an order of edamame. the edamame was on the table within 5 minutes, dropped by a food runner. 50 minutes later, our glasses empty and our table strewn with empty edamame pods, we STILL have no nigiri. you don't even need to COOK it!! our server approaches our table and asks if we'd like to put in an order for some maki. excuse me?? we still haven't gotten our first round of sushi!?! but, judging by the current pace of our meal, we decided to go ahead and throw the order in. 10 minutes later, still no nigiri. we ask the waiter if our food is still coming, figuring we had been forgotten, he quickly brushes us off and assures us that the nigiri is on the way. no apologies, no refills, nothing. the people sitting at the sushi bar seemed to be getting much more attentive and prompt service, so maybe sidling up to the chefs is the way to go. the sushi was good, but not mindblowing, and with such poor service, i'm pretty sure i won't return.
(2)
Valerie K.

Wow! Until now I was not a big fan of sushi - it was just OK. My girlfriend was always pushing the "raw" stuff on me but, I just couldn't buy into it. I watched Chef Mike on Chicago's Best and had to give it a try. My girlfriend knew exactly where I wanted to go and said it was THE BEST. We started with the Fish & Chips (I didn't think it could get any better than that) and let Chef Mike do his majic from then out. EVERYTHING was amazing. I don't eat meat anymore but, in meat terms I was eating McDonalds and now I found the Chop House. I was really nervous about no soy but the sauces he made were amazing - mixed them in front of us. I tried all kinds of new things. These were designer rolls. I will NEVER eat sushi anywhere else in Chicago.
(5)
Amber R.

Taonshii has long been one of my neighborhood favorites. The quality and freshness of the seafood is the best in Andersonville. The service is usually terrible but the food makes up for it. Arrive early or make reservations on the weekends, there can be quite a wait.
(4)
Nate B.

Went here for a post v-day double date, the food was great, the servers attentive, and Sushi Mike, what a guy! I said I liked "spicy", never ever tell that to a Japanese Chef, I got a soft shell crab/scallop roll that oh man was so good, and SO HOT. Well worth the pain :)
(4)
Cat B.

Okay, the sushi here is delicious!!! I used to be a Hama Matsu girl, but now that I have discovered this wonderful BYOB in Andersonville, I am a changed woman. I agree, as others have said, about the "Sushi Mike" rolls...they are so wonderful and I love that you can get something made just to your taste. But be prepared to pay! Those special rolls run up to $18 and $19!!! I mean they are good, but come one! That is why this place gets 4 stars. That pricing is a bit outrageous. The staff here is really nice. The decor is warm and cozy and it is a larger space so they can seat lots of people in here. Decent prices (besides the special rolls) and...my barometer for sushi...they have melt-in-your-mouth Escolar. Mmmm....Escolar. And you can't beat the BYOB, especially with Jewel right down the street. If you want a larger selection of good wines, definitely make the trek back south to the one on the corner of Clark and Foster. Well worth it.
(4)
Craig B.

I don't like sushi. I've been saying it for years. My wife likes sushi, my kids like sushi. I grew up in Boston - if it wasn't fried, it wasn't eaten. Sure I tried it a bunch of times. Never liked it, and resigned myself to ordering chicken teriyaki every time the family went out for sushi. That being said, Sushi Mike has changed my mind. Even a simple California roll is far better here than any I've tried. That opened me up to try more, and I am now a fan. Not of sushi, mind you - of Sushi Mike. I've tried other places (expensive places) and found myself wanting Tanoshii. The sauces, the flavors, the freshness; it just can't be beat. We've brought family and friends there and they've had nothing but raves. When you routinely find yourself sitting next to people who drove 4 hours from their new home because they missed Tanoshii after moving away, you know this place is special. I highly recommend Tanoshii for everyone - even people who don't like sushi, like me. Sushi Mike just might change your mind, too.
(5)
Brian A.

Tanoshii is over-rated and a frustrating dining experience. They have no idea how to run a restaurant and cannot take care of a full table of people. Service is lousy, slow and just a mess. The much-vaunted "Mike Specials" are overly spicy and just a fish hash. Not worth the money, the trip or the time.
(1)
Anne M.

Previous code violation or no, the place seems to have no troubles now. There on a Wednesday night to a comfortably full house and the noise levels were quite bearable. The best bet really is to let the sushi maker create something for you based on your preferences. All the fish we had was seriously fresh and high quality. Interesting addition of truffle oil to one our rolls had us oohing and ahhing. Four stars for the food. Decor-wise, it ain't sushisamba so, giving three stars only because the ladies room was a bit icky (wet and bloated roll of toilet paper).
(4)
Shane H.

Interesting mix of food here... the girl I was with ordered fish and chips for an appetizer, which was a spicy tuna puree served Mexican-style. It was good, but not what I was expecting out of a sushi joint. If you just tell Sushi Mike what you like he'll make these crazy unique rolls. You just leave your tastebuds in his hands. He does a pretty good job but at $18 per roll, it's a bit pricey. I think they ran out of rice because they started using cabbage with the sashimi and that is not cool. I saw cabbage on everyone else's plates too. The music was God-awful 80s music. Overall, I can recommend lots of sushi places over this one.
(2)
Kat M.

The roll that Chef Mike made us- Tuna, unagi, avacado, tempura flakes, and delicious sauce was hands down the best sushi roll I have ever had. And yes, I have been to Japan. Sashimi was also fresh and delicious. Outstanding, I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Elizabeth R.

I love to come here because unlike other sushi spots it is BYOB and it's reasonably priced. They don't charge a cork fee like other places... that sha'll remain nameless (BC $10 cork fee per bottle!!).I love having their Fish and Chips. Definately try a "Mike's special"...I always order "spicy and cruncky" and he has yet to dissapoint. Totally worth the drive from Humboldt Park to Andersonville.
(5)
Jason H.

My first time in was on Saturday night. I thought the prices were great for the quality of the sushi. We also had two of Sushi Mike's special maki rolls and were quite happy with them. We were worried that the service would be slow (as we read the reviews) but it wasn't. Everything came out almost too fast. I looked around though and saw people seated before us who still weren't served though so I'm guessing their service issues there are a matter of load balancing the tables, servers and kitchen.
(4)
Jon K.

The service at this place is horrid. When you go out to eat, a patron shouldn't have to ask for water. The food was mediocre at best...Save your cash, go eat somewhere else on Clark. Clueless when it comes to sushi!!
(1)
Julie J.

Seriously, this is the very best sushi I have ever had. We went on a Tuesday night for a birthday (with 5 small children mind you), and the food and service was excellent. It is BYOB, and the server was very attentive. We ordered the Fish and Chips (not on the menu), and it was quite possibly one of the tastiest appetizers I have ever had. ORDER IT. The sushi was beyond amazing. My mother has only had sushi a few times, and she LOVED it-though her chopstick etiquette was interesting ;) The Sushi Chef's (Mike and Chris) were awesome. We started our dinner experience w/ rolls off the menu, and then we transitioned to signature rolls. Basically, we told the server what we like and don't like, and Mike and Chris concocted something mouth-watering. The kids enjoyed the miso soup, tempura and edamame. Lastly, the 80's tunes were pumping in the place which made the entire experience bubbly and fun. LOVED it and cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Inspector G.

Been twice. Mediocre at best. Haven't gone back since the health department shut the place down for a week in 2006 and slapped a big orange code violation sticker on the front. Just not willing to gamble with sushi.
(1)
Victoria R.

Great quality for a neighborhood sushi place. I usually sit at the bar and let Mike make whatever he feels like, and it's always great. It can get expensive though if you order off the menu. It's also good for groups. Definitely one of my favorites for sushi in Chicago.
(4)
Audrey H.

If you live in Andersonville (or even if you don't), this is definitely THE sushi place to go to. It opened up in late 2005 and from the looks of it, seems to be doing pretty well. Prices are decent. You can expect to pay about $50+ for dinner for two, and the portions are nothing to scoff at. Memorables: definitely the sashimi. And get the soft shell crab appetizer (one of the rare places that actually gets it right!).
(4)
Paul C.

The sushi is great! Great composition and balance of flavors - colorful, really nice portion size. On the bad side the service is very slow - even when they're not busy, and timing of food delivery could use some improvement. Immediately when you walk in you can see that Sushi Mike is indeed a very friendly guy and extremely personable. So much so that he usually greets everybody that walks through the door by name, and often comes around to shake hands or even the occasional hug. If it wasn't for my experience lastnight I would have given them a very high rating. So lastnight I was awaiting my sushi order while a young family with two very adorable little girls walked in. Apparently Sushi Mike hadn't seen them in a while, and came around to greet them. I thought that was very endearing - not something you see every day. Before long Mike had picked up one of the little girls, and walked her back behind the sushi bar. While happily chatting with the mom and dad, and the girls feet dangling and swinging over the sushi laid on his counter, he proceeded to feed her food. With his bare fingers. This, in itself is a little creepy to me, but whats worse is that more than once his fingers went IN her mouth. Now I waited to see if he would wipe his hands (at the very least!) or wash them, but no - he continued handling his knife and cutting more of what he was feeding her with the same hand that was in her mouth. After a good amount of stuffing food into her, he started to walk her back around to her parents, when she spit up her food onto the floor. So Mike carried her back behind the sushi bar, gave her a sip from a glass of water, then cut and fed her some more food with his fingers. I'm sure by this time my jaw was agape. After returning the girl to her seat, Mike returned behind the sushi bar. WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS he began to prepare more food, between taking pictures of the little girl with his cellphone. I was horrified. I gathered my things, canceled my sushi order, and paid for my appetizer. When the waiter rang me up and asked what was wrong, I explained how absolutely unsanitary his behavior is. His comment in return was along the lines of, "Well you should work with him" - leading me to believe that this type of behavior is not unusual. I've been trying to find why Tanoshii was shut down for a while in 2006 with a Heath Code Violation - at this point I think I can probably guess the reason why. It's really too bad - because the sushi was great. Luckily mine had always been prepared by the other sushi chef (Chris?), who appears very conscious of sanitation and wisely gave Mike a wide berth during all of this. But, since Mike runs the show, and has demonstrated a truly disgusting level of carelessness with regard to food safety, I'll never be returning. The only reason Tanoshii gets 1 star is because yelp doesn't allow 0 star ratings.
(1)
Evelina L.

In order to have the best experience when coming to Tanoshii, you have to have complete trust in the chef about delivering you the freshest most creative dishes that will not disappoint. Just tell sushi Mike - create something for me, I love X or I don't like Y - and voila - amazing things will start showing up in front of you until you say - I cannot have anymore! Sitting at the sushi bar is the most fun, but can be difficult for a conversation in larger parties. Most importantly - sit and enjoy as long as you like. No one is pushing your out or waiting for you to leave, it fact sushi Mike has told us several times to pace ourselves. They truly live by the sign on their front door - "we love you long time". Amen to that! Can't wait to be back! BYOB gem! He is in the process of opening up a restaurant in the city with the big boys...so hopefully the quality of Tanoshii will not go down as a result.
(5)
Joseph W.

I continue to love Tanoshii. The service is great, the food tantalizingly delicious and unique. The sushi chefs always put out a great product. I will advise that a typical night at usually lasts at least two hours, so be prepared to take your time. Is also BYOB, so that is another bonus for my favorite sushi joint.
(5)
Cherry B.

That place would have been perfect if they got my order right and didn't have to wait for a substitute for over 30 mins. Ordered special Mike NOT spicy but it was very spicy. Long wait but good food, not great, or at least I didn't get a chance to experience it!
(4)
Tim J.

Amazing place for great sushi in a casual and comfortable environment! I highly recommend sitting at the bar and ordering the Chef's special. Sushi Mike will ask you a few questions about what you like and what you do not and will create different concoctions and explain what he put in them. He will explain the difference between real Japanese wasabi and the food colored wasabi that many restaurants use. The fish is amazingly fresh, he has creative rolls and great sashimi. My girlfriend is not typically a fan of mushrooms or eel....and he got her to try and enjoy a roll with Shitake mushrooms and a roll with unagi (eel). The BYOB set-up is also a nice way to go!
(5)
John P.

best sushi in Chicago!!!!!! Mike makes it very difficult to eat sushi anywhere else. Thank you for an amazing meal
(5)
Kayu T.

Came here after two bars down the way for a small snack with friend. Not sure if its because its just been a few weeks old, but I didn't feel like it have the selection a sushi place should have. I swear I didn't even see a sashimi platter! They did however, had the shishito peppers here which was a first I've came across at smaller places. Sushi was good, and fresh not sure if I love the atmosphere or the tile floors that makes it feel like a cold place to be with friends.
(3)
Chris m.

This place is just OK, at best. We were hit with their strange marketing strategy that entailed "what you don't like". I said well I don't eat raw but what sushi do you have that is cooked? Of course then you are stamped with an "L" on your forehead. So the soft-spoken boy rattled off California roll, shrimp tempura roll, etc. Oh how original! There's the end of the customer pleasing. I asked if they could do a spicy California roll ie spicy mayo, yes but mayo must be on the side and it's 50 cents. I was like, OK, kinda shocked. I guess Mike and co. cannot put the mayo inside the roll. I also ordered the shrimp tempura roll. I asked if they had Uni, which I love, almost to prove I know the deal, no....we don't. We were also being sold on the fish and chips, which I thought maybe was some panko crusted Japanese version of the Brit staple. No, it (as I observed) is a tuna tartar type thing that Mike molds then smashes and then serves to the lucky drooling customers on some tortilla chips. I've had similar things before, no big deal but not doing raw these days. Don't quite get this presentation. Why not serve it unmolded in its shape surrounded by the chips. Whatever. Bottom line, food items reviewed as follows. California rolls worst ever. I don't even mind the fake crab, but how about real. I wouldn't mind paying a few bucks more. I thought this was a higher end place. Never got the 50 cent mayo. Skinny, chewy, bland and dry. I read on yelp that the nori here is tender and special. It was tough and almost couldn't chew. Shrimp tempura roll...worst ever. Again dry and bland. Do they have a dragon roll or creative take on a cooked item? Didn't seem so and/or was not communicated by our server. Both of these I have had much better at countless sushi places even grocery store type sushi. The shumai was OK in a decent ponzu sauce but really tasted like just from a frozen bagged item from any asian store. My friend's salmon terriyaki was good on a bed of decent crisp veggies w/ rice. He got miso soup which I was denied I guess because I didn't rank. Maybe it would have been 50 cents. I agree with a couple Yelpers. There are way better places to go, including Japonais for about the same $ and much more satisfying. And dare I mention Sunshine Cafe or even Toyko Marina or Indie Cafe, Renga Tei, Katsu, etc. . There is simply no warmth or satisfaction here. A cold place, not a pleasant experience on any level. That's the bottom line for me.
(2)
Rick F.

I don't know where to begin! We went early thinking it was going to be packed! we were the first customers and of course snagged the best seat in the house. The place was packed by the time we left. Chef Mike is famous for his Chef Selection, so we took the leap and left our culinary adventure in our server and Chef Mike's trusted hands! THe best decision we ever made! I cannot describe each dish but suffice it to say everything was amazing and I will definitely be back and bring my out of town guests as well.
(5)
M Z.

We waited over an hour for sushi. There were no acknowledgment made and there was no food. This is not the first time this has happened to us. In fact this is the fourth time we had poor service. You think we would learn our lesson and not come here. We got up and left. Will not be coming back.
(1)
Gerry M.

Takes 30-40 minutes to get food after ordering. Waiter screws up your order, doesn't apologize and then you have to wait another half-hour for a replacement. Sub-standard quality twenty dollar rolls.
(2)
L L.

We lost Tank Sushi in our 'hood to a new Filipino place in the same location. I'll never go there. My wife had been to Tanoshii many times and says she told me about it, yet I don't believe her. The chef's special tasting was expensive and worth it. I don't remember the rolls we got, yet they were delicious. Even the one with mushrooms. I hate mushrooms, yet I ate every piece of that maki. We also had the "fish and chips" app and it was really good. If I like a place I like to get the generic California, Tekka, etc to see how they are and judge the place based on that. The generic rolls were ok, yet after eating the chef special, it kind of seemed like the chef was bored with creating the generic rolls. That said, the maguro was really good and really fresh. The staff were great and attentive. I think this may be our new goto sushi place.
(5)
Kate H.

Worst. Restaurant. Ever. Two and a half hours and 3 people didn't even eat. Delivered food and didn't know who to give it to. Didn't know what they were bringing. 2 plus hours in and they delivered the chefs choice. You tell them what you want and the chef makes whatever he wants within those criteria. I gave the waiter TWO criteria and they f***ed up my order. Waitress ARGUED with us when they forgot one person's order. Food that did arrive did not come together, in fact, it was over an hour from the first person to last person served. The owner came to the next table over for several victory laps but couldn't be bothered to step up for us. F*** you sushi Mike.
(1)
Eric T.

One of the best, if not THE BEST sushi restaurant experiences I've ever had. I agree with many of the reviews here - sit at the sushi bar, order sushi Mike's special, talk to him about what you like and don't like, and enjoy the experience. He "guarantees" you will be happy, and if you don't like something he makes for you then you don't have to pay for it. Everything he made for me was beautiful in execution (seriously - each a work of art), creative simplicity in it's combination of flavors, and everything was unique - you won't find it on a menu with some funny "rainbow-fire-thunderclap-caterpillar-hundred-Âflavor roll" name. He explained that his sauces are vegetable based unlike most sushi restaurants which might use some sort of thickened chicken stock or beef stock (which complicates the flavor and detracts from the fish), and I had to laugh when he explained that soy sauce is not allowed. (if you need soy sauce on your sushi or maki roll, then something is wrong) The quality is high and the prices may reflect that, but it depends on what you consider a fair price for the best of the best. Dining here will be a treat for me, much like going to a high-end steak house downtown. Compared to that, Tanoshii is a great deal.
(5)
E M B.

Used to love this place, I've been going for years. The thing is, I'm really good at justifying the cost for great food but the quality has gone downhill and the prices are super high. Before tip our byob dinner for 4 was $160 - and I left hungry. The creativity was lackluster and felt stale, the rolls weren't exceptionally creative - and that's how I used to justify the price. I think I'm over it.
(2)
K E.

If someone had offered me a dish described as "a combination of sundried tomato, strawberry, and raw fish" I would probably have smacked them. But in the hands of "Mike" and "Chris" at Tanoshii, those three seemingly incompatible ingredients are amazing together in a roll. And it's not on the menu. At Tanoshii, I think it's the chefs' creativity and ability to balance flavors that make their creations unique. I haven't tried anything I haven't liked yet, but with the exception of their fun and flavorful "fish and chips", I also haven't tried anything on the official menu. I highly recommend sitting at the bar and turning your meal over to the very, very capable chefs. The ingredients are eclectic and the results are amazing. Bring your favorite people and your favorite wine - it's BYOB. You may be surprised, but you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Jessie V.

Try Mike's special. :-)
(4)
S E.

The chef's specials are wonderful if you don't mind that they tend to incorporate a variety of sauces. I very much do not mind, particularly because the sauces tend to accentuate without overwhelming the flavor of the fish, creating neat, new flavor combinations. The fish and chips and the spicy unagi are two of my favorites.
(5)
David K.

We've been going here on and off for about 18 months. It's not just the sushi, it's the smiles and the service you get at Tanoshii. Sushi Mike is a delight to talk with, makes great sushi creations of wonderful quality (which he occasionally takes calm, quiet, deserved pride in), and won't give you run-on sentences like this. I don't think I can say anything that hasn't been said in other reviews, so I leave it to you, the reader, to visit and try it out. I just finished 2 pieces of salmon sashimi I took away about 10 minutes before closing time (not a Sushi Mike night), and I couldn't help but finally insert another glowing recommendation for this place.
(5)
Lorna S.

The fish here is fresh, and the owner is an entertaining and friendly man. I've seen him on TV a few times, as he is an expert in his field. If you can stand the wait, the food is excellent. I waited for my food almost 2 hours while sitting at the bar on a Wednesday night. I had no idea it was going to take so long to get my food, but it was definitely good. I found out that if you're not picky, and you sit at the bar, just ask Mike (the owner) to just make you something, he'll come up with a tasty treat. Usually spicy, but very good. I'm not certain I will go back, unless it's for lunch on a weekday, just because it took way too long to get our food. I took off 1 star for the wait, because the food was so good. You decide if you want to do it. BYOB!
(4)
Ami K.

My favorite sushi in Chicago. Ask for their fish and chips as a starter. And definitely get one of Mike's special rolls. Amazing food, great 80's music atmosphere, good service, freshest sashimi in town. I've never been disappointed and I could eat sushi for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
(5)
Emma M.

What comes to my mind when I think of girls' night out ? Sushi & wine! My friend had heard of this restaurant from a few different people and since it was in the neighborhood we thought we'd check it out. We went on a Wednesday night and by the time we left it was packed. We ordered the fish and chips which was a tuna tartar on top of a wonton chip. It was really tasty, but they took away the extra tuna tartar mixture after they packed it on to the wonton chip, which was really annoying. We would of eaten it without another chip! For dinner, we ordered Mike's Special. You pick the ingredients and they create rolls for you. We all really liked cilantro, jalapeno, unagi, mango, avocado, etc and they created the some pretty interesting rolls. One came with mango and truffle oil and another came with sliced strawberries and a combo of the ingredients we requested.The rolls were really good, but also pretty $$. I've been to a lot of sushi restaurants where the rolls have been just as good or better and they were not as expensive. It was BYOB so we saved money there, but I don't think I will be going back. To me, it was just A-OK.
(3)
Grace L.

This place is AWESOME!! I will not try sushi anywhere else but this place. It doesn't compare to anything else. I LOVE everything about this place. Mike ROCKS!! he is just excellent on his concotions.....absolutely AMAZING.
(5)
Rick H.

Mike is diligent, creative and focused. The perfect formula for sushi to go out of your way for. While he starts with great raw materials- its Mike's extra creative touch that sets the place apart form the numerous other sushi options. The BYO is a nice touch as well!
(5)
Stephen R.

This is a decent place. Its quaint and quiet and probably the best sushi place in Andersonville, but thats like saying youre the smart guy in the dumb class. Service was a little spotty and slow...so wasnt too keen on that. Andersonville is not a sushi mecca, so its all relative. This IS a good place, so please attend and enjoy it. I liked the hamachi unagi spicy tuna tempura appetizer edamame I was lukewarm on the: shumai gyoza go enjoy as it is BYOB and I always like BYOB places.
(2)
Kelley L.

I took my boyfriend here who was very skeptical about sushi in the past. I convinced him this experience would change his mind...and it did! We started off with an order of the "fish and chips" which is essentially a Tuna Cevice on a fresh tortilla chip that will blow your mind. Then we ordered the traditional way by just telling sushi mike things we didn't like and to create whatever he wanted from there. we got 4 rolls and each of them was absolutely incredible. My boyfriend has since asked me when we can go back, and I am thrilled that Tanoshii was the place that made him a true believer in how amazing sushi is! Best in town...hands down.
(5)
Patrick F.

Hopefully you are reading this from the awesome virtual consierge stand at Hotel Felix. This was the most unique and best tasting sushi experience I've had. We picked this place at random and because you could BYOB and they offered "custom rolls." When we got there, it was much smaller than we expected... and quaint environment. We sat at the bar of course. I always think that is the best idea... you get to watch an artist make your food. Very entertaining. We started with the fish & chips which was a unique version of ceviche. Of course then it was on to the rolls. I told him I liked escolar, and tempura flakes, and some spice... He whipped up 2 different rolls that were delicious. This was some of the freshest sushi I've ever had. The next roll was my girlfriend's request... she said, "Strawberries" and there ya go... another truly delicious roll. We were on vacation out of Austin, TX and took the train up to get to this place. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Heather B.

This place is delicious and well worth the price. Plus it's BYOB! When my friend suggested and I looked at the menu online, I was a little confused. I wasn't aware of the sushi mike option. Sushi Mike took our likes/dislikes into good consideration and the end result was perfect. Love this place and will definitely return and recommend!
(5)
Polly W.

The Best Custom Sushi hands down! I go regularly and recommend them to everyone!
(5)
Boon K.

I'm glad there is good sushi near by when I am having a craving. It is not cheap but the funny part is you never get the same experience. Everyone comes here for the Mike's special, you either tell them what you like or what you dislike and he is make you a roll especially for you. I got a spicy scallop hand roll but his version a lettuce wrap full of scallops, spicy, with a touch of sesame oil. The other roll had white tuna, strawberry, and used a soy wrapper. It was pretty pricey but worth trying.
(3)
Sami A.

Well it's more like 3.5 *s due to the BYO & 80s music. I really really really wanted to LOVE Tanoshii because so many of my friends have recommended it as the place to go to. Servers were friendly. Seemed like a lively environment but it wasn't what I had hoped for. The first thing I saw on the menu was the "Mike Special" and like many others have explained, it's a way for the chef to get creative with all sorts of out-of-the-box rolls. I thought that it would be well worth the $20 for each roll if they're as good as I've heard. Server comes over and I tell him that it's my 1st time there so I'm going to go for the Mike special. Before I tell him what I usually like he tells me that it might be easier if I tell him what I don't like. Fair enough, I don't like squid and no fruit on one of the rolls. I wanted to give the chef complete creative control. Some time later I get a shrimp roll with strawberries and salsa like paste which was just fine. Nothing spectacular. What I just didn't understand is the 2nd roll that was salmon/shrimp from inside and super white tuna on the outside and drizzled with something overly oily. Really? I tell you I'll take about anything and you give me a salmon/tuna roll? sighs. I left the place underwhelmed and hungry. I might go there one more time if I happen to be close to it to see if I went on a bad night.
(3)
KELLIE K.

Ow. The next time you see me, ask to see the bruises on my shins. Why? Because I've been repeatedly kicking myself for not getting here sooner. Ow. See? Trust Chef Mike to tantalize your taste buds with a meal you won't experience anywhere else. Introducing, the Sushi Mike's Special. I'd tell you in greater detail about it, but chances are it's unique enough that you may never see the exact same dishes. That's the point. I have my favorites, you have yours. Spill the beans to Chef and you'll be in for a treat. No, make that adventure. There are only three things you need to know about this before you depart. The first is that I dig a cook like Sushi Mike that doesn't play by the rules (except his own, "Don't use soy sauce."), so don't expect boring. How about some rosemary with that fish? Or ceviche with a Japanese flair? Chef's pairings nearly blew my mind. At the conclusion of our most recent dinner, we were complimented with a mango dessert topped with a raspberry sauce rolling in hints of honey balsamic vinegar. Beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, of course. The second thing you need to know is that Tanoshii is BYOB. Sharing with your chef is courteous and welcomed. While you're daydreaming about the fantastic creations in store for you, call ahead and make a reservation. You don't want to have to wait any longer than necessary. For the prime experience, be sure to sit at the bar on Mike's side. This, kiddos, is true food immersion. And the last thing you need to know? Don't plan on it being a budget-friendly outing. You're paying for quality. Save your pennies now or quit being squeamish when you open the bill. To the less adventurous: yes, you can order off the menu. The usual standards look like they're prepared just as well, and I'm sure they'll do the trick for you. Though, when you go to Tanoshii, you should get in there and let your taste buds live a little.
(4)
Michael B.

The first time I went here, it was a complete accident. My friend and I happened to be in the neighborhood, so we stopped in- and I'm eternally grateful that we did. By far, some of the best sushi I've had in the midwest. Sushi Mike took care of us, and we let him craft our dinner. Sheer brilliance in his sauce construction, and what isn't perfect, is made up for in reasonable pricing, good service, and BYOB. This is my first stop for sushi!
(4)
Michael H.

Small Place, standard sushi bar and maybe 15 tables.. Very fresh different roll creations. You kinda just tell the chef Spicy and get the job done... He brought out like 10 different rolls and 9/10 were great!! Fairly priced as the bill was like $150 for 5 people. It's BYOB and tends to get crowded on the weekends like everything else..
(4)
Johnnie G.

Okay. So this is totally going against my last review and that makes me giddy!! Sit at the bar. Let the chef make what he wants and u will not be disappointed. Do not order off the menu. That was my bad before. Fish is fresh, delicious and why not splurge a bit...you can bring your own bottle
(4)
Catticut P.

Ohhhh Tanoshii. What a samurai-sharp stab in the heart you can be. Our first meeting was so impressive, every mouthful a revelation. The second time, third...your service really let you down. Last night we took some out-of-town friends here, to prove to them that, yes, The Midwest can do sushi. The night before we'd been to Girl & the Goat (we were seriously treating ourselves this weekend), so we were even willing to be lenient. We knew what we wanted, and you left us disappointed. Sushi is the ultimate happy food. But we left Tanoshii angry. We were still angry the next morning, too. A friend ordered a vegetarian roll - which I'd previously tasted, and raved about. We asked for three rolls between us (we were a group of 6), and our chef told us that we could all share one. We insisted that we'd like three, but he chose to ignore that. As rolls were being prepared (slowly, because our chef was favouring a couple at the end of the bench, who were obviously regulars), I saw/smelled oregano - and hoped to God that that roll wasn't for us, as I'd tried their 'Italian roll' before and really, really didn't like it. It was for us. I really, really didn't like it. But we still ended up paying $18 for it, because that's what the chef decided we should have. We watched another roll being prepared - it was gorgeous, so we asked if we could have two of those for our group. Again, we were told we could share one roll, and again, I missed out on the sushi I actually wanted to eat. My bestie was served the 'fish and chips' (tartae on crackers) - but the chef distributed these amongst our table, even though it was her $22 order. Basically, you had no choice if you wanted to share or not, but you were stuck with the bill regardless. And the chips were cold and soggy by the time it got to serving. Listen, the chefs here are artists - truly - and the sushi is very good - if you get what you ask for. I appreciate that the chefs want to display their talents and flair with what they have, but my friends (and I) felt somewhat scammed - were they using it as an excuse to even out their produce? Were they flat-out ignoring what we wanted out of some sushi-chef-genius-arrogance? I know, first world problems - but I'm pretty freaking serious about my sushi, especially when it's such a pricey investment in pleasure. We carefully tallied our cheque between the six of us on the bill as advised, but the bill was still split three ways - and no offer to recalculate. Basically, this place is all about what they want you to have/do, and you have little say in it. Such a shame, because I know the sushi here is amazing. The service/attitude is not. Not at all. We've given Tanoshii several tries, but not again will we fork out $80 (per couple) on food we didn't want.
(2)
Nora H.

This was our second visit and it was just OK. We opted to try food other than sushi this time and it was unremarkable and my husband's soup was way to salty. I had the shrimp which was fine, the tempura was tasty but a bit mushy. In a city full of sushi places I don't find this to be a stand out and the Mike sushi specials are pricy.
(2)
Jennifer P.

Truly delicious. Enjoyed every course and every bite. Loved the surprise of the chef's special and the truly unique "fish & chips".
(4)
Amy J.

I came here for a friend's birthday dinner, and we had a group of 6 on a Friday night at 7:30. We did a series of surprise plates, and not one left us disappointed! I was a little surprised to see strawberry on sushi, but it worked. We took advantage of BYOB and had 3 bottles of wine, and for the birthday boy they brought out some Mochi ice cream. It was my first time trying and it wasn't bad! I gave this place 5 stars for the following reasons: 1) Great ambiance - nothing fancy, but it was a hole in the wall spot for locals - and we could have a conversation with a well lit room. 2) Fish was FRESH. In terms of freshness, this was some of the freshest sushi I've had in Chicago. Spice was spot on without overpowering the rolls. 3) Price is worth it. I can't afford to go here every time I want sushi, but if you want a memorable sushi night this is the place to go. We weren't sitting at the sushi bar but watching the folks who were, they were having a blast and a great time with Mike dishing up rolls and Sake. The experience should be about more than just the food - it should come from somewhere you know that it means something to the establishment to be serving you! For a table of 4 our bill was about $150 for approximately 6 rolls and edamame.
(5)
Alec B.

Tanoshii is hands down my favorite sushi in the city. We went here a few weeks ago for my birthday, and not only did all in attendance like me considerably more after than before, but one person who came with was converted from a sushi naysayer to an addict. Feel free to order off the menu, but bear in mind that it is pointless. You want to order fish and chips, and 1 sushi mike special per person. Then desert. Then maybe another special to fill in the corners. And try to get the one with the seasoned olive oil drizzled on top, sweet Christ is it good.
(5)
Lisa W.

Love Love Love this place! Sushi Mike Rocks! I've been going here for years and have never ordered off the menu. We just tell the waiter/waitress that we'll take whatever Sushi Mike wants to make and he always comes up with such delicious creations. The Sushi creations are so unique that you can't get them at any other Sushi place. That is what makes Tanoshii such a fun, unique place. I've also had several parties here with 10-15 people in the back room and they are always so accommodating with great service! It's BYOB so we always take full advantage and we never feel like they are rushing us out. The service is great and if you stay late enough, Sushi Mike might even come out and do a Saki Bomb with you. And order the Fish and Chips as an appetizer. It's so yummy!!
(5)
Julie H.

I had high hopes for Tanoshii based on other Yelp reviews but my friend and I were not impressed. The quality of the sushi was very mediocre. Both of us found scales in a piece of our sushi. I've never found that in any other sushi place. Plus, there was some kind of creepy crawly walking up the wall near our table. There's too much good sushi around to settle for this.
(2)
Jessica B.

bleh. I went here with my fiance and we were just awfully disappointed. We eat sushi an awful lot, so I can say that it's NOT because I don't know what good sushi is supposed to taste like, or what the price for good sushi is. I've read some of the other reviews that say the fish was fresh. I don't know what that means to you. I'm going to have to agree with the yelper who said that the shrimp looks like it's from a platter you can get from some grocery store. It's plastic-looking and chewy. I don't understand why people rave about the flavor. WHAT FLAVOR? The flavor of the sauce that they DROWN everything in? It all tasted the same! I want to savor the taste of my fish, not struggle to get through the sauce! There was so much rice in the roll, I couldn't tell where my fish was. I actually thought they gave me the wrong thing. This poor place is O-V-E-R-P-R-I-C-E-D for what it is. We spent about $120 without drinks- that's kind of a lot!! - and still had to eat dinner later, because our hunger was not satisfied. I'm going to save my complaints on the service and decor, you can figure that out for yourself, maybe it's a matter of taste. I can honestly say you should save your money and make the trip up to the Indie Cafe at 5951 N Broadway. It's close enough. I was so sad, this place is 100 feet from my place and I wanted it to be good. I still feel a tinge of bitterness every time I walk by it. boo.
(1)
Nez A.

Definitely pricey, definitely worth it.
(5)
Bharat W.

A coworker of mine and a friend had been asking me to go to Tanoshi for a year. Let me add that he is one of handful of people that I absolutely trust with food recommendations. He also went to culinary school which is a plus. I digress. So finally we set foot at Tanoshii a few weeks ago. The place is very unassuming and not memorable from a setup standpoint. I was beginning to question the effort upon arrival. The friendly staff sat us and I should add they are very friendly across the board which is really important to my dining experience. We started with a fresh seafood Ceviche type appetizer that our server deliberately placed on a wafer. One bite and I was blown away. This was one of the most fresh tasting appetizer I have had. Think of the refreshing taste of freshly prepared guacamole. This really bolstered my confidence in the place and set the tone. Our server recommended to go with Mike's custom rolls instead of the usual dragon, caterpillar, etc options. The customization involves being as brief as "I/we like spicy food" to as specific as "allergic to shellfish, like salmon, don't like my sushi fried, big fan of mayo, hate cilantro and dairy" you get the idea. Boy were we in for a treat! The next 4 rolls kept coming in customized to our general requests and they just blew us away. One I recall was torched, had melted cheese inside and drizzled with olive oil and oregano on top. This should give you an idea of Sushi Mike's creativity. At one point tears start to well up in my eyes, a very remarkable first. I have never had tears of joy stream because of delicious food, and trust me I have had some great tasting food, I kind of live for it. We concluded with a dessert that was also customized and not on the menu made with fish, spectacular. So Sushi Mike, thanks for opening Tanoshi and hands down unseat my favorite Chicago sushi restaurant MIrai and Nobu in Miami. Sushi wabi, Tank, Coast, Arami, and all the other great spots are going to take the backseat for now.
(5)
Jeffrey K.

Tanoshii is not an ordinary Chicago sushi spot. If you are looking for mass quantities of the usual rolls that are slathered in mayo to drown the dubious fish and want to eat quckly, go somewhere else. More room for me! However, if you are looking for a different spin and want to explore then try Tanoshii. The owner and chef, Mike, is truly a sushi virtuoso and he makes a symphony in your mouth with some of the most unexpected and delightful flavors. Being there is like being blindfolded and taken into a bedroom, you have to trust the other person and your heart may skip a beat, but Mike is worth the leap of faith so be brave and try something new. Once you order, relax and enjoy the process and have a true sensory experience like fine dining should be. When the sushi arrives, slow down, be aware of what is on the plate, how it looks, how it smells and then savor each piece. For best results go early or on an off night and sit at the bar so you can chat with Mike or his minions. The waitsfaff are typically non-entities and can be hit or miss but it's really all about Mike and what's cooking in that wonderfully creative brain that matters. Also, it's BYOB, light wine, beer, and cider pair really nicely.
(4)
Zaven K.

My seemingly unending search for a good go-to sushi spot entangled me in the web of Sushi Mike this evening. I had seen the "Check Please" piece about this place some years ago, and had heard other people mention it in passing, with breathless raves about how great it was. Today, I decided it was time to see what all the hubbub was about. Upon sitting at the bar, which I always like to do at a sushi establishment, Mike proceeded to ask if this was my first time there. I admitted it was and he proceeded to deliver an oral Curriculum Vitae of all the TV appearances, write ups and accolades he has had over the years, celebrating his superior sushi. By the time he finished, I was ready to leave. This all seemed pretentious and un-nescessary. If I'm in your restaurant, you don't need to sell me on your product. I'm there. I'm sitting down. Ive committed, for better or worse, to whatever you're preparing to serve me. By the time Mike's pre-meal infomercial ended and I was contemplating heading down the street to Ora.I decided to go ahead and see if Mike could put his sushi where his mouth was, and went with the Chefs Choice "Omakase" menu. The first course was what Mike called "Fish and Chips". This bore no resemblance to the British dish of the same name. Tuna. Tobiko. Diced tomato. Avocado. Green Onion. All formed in layers in a ring mold, which he presented to us in the center of a large round white plate. He then removed the mold, and proceeded to mash everything together with a fork. His assistant then arrived with the "Chip" component: A toasted flour tortilla, cut into a triangle. Mike then scooped the mashed fish onto the chip and asked me to hold out my hand, and presented it to me. I bit into it. It was good. Essentially a fresh version of a ceviche, without an acid component. But anyone expecting Sushi would be disappointed...this was not sushi. The Tortilla was bland, basically being a delivery system for the topping. Next, three Maki rolls in succession, all of them essentially the same. Tuna and/or Super-white tuna (escolar) and/or Hamachi with Avocado, Rice, wrapped in Mame-Nori, which is soy-based wrapping paper, used in place of traditional Seaweed Nori. I asked Mike about this. He said he prefered not to use traditional Nori, as it gets chewy. One of the rolls had Crab Sticks inside. All three tasted essentially the same. However, each roll had a different kind of sauce on top. I need to back up here and mention that Mike had expressly forbidden us from using the Soy Sauce that was on the table if we decided to go with his Omakase menu. The Soy Sauce only serves to mask the off-flavors of other, inferior sushi places' fish, he insisted. So you will imagine my surprise when I was presented with three rolls all with generous portions of various kinds of sauce slathered on top! The first was what Mike said was "Real Wasabi". Dark brown in color, and not nearly as pungent as the fake horseradish version most Americans are accustomed to. It was good, not great. Somewhat earthy, and oily. I asked Mike what else was in it, and he looked at me and smiled and just said "I have 30-40 different oils and vinegars and other sauce components that I use for my Sauces. I have a 30 year old Balsamic! I have Truffle Oil! I have Truffle Honey!" He said, with a cheshire-cat grin and a knowing glint in his eyes, expecting me to be impressed by this. I was not impressed. If I wanted Truffle and balsamic, Id be down the street at Anteprima ordering something Italian. The Second roll (this was the same as the others but had the fake crab stick inside), was topped with two Sauces. One appeared to be olive oil. Im guessing it was his precious Truffle oil, and the other was red-orange in color and was spicy. I asked mike if this was Sriracha. He admitted it had "some" Sriracha, but also other red peppers, and other components, which, again he demurred to mention specifically. The third roll came and was topped with another of Mike's creations. This time he used the propane torch in its preparation. It turned out to taste exactly like the vinaigrette my mother has made for 40 years whenever we have dinner at her house. Again, this is not a bad flavor. Like that flavor. But not on my Maki. It was Garlicy, with chives, balsamic vinegar, oregano, and other herbs. Bizzare. At this point, I was full, and tired of being served what were clearly un-inventive Maki with lots of sauces. I asked for the check. This is where the insult of being served the same thing three times with different sauces gave way to the injury of being charged $85. I had no O-Toro. I had no Uni. No Salmon Belly. No Salmon Skin not even Fugu. The fish I was served was good quality, but nothing like Ive had at other spots, like Katsu, or Ora for example. I had none of the items that are typically wallet-busting at a sushi place. Super-white tuna, Tuna, and Hamachi with avocado, rice and crab stick and sauces. $85 + Tip? Not worth it. Will not return.
(2)
erin w.

Chef Mike's Special. I'm sooooo glad that I, and my two companions, went this route. You just tell your server about your likes and dislikes when it comes to sushi and the chef whips up something that is sure to strike your fancy! One of my companions asked for a certain fish (I forget what it was), and our server straight up told us that it was not very good right now and offered two similar choices that he said were very good and fresh. I love that in a restaurant, it always makes me feel like they are going that extra step to make sure what you get will be excellent. We had two rolls that were more traditional in presentation, though not in taste, and one that was served looking like tacos in delicious mango shells! Luckily, our server also had the good sense to instruct us on how to eat it. All three rolls were so good, we wanted to order more (especially after looking around at other diner's sushi, yum!), but were too stuffed and decided against it. I cannot wait to go back! Oh, and it's BYO.
(5)
Allen B.

I ordered Mike's Special....2 vegetarian rolls....got two very different and very delicious custom rolls....the most satifsfying experience I've ever had at a Japanese restaurant. Love the attention to detail made from chefs who obviously love what they are doing and the waiter made specific request if there was anything I didn't want or was allergic to. Love the Japanese chili that made it spicey. You pay a little more, but what you get is well worth it. Best value!
(5)
Matthew H.

Flavor is king at Tanoshii. Sushi Mike guides you through is menu with different levels of spice and lots of tangy sauces. Generally, the sushi is of a high quality and he brings in fresh Uni which is worth the price of admission. he has a passion for sushi and you can tell Moke doesnt cut corners when it comes to getting the best quality fish in the area. It doesnt quite get the fifth star because I have had sushi in Seattle and San Francisco which is the best in the country. But for a landlocked midwestern city like Chicago, Tanoshii is a great choice for Sushi.
(4)
Katie H.

I had been hearing rave reviews about Tanoshii for months, and finally decided to give it a try. GO THERE IMMEDIATELY. Every single other Yelp review mentions Sushi Mike's Special, but at the risk of redundancy, I'll echo everyone else: it's fantastic! We started with the "Fish and Chips" (for some reason it's not on the menu so ask your server): fresh diced tuna, avocado, onions and spices on a house-made chip. Delicious. For the maki, there were 4 in our group, and we ordered 4 rolls from Mike's Special, plus a few other simpler rolls and a couple pieces of nigiri. Everything was delicious, but Mike's concoctions were especially creative and flavorful. I don't even know what was in most of the rolls (except exceptionally fresh fish) but I loved them all, especially the one with Mike's homemade wasabi sauce and avocado. For atmosphere: it's BYOB and totally casual. Don't go here expecting a swank/trendy place like South Coast - go here for the food. I actually thought it was fun being sort of crammed into a corner, chatting with other patrons about the awesome sushi and the choice of music (we heard Michael Jackson, Madonna, Journey, and lots of 80's music... which I loved!). But if you're thinking of Tanoshii for a romantic date, you might be disappointed. Lots of other reviewers mention the prices, which yes, are slightly higher than your typical corner sushi spots - but totally worth it. Actually I don't think the price was any higher than Mirai or even Coast, depending on what you order there. Sushi Mike's Special rolls are $16-22, but are also way bigger with way more ingredients than your traditional spicy tuna. Bottom line: I can't wait to go back to Tanoshii!
(5)
Jess B.

If you're a regular at this place, you'll love it here. I've been here a couple times. Since going vegan I don't eat sushi anymore (Yes, vegetarians can eat sushi. Don't ask - they just can.) so it's an increasingly rare occasion that I find myself in a sushi restaurant, but Tanoshii is alright. That is, if you don't mind waiting 50 minutes on a Tuesday night in a half-full restaurant while the servers literally spoon feed glistening morsels of delectable shit into the mouths of the bourgeois lizard-faced regulars at the next table while you and your dining partner's stomachs and brains are searing with hatred because you've been waiting forever for a couple of Mike's rolls which are going to cost about as much as a black-market kidney and they could at least maybe fit those in amongst the sushi they're showering on the lizards and the other regulars at the bar. That said, where else can you say: "Bring us two delicious vegan sushi rolls!" and it works? Also, they were playing Steely Dan the whole time. I happen to have a sense of humor, and also I kind of like Steely Dan because my high school boyfriend made me listen to them all the time and I have sort of a pleasantly charred groove in my brain for those guys and so it was amusing to me but seriously STEELY DAN? You know that means vibrator in the 50's, right?
(3)
Candace D.

Sushi Mike isn't cheap, but it is unique and absolutely delicious! That is with a capital exclamation mark. A BYOB place (and do if you plan to order the Sushi Mike creation as these are truly works of art and take time so you'll enjoy sipping), the place is not fancy. But the food outstanding.
(5)
Abhishek M.

SO I now have a new favourite restaurant....sorry Las Tablas!! :) Tanoshii aka 'Sushi Mike' is in good ol' Andersonville, right across from the Jewel, which is nice considering this place is BYOB. We went to celeberate my roommate's b'day on a Monday evening. Although, there is a regular menu, we ended up getting the chef special rolls which Mike creates based on ingredients you specify. We ended up getting several special rolls including Spicy Tuna, White Tuna, Sea Bass & one with Mango & Unagi. They were all so good that I couldn't tell which I liked better. ;) We also got some sashimi and the fish was all so fresh! Other than the awesome food & the BYOB, Sushi Mike himself is very personable. He created a special b'day roll for my roommate and inturn we offered him some sake. Oh, and if you go on a weekday, say hello to Marc, referred to some as the 'Knob Creek' guy. The only con of this place....not the cheapest Sushi in town. We spent $125 on the 3 of us (tax, tip included).
(5)
Robert R.

Fantastic! Had Mike's Special and enjoyed every plate. Be forewarned that the plates add up quick and you could be in for a bit of sticker shock when the bill arrives! :-) New favorite place as I love great sushi just as much as I love the 80s.
(5)
Stacey P.

oooooooooooh the famous sushi mike and his custom made rolls, everyone talks about how great you are.... A bunch of us went out, 6 makes a bunch doesn't it? We all got "Mike's special" Welp, ONE was really good. It was kinda like a variation on a rainbow roll with some kick. There were 2 that were slightly enjoyable. and 3 that were pretty much not good. for 16-22 bucks each, NOT WORTH IT. Yeah, we spent between 20 and 30 bucks each (no drinks!) and had to go out to dinner AFTER going out to dinner to get full.
(3)
Kate L.

I enjoyed my rolls but overall, I dont think it was worth it. We ordered the chef's choice. Although the servers were relatively attentive, the chef was extremely slow. There were about 10-15 minutes between each roll that came out, rather than bringing them out all at once. There were 3 of us, we ordered 5 rolls and we were all still hungry because the rolls are so small. Even with the small rolls, our tab was over $40 each. I've eaten sushi just as good for less and felt full.
(3)
Stefanie P.

Meh. That's all I can say about Tanoshii. The Mike's special can be good, but for the price, it's not worth it. I could get a "special roll" where I know what's in it for at least $5 less somewhere else and have it taste just as good. The regular rolls were alright but there wasn't much selection, compared to other places I've been. Our server was really friendly, though, and gave us an on-the-house edamame when ours took too long. So they gain a star back for that. Overall, it wasn't mindblowing, but if someone else wanted to go I wouldn't refuse.
(3)
Sam C.

I have been here 5 times and have never seen a menu. The key to this place is to sit at the bar and just ask Mike or Chris to fill you up. He never disappoints!! If you ask what's in it...He'll say fish! LOVE IT!! He will change his rolls with the seasons for the freshest ingredients. He is truly an artist. Every time I have gone here I leave full and satisfied for around 50 bucks a head! It is well worth it!! I will be going back regularly.
(5)
Adam M.

Sometimes there's nothing I like more than a night out at a BYOB restaurant where you can eat, drink, and generally linger in the back of a restaurant until the servers and hosts are giving you the stink eye to give up your 10 person table already. Tanoshii earned a three star review from me because at no point did our boisterous table of BYOdrunken fools receive anything but excellent service. We were able to hang out until our wine-soaked hearts' desired. However! Part of the reason we were at dinner for so long was the wait for food was very long. Half of our party ordered the chef's maki special, which as other reviews have noted is basically telling the chef to make up a roll of his choosing. I was able to try each of the five "unique" rolls and they were ok, but each roll came out one at a time. It was so spread out that I was the last one served and the non-sushi eaters at the table had already received their dishes, eaten, and had their plates cleared before I had my first bite. Not cool. Clearly the chef was busy with other people and took his time with the rolls, so thankfully the server was attentive. If I'm paying that much and waiting that long for a sushi roll it better be damn good.
(3)
Nicolas H.

Sat at the sushi bar and brought some sake and beer. Upon opening the sake we poured some for us and one for the chef (who apparently wasn't "Sushi Mike", as he appeared to have his attention on the other side of the bar). That glass sat there until the very end of the meal at which point I literally pointed it out to the chef again, which he drank without so much of a thanks or cheers. Pretty much summed up our "service" for the night. As for the food, it was good, but not great. We started with the fish and chips which was definitely the best thing I ate. He packed on plenty of tasty tuna onto the large chip that was thick enough to withstand the heaping mound. For my meal I got the sushi-sashimi combo as I'm not a huge fan of "rolls". While the sushi tasted fresh enough, the chef didn't take the time to tell me what he chose for me so I still am not sure what everything was that I ate. My friend ordered the "Mike's Special" which consisted of two rolls. What was in/on them? No clue. When she asked he replied: Fish. I did taste both rolls which were fine, but I honestly couldn't tell you what was on them and what made them "special". Maybe it was an off night, or maybe we really needed to talk to Sushi Mike as what I experienced was far from special...
(3)
Michelle O.

The portion sizes are very small for the price. I didn't see any pictures on the menu so I had no idea what to expect. The food tastes good. I would just order the special because those rolls are a decent size. Be prepared to spend. The special rolls go between $16-$22. I won't be back any time soon. I was also expecting the chef to be super nice and outgoing. He didn't say a word the entire time I was there. I went on a Saturday night around 6PM. Not sure if it was because it wasn't happy hour or a weekday, but that's the original reason we came to the restaurant.
(2)
Jennifer L.

I love sushi and this was terrible. It gets 2 because I can't do 1.5. I don't know who this sushi mike guy is, but if he's so awesome, why can't he make a basic roll? I went on a saturday evening. You should come expecting a local BYOB hangout, where a caucasian crowd gathers to be adventurous and chat over glasses of whatever wine they brought. It's very friendly. But I came for dinner, which was the worst sushi I've had made to order. Easily. We ordered an appetizer, and four rolls coming out to ~$50 for two. Their card says it's "food for the senses". Here's what I sensed: The agadashi tofu, which should be japanese custard tofu lightly fried, was a regular tofu of medium firmness not at all silky or custard-like and they didn't even manage to make it lightly crunchy. Apparently they tried to make up for this by drenching it in sauce, which was the right sauce and made it tasty, but not worth it. (If you want to try custard tofu, Ken Kee makes it with vegetables, not agadashi style, but it's probably healthier and it's super tastey.) The rolls (alaskan, tempura roll and two other basic ones) were memorable only in their awkward skimpyness. The fish in the alaskan was thinner than my chopstick. Biting into the seaweed skin was a texture akin to biting into a soggy defrosted crab leg, it was rolled tightly and the way it poped and tore chewing was unpleasent. How can a sushi roll be tough? How?? With little filling aparently, I mean the fish to rice ratio was alright, but there was just so little of it. For the price, it was too little and too few (6 pieces the size of a knuckle). Perhaps they put so little raw fish in for sake of their patrons who may not be used to eating raw? I didn't order the made to order special after seing the poor quality of the basic rolls. The service was barely passable. I'm cutting them slack for being busy, and they did accomodate us when we requested a window seat. But the food took a while to come out, my tea was not refilled until I requested it when dinner was almost over and the waiter recommended one or two of the lackluster rolls. You will have fun if you want to make friends and nice-nice with the chefs at the sushi bar and bring a bottle. Being drunk would definitely help with the exprience. I'm assuming that's how it got so many 5 stars because I have never been more dissapointed by the texture and quality of japanese food. Dominicks has done better and that is a sad sad thing.
(1)
Marina K.

Did I really just pay $36 for two maki rolls? Yes, I didn't have much choice, I guess. Everyone raves about "Sushi Mike's" specialty rolls, but there's no description or prices on the menu. So, I told the server the types of fish I like and got back two "special creations." They were OK, and, I will have to admit, the sauces were the best part; there really was no need for soy sauce. But, after paying nearly $50 with tax and tip for two rolls and leaving hungry, I was pretty disappointed. The biggest insult was the sashimi platter, which my friend ordered. Again, nearly $40, a plate with a few tiny pieces of fish. To add to the insulting portions, one of the fishes was stringy and didn't taste fresh, and one was a tiny butterflied and flattened over-cooked shrimp. Since when are boiled shrimp considered sashimi?!? (A brief visual aid: if you've ever been unfortunate enough to have the sushi party tray from Costco, this exact shrimp is on there.) Just as an aside, I am used to very elaborate presentations in sashimi platters, with all kinds of pretty edible garnishes, like radishes, lemons, etc. This was just a few slices of fish slapped down on a plate. We had to go down the street for coffee and desert, and very large desert to make up for dinner.
(2)
Jessica F.

This experience almost requires two different reviews. Food and Experience. The Food: Absolutely amazing. I've never actually ordered anything off the menu, so I can only comment on what Mike has created. Count on one thing regarding the food: Tanoshii does not serve anything that isn't fresh and of high quality. I learned that I actually like uni (sea urchin) at this place because of how fresh it is. If it isn't good, Mike won't serve it. I recommend calling ahead to see what's good that day if you are craving something in particular. The quality of the sashimi is top notch. The rolls are fantastic. Creative, with delicious sauces and fish/vegetable/fruit combinations. The portions are very generous. I don't even know if they serve dessert there - I'm always stupidly full by the time we get that far! We've gotten takeout a couple of time and there is no loss of quality in the fish or the presentation. Excellent!! The Experience: It really depends on things such as the phase of the moon, the day of the week, and how busy things are. Our during the week experiences have all been excellent. Lots of personal attention to everyone there, no waiting, not to mention the best fish ever. Weekends are a bit different. Waits are longer, and it is definitely recommended to get reservations for an earlier time (before 7:30) if you want to sit at the bar, and if you are hungry. The atmosphere is louder and pretty funny. Everyone always remembers to bring an extra bottle of whatever the BYOB is for Mike, so once in a while it can get awkward if Mike is enjoying the B a bit too much. Regardless of speed of service or odd comments, the fish has always been the best. I also think the biggest unsung hero at Tanoshii is Chris. He is hilarious, extremely hard-working, and makes excellent rolls. This place is pricier than other casual spots, but we're in the mid-west and this is the best fish I've had consistently so far in Chicago.
(4)
Lawrence Y.

For a Sunday night, the restaurant was kind of empty, but the service was very attentive. The place was BYOB and we brought a bottle of wine -- which they took care of for us. (I think the corkage fee was like $4). We started off with edamame (which, I'm completely used to as being complimentary, but I digress), and that was fine. Of the sushi we had, I liked them all: dynamite, rainbow, and I think the last one we had was the red caterpillar. Whatever it was it was drenched in sriracha sauce which was a little overpowering over the sushi flavors, but still good.
(4)
Gina M.

Just went here on Friday night, came with two bottles of Champagne and it was a great time. Service is a little slow but the great tasting sushi made up for that. We went for the Mike's Special. Warning: if there is a certain ingredient you don't like, let them know. I hate cilantro and I didn't bother saying anything, but it was in 2 of our rolls. kind of a bummer, but my own fault. I really liked the atmosphere, in this smaller space you get a homier feeling, neighborhood-like. Sushi Mike makes the place pretty fun too cause you can tell he's having a great time. inside scoop: sushi mike LOVES blue moon, so if you bring some for him, he will treat you extra special!
(4)
J T.

1. Make a reservation to sit at the counter and bring some beer. 2. Have Mike make you a few rolls. 3. Eat. That's all folks.
(5)
Ethan H.

Warning: The Sushi Mike Special should not be used for casual sushi binges, california rolls, or "I want my sushi done my way." He's a sushi chef and an excellent one at that. Let him surprise you. Otherwise, have the dragon roll and leave satisfied. Jeremy and I went after he came back raving about Sushi Mike. I was skeptical - especially at a bill that was $50 a person. Seriously?? Can sushi be THAT good in Chicago? Yes. Yes it can. Sake in hand, Jeremy demanded we sit at the bar and converse with Mike. Best decision ever. For $50, Mike fed us (sometimes chopstick-fed us!) the best sushi I've ever had, hands down. When our sake ran out, he kept pouring us more (!). We never touched the soy sauce. We never needed wasabi. All we needed was to converse with Mike, to let him take care of us, and to enjoy the ride. All in all, we left 10 pounds heavier than we came. I've never eaten so much great sushi in my life. This was the first time I tasted dessert-like sushi or had sushi so delicate I was hand-fed. A few tips: - Be ready to have a relationship with your Sushi chef. - DON'T sit at a table for the Special. If Mike doesn't see you, he can't talk to you. If he can't talk to you, you'll get a roll or two. - Bring your own sake to start. Drink with Mike. Kompai. He's a great guy. - Let him choose your adventure. After all, he's the expert. - If you just want sushi, sit at a table and order a dragon roll.
(5)
James G.

Best, freshest sushi in town, hands down! Make a reservation to sit at the bar, and just let them feed you - it's worth it, the service is great.
(5)
Jennifer G.

This will probably be my most simple review because I really don't need to say much... This place has ruined every other sushi place for me! I live in the suburbs and am used to going to a couple places near where I live and work. I like those places a lot, but now I can't even bring myself to go when I have the sushi craving because I know it will be a disappointing experience since I'm not at Tanoshii. I've already brought a couple people here and I plan on bringing many more so they can taste the awesomeness... and also so I can try different rolls! I've ordered 1 roll of their menu and since the fish is fresh and ingredients good quality, it was still delicious- but Sushi Mike's creations blows anything out of the water! Go, and you will be recommending this place to everyone, I swear.
(5)
Scott D.

I've been to several sushi bars throughout Chicago and Tanoshii is the only place at which I've had a bad experience. I made reservations for 9pm and was not seated until 9.45pm. In addition, menus weren't distributed for another half-hour, which meant that we were being served during their closing hours. Also, the sushi chef's would not allow ANY alterations to rolls without labeling your order "Mike's Special" and charging $18 per roll (even for something as simple as requesting a cucumber roll served without avocado). Finally, when we attempted to dispute some charges on our bill, we were told to pay the bill in its entirety or he would CALL THE POLICE. I thought the owner exercised poor discretion in handling the situation as we politely attempted to discuss the charges with our server. Irrespective of the terrible service, the food was okay at best. For better sushi and better atmosphere, I recommend Indie Cafe. It has much better service, a greater menu selection, and more substantial rolls.
(1)
Hoof S.

Let me start by saying that we were VERY excited to go here. Great reviews it seemed, and I love sushi. We made a reservation at the bar for 9:30pm. Got there on time, but ended up waiting AN HOUR! to be seated. They brought edamame over but after sitting hungry for 60 minutes, the charm was gone. And our only wait was the obnoxious regulars that were boozing at the bar with their BYO whiskey bottles. Once we sat down, things did not improve. Mike is a tyrant with his sushi, and really... it was NOthing to write home about. Some dip-sushi appetizer and then a roll doused in sauce. By this time, it looked like most of the chefs were drunk. Our last one was a freakin' tuna roll with STRAWBERRY on it. It also had a fried tempura shell that he then proceeded to make soggy with truffle oil. WORST ROLL EVER. Honestly, worst experience ever. Oh yeah, and the total for said dip (2 big chips worth) and 2 of Mike's gross rolls? ..... $60. The only thing that made it stupider was Mike the sushi nazi telling people near us not to put soy sauce on his disgusting roll, and then him pulling all the other chefs and employees into the back to loudly berate them. The clientele made it worse. Drunk rejects hanging out pounding liquor like it was a freakin' dive bar. WILL NEVER RETURN and adamantly do not recommend! best of luck to those who do go.. But for me, paying $20 bucks a roll for that crowd and company, and that 'creativity' in sushi is NOT my bag.
(1)
Liz W.

Run - don't walk to Sushi Mikes as the locals call this place. I've been about a dozen times so I can call it that now I guess. The food is amazing, always always get the fish and chips. The food is delicious, soup to nuts and every wacky creation in between! The service is always impeccable, as far as sushi joints go! Not going to lie, it's expensive and I am petty sure they just upped their prices. I always go with the same person and we usually get the same amount of food with some variance in fish choice, but last weekend our bill seemed abnormally high. I think it's the best, freshest fish in the city!
(5)
Jonathan B.

Mike is the best. If you decide to eat there you MUST order the Sushi Mike Special - which means he makes you food and you eat it. No special ordering, absolutely no California Rolls and in exchange you get the most creative, tasty sushi you will find in Chicago for the price. Sit at the bar, crack a B.Y.O. beer and be patient because this is sushi to be savored.
(5)
J F.

You have to expect the unusual but also the best sushi you've ever had when you come to Tanoshii. I'm from Detroit, but I'm hoping to come here every time I'm in Chicago from now on. This is definitely not the "standard" sushi place. Their "specials" tasted amazing and were very unique in their own way. Let's take the "Italian" roll for example. One reviewer didn't like it. I think it's only because he's never had anything like it and should have opted for the cookie-cutter sushi selection, or, better yet, go to some cheap "standard" sushi restaurant. For me, the best part was not knowing what to expect with the next special. Our good local resident friend recommended this place and he's had sushi from all over the world and thought this is as good as it gets. My other friend, who's been to Japan and is also a sushi fan, commented that this is the most "gourmet", yet genuine sushi he's ever had.
(5)
Cristin M.

I've been wanting to visit Tanoshii for ages now, and I finally made it this past weekend. We got there really early on a Saturday evening, and the place was nearly empty. There was a couple sitting at the sushi bar and a small group who came in and ordered several rolls to go. By the time we left, it was still empty, but several tables have "reserved" signs on them for later on in the evening. We decided to dive in and order three rolls, but let Mike decide what exactly there were going to be. We specified tuna, unagi, salmon, seasonal fruits (no mango that day), medium spicy, and no cilantro (we had a cilantro hater in the bunch). We were asked if there were any food allergies, and then off to fate. I wasn't disappointed with our first to rolls (sorry, I don't remember the names) - unagi with shrimp and avocado and the other was salmon with Asian pear. The unagi roll was really flavorful and bold, whereas the salmon roll was more delicate, letting the Asian pear flavor come through. I would order either one again. Our third roll was more like "frushi". It was made with cucumber, with fresh strawberry slices and raspberry sauce. There was probably something else going on there, but I honestly couldn't notice it. That was probably the most disappointing. While it was good, I would have rather have had something that was rice and fish/seafood based. Hence, the reason for my three stars. We also ordered the pan fried gyoza, which was pretty tasty, but then again, I've never had bad gyoza. The service was helpful and friendly. The prices are a little high. I'm not sure how much their rolls are if you build them yourself, I didn't even look at the order sheet. I'd be willing to go back, without hesitation, if I didn't mind parting with about $25 and walking out not stuffed full of sushi.
(3)
Marc W.

I went to Tanoshi b/c my regular place (Tampopo) was closed and the guys at In Fine Spirits recommended it. This is not your normal sushi place. I was told to order off the menu which is what I did. I also ordered my meal take out which avoided all the service issues that seems to have plagued other reviewers. My first impression is that Sushi Mike is a very talented, gifted, passionate and inventive sushi chef. He really cares about what he does and avoids the normal sushi dishes like the plague. I asked him for a Mike special and I had never seen any of it before. All very innovative. I liked all of it except the one that had some oregano/rosemary. That one dish was just not to my taste but I liked the rest. It wasnt cheap though. All that innovation costs money. I would say, go here if you want a new sushi experience and are willing to pay for it.
(3)
Tom M.

Mike is a-ok. We let him pick and choose and he did not disappoint. We finally had to ask him to stop, as we were all full and satisfied.
(4)
Agnes O.

The fish was great, sushi pricing bit on a higher end for rolls - I guess that might be the novelty factor (not knowing what you will get - Mike's Special). I like my rolls spicy and I've asked twice to increase the level of heat but I guess the chef ignored my request. It did take quite some time to get our order. It's a byob so that's a big plus and street parking was plenty available. Overall it was a good experience, the quality of fish is great and you will get variety of different rolls that perhaps you won't find somewhere else. Having said that, I prefer my sushi with a little more punch so probably won't be back.
(3)
Brandon W.

'Scuse me Govna, Id like some of your fancy "Fish 'N Chips". That Mike sounds like one chap that can make a good plate of "Fish 'N Chips" like I got over seas. Waiting........... Excuse me, this isnt "Fish 'N Chips", this is various articles of foody goodness on an actually crispy delicious.... Oh who cares, it was awesome! Mind blowingly awesome.. mouthwateringly awesome, tastebudsfallingoutofyourmouthcausetherewasaflavorÂexplosion awesome... I'm not even going to describe it. I will just say, if you like sushi, there is NO reason why you would even THINK about passing on this dish, get it, eat it, die happy. Next, we ordered a MIKES SPECIAL - which consisted of my girlfriend and I rambling to the waitress about what we like and dont like.. then about 10 minutes later... like a karate kick to the face, more flavorful explosions were destroying my mouth - and I couldnt even tell you exactly what was in it! 'Cept some avocado, and I think Shrimp Tempura... Anyway, the pricing isnt bad on their standard rolls, really decent actually - and none of the ones we tried were anything less then excellent. The "Mikes Special" runs a little higher in price, but is also a much larger roll then a standard roll and is well worth the money you will pay for it. Sushi here is a treat, so treat it as such... ..and the BYOB doesnt hurt either.
(4)
MarBear F.

Sushi Mike rocks. The specialty rolls are a little $$, but they are delicious and the BYO helps. The Italian roll is one of my favorites, and just try to not devour the fish & chips appetizer. I also loved a tasty mango one he made. The 80's music playing in the background doesn't hurt either.
(4)
A C.

OMG Sushi Mike is a genius! I have eaten a lot of great food, but this was the best food I've ever had in my life! Super good! Who would've thought? Edgewater... He made this one roll he called sushi bruscheta that had a strawberry slice, raw salmon and sun dried tomatoes with truffle oil. Sounds weird, but OMG it was sooo good! I am shocked that there aren't more stellar reviews on here. It was on the expensive side, but well worth it.
(5)
Sara P.

I really loved this place. I went here on a Saturday night with a group of five. We got tempura as an appetizer and also got six chef mike's specials. They were all really delicious! I loved each one. They were not bland, and all had interesting aspects. I loved a chips and fish/tomato mash (I know it's not called that, but trust me, it's great.) It is a bit pricey, but I felt like my money was well spent. Service was good, they always were refilling my water and the timing of all the food was good. I liked the music too!
(5)
Bianca S.

I'm a member of a monthly dinner club, we each have a month and a letter. Mine was T. I've never been so happy for the letter T, I should join Seasame Street. On the recommendation of a co-worker I chose Tanoshii. All the reviews are not lying when they say Mike knows his stuff. Even down to telling us not to use silverware on the sushi as it changes the flavor and which rolls to dip in soy sauce and which ones to not so you get the full flavor. We ordered a mix of rolls. The catipillar was by far my favorite. We ordered 2 of his specialty rolls that were amazing! One was white fish the other was salmon. I will definitely be going back for more sushi at Tanoshii
(4)
Stefanie L.

YIKES! This place was terrible on so many levels!!! I was stoked to go because all the reviews from friends have been great! I ordered the sushi/sashimi platter. The salad and soup came out within 5 minutes. It took over an hour to serve the platter!!!! OVER AN HOUR!!! People at our table were served at different times (some 20 minutes after ordering...others over an hour after ordering) came out and was quite possibly the worst platter I have had in my whole life! The cuts of were cut FAR TOO THINK (such that I was unable to even chew a few pieces). Never in my life have I had that experience with any fish! So, all together, terrible service (the waitress didn't even know the difference between caterpillar and dragon rolls, which someone else had ordered) not to mention the OVER HOUR wait for my platter, and, most importantly, horribly prepared fish!
(1)
Jackie P.

Since I was recently named both "Maki Princess" and also "Sushi Loving Loud Mouth" I figured I might as well live up to the titles and so here is yet another review from this Maki Princess - Sushi Loving Loud Mouth! After leaving Tanoshii tonight I can say without a doubt I have no idea what all the hype is about. I left with a very so so feeling of this place and that's really sad because I really love my sushi. Here's the reasons I wouldn't travel to Andersonville again to eat at Tanoshii. 1. The service is really slow. They move at a snails pace here. Our server Paul was super nice about everything and believe me my dining companion and I threw a lot at him. So props to Paul but really when a table orders an appetizer it should come before the actual meal. 2. We did get our appetizer finally (see above) but it was not as the menu described and was not very good. Note to self do not order the gyoza here. Just don't do it. I felt bad about sending it back since they forgot about at the beginning of our meal but bad food is bad food. 3. The rolls are pretty good. But they are filled with a lot of rice. I like my fish thick (see my review of Bentonara) and I like my fillings full and not just full of rice. Also the rolls or sorta sloppy. They easily fall apart and unroll. 4. I will not pay $8.00 for a California roll when it's made with Krab not crab. Sorry try again. 5. Speaking of pricing. The pricing here is decent but some rolls are a lot more expensive than others. Again $13 for a roll with Krab stick and salmon only isn't going to cut it. So there you have it the low down on Tanoshii from the Maki Princess - Sushi Loving Loud Mouth! Stay tuned my friends.
(3)
Katie T.

Andersonville roll! Caterpillar roll! Dragon roll! = so good. Steamed shu mai! Tempura! Green tea! Oh my!
(5)
Leang E.

It's not bad for a place out in Andersonville. My friend and I came here to celebrate, and it was a very chill place. We didn't sit up at the bar where the chefs are pretty personable, and opted for a more private conversation. We did try one of Chef Mike's creative rolls amongst many others. They were pretty tasty, but not as mouth watering as some of the other sushi I've had at other places. The prices are pretty competitive to other sushi joints, and our waiter was okay. I do wish that I brought some wine since it's BYOB, but maybe next time. It's good to know of another place where I can do sushi take-out.
(4)
Anne B.

Love it! Did the Mike's specials & loved every roll. I will definitely be back
(4)
ken q.

Just the first steps inside the bustling restaurant, I couldn't help but notice a good vibe. It was packed with people and smiles. With so many sushi bars in Chicago filled with flash and modernity, there was a refreshing simplicity to Tanoshii. Fortunately, I made a reservation - otherwise I probably wouldn't have been seated. The BYOB is obviously a huge plus. Its nice to enjoy your meal and not worry about running up a bar tab on the side. Just a bottle of white wine will do. The food was moderate, borderline great. I recommend their Edamame to kick things off - nice and hot with the right amount of salt. Probably the best I've had in town. The sushi was good - but nothing that made you leave blown away. The big issue I had was the service. There really isn't a wait staff - just a roaming host. I wanted to order and additional sushi roll but he mentioned that I would have to wait 40 minutes for it. Obviously, not worth the wait. I give Tanoshii three stars because of the sub-par service, great BYOB atmosphere and so-so food.
(3)
Tony D.

Well... my buddy is super stoked about this place, and believes in Mike- went last week and I was less than impressed. While I appreciate the creative inventions of the rolls- I wonder if it's really just an ideal way for them to sell the fish that hasn't sold that week. Well, we put the trust in Mike's hands for a few rolls and tried the "famous" fish n' chips. It was more like ceviche meets guacamole- wasn't bad, but just didn't dig on the presentation and wasn't wowed. This place is way outta my budget- granted, i'm used to throwing down some $ on sushi, but at $22 a roll, I'll pass. I also don't live in this neighborhood, so it's unlikely I'll return. Even with the BYOB aspect, it still comes out on the expensive side. Last rant: service wasn't very good either...
(2)
Joe L.

Fantastic sushi, get the Chef's Special. A little pricey, but the food is amazing.
(5)
Julie B.

Tanoshii and Sushi Mike will give you an incredible experience. A friend took me here last night, we sat at the sushi bar and said please just order the Chef's Special - what does that mean you ask? That Sushi Mike will come by and ask you what you like and dislike then will create a tantilizing sushi experience. You don't know what will come next but trust me - you will love it and want more! Low key BYOB and reasonably priced - please visit Sushi Mike!
(4)
Steven M.

I must have gotten served something different from everyone else, because this place kinda sucks. The Mike's special that everyone raved about, tasted and looked as though it had italian salad dressing on it? I felt as though I was at a Japanese Olive Garden. Of course we had 6 of his rolls. The salmon was ok. But everything was very bland. To much fruit? And when we got the bill, I thought we broke a window. 6 rolls 2 app's and we get charged 8 buck's to bring our own wine. At a total of a 165 dollars. Are you F%#@ing kidding me. I wouldn't come back here if they started serving salad and bread sticks.
(1)
Matt M.

This place has a schtick and that's it. The sushi is fine. Not all that fresh. Not at all that inventive. Sort of over-priced. Unfriendly. Basically, if you like getting chicken while watching people joust, or if you like your pizza with a steady dose of whack-a-mole, and if you consider that good chicken or good pizza instead of just an interesting experience, then you will love this place. But the jousting is at least interesting and whack-a-mole is fun. The sushi chefs here do not make anything interesting. Well, I suppose if "tuna" is exotic for you, and "spicy sauce" blows you away, then you will love it. This place just isn't very good and I do not understand the rave reviews. Then again, it seems that they are playing for a mass audience so that might explain it. Maybe it once was good when sushi was more uncommon and they could fleece the unsuspecting Americanized palette, but not any more. I would skip this place. But that's just me. It's a free country. Go if you want.
(2)
Ross W.

Best. Sushi. Ever.
(5)
Amy D.

ehh. The rolls were unimpressive and I HATE when sushi joints say they have crabmeat when they really use a CRABSTICK. That already lost two stars already. The Mike Special roll was interesting but it wasn't amazing like everyone said so that lost another star. The service was great and it's BYOB so I'm settling on 2 stars. Side note. Everyone speaks Korean. My boyfriend overheard (very easily as they were yelling it across the tiny restaurant) that they were ordered a summons that day and that the owner was an ass to one of his employees. Maybe they should realize some people speak the same language as the staff and try to act professional in all languages in front of guests.
(2)
Stephen D.

There's one thing to remember. Sushi Mike = The Man Now, here's the deal for you guys. I've followed Sushi Mike for a few years through a few different restaurants (I'm something of a groupie) and I've watched his sushi get better and better. . . He is a true artist. . .If Sushi making had a Jackson Pollack complete with bursts of creativity and mania. . .his name is Sushi Mike. Gassho.
(5)
Claire S.

Have only gotten take out from this spot, but have really enjoyed it! I am a fan of the Kamikaze makimono (spicy tuna, crab meat, cucumber, lettuce). I would like to dine-in at some point for a different experience.
(4)
Dina D.

Katsu, my ass! That place was so rude, we left and went to Tanoshii instead. I don't eat sushi. Well, the raw stuff...makes me wanna puke in my mouth a little. But I have a new found love for veggie rolls. I love avocado, cucumber, cream cheese rolls. There was not a roll like that on the menu but I asked Mike, head "chef", to see what he could do and he said "no problem." What ended up on my plate was a delicious, super-creative, avocado, cucumber, cream cheese roll lightly topped with a peanut-y sauce in the shape of catepillar! It even had eyes! It looked just like the kind of catepillar Brittany Bechtold put in my hair when I was 7...except, this one, I wanted to eat it, not scream... It's BYOB and they played the strangest, most awesome music ever...song list included, but was not limited to "Billie Jean," "Rock me, Amedeus," and "Rock Me Like a Hurricane." Tanoshii definitely rocked me without rocking my wallet like Katsu would've... Ah! A catepillar! I mean, mmm...a catepillar!
(4)
Holly M.

Urg...just...not good. I had been living down the street from this place for about a year and finally got the opportunity to go with my roommate. We sat down and ordered and everything seemed to be going well. Our miso soups came out two minutes after we ordered them and our water was constantly being re-filled. However, after we ordered our sushi...and after our third refill of water, the rest of the night crashed and burned. When one of the waitresses came to refill our water, chunks of..something came out with it. My roommate received a water with a long--I can only assume--booger in it. My water had a few pieces of mucus in it, too. 10 minutes passed, then 20, and finally at the half hour mark, one plate of sushi came out. I devoured my little sushi roll and my roommate waited to eat his since I still hadn't gotten the rest of my food. Still hungry and waiting for more, I almost fell asleep at the table as we had to wait another 20 minutes for the rest of the food to be brought out. After the OK sushi, we waited yet another 15 minutes for the bill and had to send it back since edamame had been added to our order and not the miso soups. For the quality of food (and water), it's extremely overpriced. And honestly, I just really didn't like having my order come in segments over an hour and 45 minutes in an un-crowded restaurant. Somehow the most truthful reviews got filtered out down below. And obviously, from every other review on here, you only get good service if you're buddy-buddy with the head chef. My roommate and I ended up stopping over at Hamburger Mary's afterwards since we were still hungry.
(1)
Eric R.

My wife and I explored Tanoshii for the first time last night and became big fans. I can see how this place would get busy on the weekends as it was pretty packed on a Thursday. We had a little trouble getting served at first, but once the waiter actually took our order he was quite attentive. We started with an appetizer course of the fried tofu and the soft shell crab. The tofu wasn't really to my liking...I found it mushy and kind of bland. However, the soft shell crab was delicious and I'd definitely order it again. We then had the sashimi platter. Absolutely delicious fresh fish, and large pieces of it! Really filling for the both of us (we split one order). Even the octopus, which I'm never a fan of due to texture, was really nicely done. I'd gladly come back with friends and recommend it to anyone!
(4)
Moyah M.

Fantastic and wonderful. He has ruined me for sushi anywhere else. Service- amazing and attentive. It's byob and that's amazing in itself. The food is incredible. Do not order off of the menu and let Sushi Mike do his "magic". Make sure if you byob grab something for Mike too.
(5)
Ile F.

why doesn't this place have 5 starts. one of the greatest dining experiences i had. ever. food was amazing. the chef just wowed us with whatever he picked, he made us feel welcome, so comfortable. we left with a smile. It was worth every penny, we will definitely be back as soon as we can! Loved it! loved it loved it. please go.
(5)
professorsmarty z.

I decided to visit Tanoshii because it's just down the street from my house and because I heard how the sushi is "artful" and "unique." All I can say after going there is I overpaid for the sushi and that the service was horrendous. First off, the chef took forever to bring out our order. When he did, he gave us only 2 eating plates even though we had three people. Since our waitress mysteriously disappeared, we said to this guy, "Can we get a plate?" Instead of saying, "Of course, I'll get your waitress right away," he told us sarcastically, "Hold your horses! Relax!" I was pretty incensed by his attitude and when we asked the waitress about it when she got back she apologized and said that that was the owner and that perhaps he mistook our request for a plate as another plate of sushi. But even if we did ask for another plate, it doesn't give him the right to give us the brush off, especially since he OWNS the establishment! It's as if he didn't want us there at all. The sushi wasn't anything spectacular and I went home angry that I paid good money for terrible service. Take your hard earned money else where. This "Chef Mike" doesn't seem to care whether you spend it at his restaurant or not.
(1)
Chris B.

Very awesome sushi, and I don't go for sushi very often. But Mike's special is very good, a little pricey though so bring friends. The only other thing I noticed was I went twice, and thinking the Mike's special would be different, was very excited. But as the plates started arriving they were the same dishes as the first time I went. Still really good, and very creative, but would be nice to have something different each time. The place is also great because it's BYOB, and of course I love that! Also they take reservations, which is great, even if you think you won't need them, it's always nice to have.
(4)
Patrick F.

Hopefully you are reading this from the awesome virtual consierge stand at Hotel Felix. This was the most unique and best tasting sushi experience I've had. We picked this place at random and because you could BYOB and they offered "custom rolls." When we got there, it was much smaller than we expected... and quaint environment. We sat at the bar of course. I always think that is the best idea... you get to watch an artist make your food. Very entertaining. We started with the fish & chips which was a unique version of ceviche. Of course then it was on to the rolls. I told him I liked escolar, and tempura flakes, and some spice... He whipped up 2 different rolls that were delicious. This was some of the freshest sushi I've ever had. The next roll was my girlfriend's request... she said, "Strawberries" and there ya go... another truly delicious roll. We were on vacation out of Austin, TX and took the train up to get to this place. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Heather B.

This place is delicious and well worth the price. Plus it's BYOB! When my friend suggested and I looked at the menu online, I was a little confused. I wasn't aware of the sushi mike option. Sushi Mike took our likes/dislikes into good consideration and the end result was perfect. Love this place and will definitely return and recommend!
(5)
Polly W.

The Best Custom Sushi hands down! I go regularly and recommend them to everyone!
(5)
Boon K.

I'm glad there is good sushi near by when I am having a craving. It is not cheap but the funny part is you never get the same experience. Everyone comes here for the Mike's special, you either tell them what you like or what you dislike and he is make you a roll especially for you. I got a spicy scallop hand roll but his version a lettuce wrap full of scallops, spicy, with a touch of sesame oil. The other roll had white tuna, strawberry, and used a soy wrapper. It was pretty pricey but worth trying.
(3)
Sami A.

Well it's more like 3.5 *s due to the BYO & 80s music. I really really really wanted to LOVE Tanoshii because so many of my friends have recommended it as the place to go to. Servers were friendly. Seemed like a lively environment but it wasn't what I had hoped for. The first thing I saw on the menu was the "Mike Special" and like many others have explained, it's a way for the chef to get creative with all sorts of out-of-the-box rolls. I thought that it would be well worth the $20 for each roll if they're as good as I've heard. Server comes over and I tell him that it's my 1st time there so I'm going to go for the Mike special. Before I tell him what I usually like he tells me that it might be easier if I tell him what I don't like. Fair enough, I don't like squid and no fruit on one of the rolls. I wanted to give the chef complete creative control. Some time later I get a shrimp roll with strawberries and salsa like paste which was just fine. Nothing spectacular. What I just didn't understand is the 2nd roll that was salmon/shrimp from inside and super white tuna on the outside and drizzled with something overly oily. Really? I tell you I'll take about anything and you give me a salmon/tuna roll? sighs. I left the place underwhelmed and hungry. I might go there one more time if I happen to be close to it to see if I went on a bad night.
(3)
Michael B.

The first time I went here, it was a complete accident. My friend and I happened to be in the neighborhood, so we stopped in- and I'm eternally grateful that we did. By far, some of the best sushi I've had in the midwest. Sushi Mike took care of us, and we let him craft our dinner. Sheer brilliance in his sauce construction, and what isn't perfect, is made up for in reasonable pricing, good service, and BYOB. This is my first stop for sushi!
(4)
Michael H.

Small Place, standard sushi bar and maybe 15 tables.. Very fresh different roll creations. You kinda just tell the chef Spicy and get the job done... He brought out like 10 different rolls and 9/10 were great!! Fairly priced as the bill was like $150 for 5 people. It's BYOB and tends to get crowded on the weekends like everything else..
(4)
KELLIE K.

Ow. The next time you see me, ask to see the bruises on my shins. Why? Because I've been repeatedly kicking myself for not getting here sooner. Ow. See? Trust Chef Mike to tantalize your taste buds with a meal you won't experience anywhere else. Introducing, the Sushi Mike's Special. I'd tell you in greater detail about it, but chances are it's unique enough that you may never see the exact same dishes. That's the point. I have my favorites, you have yours. Spill the beans to Chef and you'll be in for a treat. No, make that adventure. There are only three things you need to know about this before you depart. The first is that I dig a cook like Sushi Mike that doesn't play by the rules (except his own, "Don't use soy sauce."), so don't expect boring. How about some rosemary with that fish? Or ceviche with a Japanese flair? Chef's pairings nearly blew my mind. At the conclusion of our most recent dinner, we were complimented with a mango dessert topped with a raspberry sauce rolling in hints of honey balsamic vinegar. Beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, of course. The second thing you need to know is that Tanoshii is BYOB. Sharing with your chef is courteous and welcomed. While you're daydreaming about the fantastic creations in store for you, call ahead and make a reservation. You don't want to have to wait any longer than necessary. For the prime experience, be sure to sit at the bar on Mike's side. This, kiddos, is true food immersion. And the last thing you need to know? Don't plan on it being a budget-friendly outing. You're paying for quality. Save your pennies now or quit being squeamish when you open the bill. To the less adventurous: yes, you can order off the menu. The usual standards look like they're prepared just as well, and I'm sure they'll do the trick for you. Though, when you go to Tanoshii, you should get in there and let your taste buds live a little.
(4)
Catticut P.

Ohhhh Tanoshii. What a samurai-sharp stab in the heart you can be. Our first meeting was so impressive, every mouthful a revelation. The second time, third...your service really let you down. Last night we took some out-of-town friends here, to prove to them that, yes, The Midwest can do sushi. The night before we'd been to Girl & the Goat (we were seriously treating ourselves this weekend), so we were even willing to be lenient. We knew what we wanted, and you left us disappointed. Sushi is the ultimate happy food. But we left Tanoshii angry. We were still angry the next morning, too. A friend ordered a vegetarian roll - which I'd previously tasted, and raved about. We asked for three rolls between us (we were a group of 6), and our chef told us that we could all share one. We insisted that we'd like three, but he chose to ignore that. As rolls were being prepared (slowly, because our chef was favouring a couple at the end of the bench, who were obviously regulars), I saw/smelled oregano - and hoped to God that that roll wasn't for us, as I'd tried their 'Italian roll' before and really, really didn't like it. It was for us. I really, really didn't like it. But we still ended up paying $18 for it, because that's what the chef decided we should have. We watched another roll being prepared - it was gorgeous, so we asked if we could have two of those for our group. Again, we were told we could share one roll, and again, I missed out on the sushi I actually wanted to eat. My bestie was served the 'fish and chips' (tartae on crackers) - but the chef distributed these amongst our table, even though it was her $22 order. Basically, you had no choice if you wanted to share or not, but you were stuck with the bill regardless. And the chips were cold and soggy by the time it got to serving. Listen, the chefs here are artists - truly - and the sushi is very good - if you get what you ask for. I appreciate that the chefs want to display their talents and flair with what they have, but my friends (and I) felt somewhat scammed - were they using it as an excuse to even out their produce? Were they flat-out ignoring what we wanted out of some sushi-chef-genius-arrogance? I know, first world problems - but I'm pretty freaking serious about my sushi, especially when it's such a pricey investment in pleasure. We carefully tallied our cheque between the six of us on the bill as advised, but the bill was still split three ways - and no offer to recalculate. Basically, this place is all about what they want you to have/do, and you have little say in it. Such a shame, because I know the sushi here is amazing. The service/attitude is not. Not at all. We've given Tanoshii several tries, but not again will we fork out $80 (per couple) on food we didn't want.
(2)
Amy J.

I came here for a friend's birthday dinner, and we had a group of 6 on a Friday night at 7:30. We did a series of surprise plates, and not one left us disappointed! I was a little surprised to see strawberry on sushi, but it worked. We took advantage of BYOB and had 3 bottles of wine, and for the birthday boy they brought out some Mochi ice cream. It was my first time trying and it wasn't bad! I gave this place 5 stars for the following reasons: 1) Great ambiance - nothing fancy, but it was a hole in the wall spot for locals - and we could have a conversation with a well lit room. 2) Fish was FRESH. In terms of freshness, this was some of the freshest sushi I've had in Chicago. Spice was spot on without overpowering the rolls. 3) Price is worth it. I can't afford to go here every time I want sushi, but if you want a memorable sushi night this is the place to go. We weren't sitting at the sushi bar but watching the folks who were, they were having a blast and a great time with Mike dishing up rolls and Sake. The experience should be about more than just the food - it should come from somewhere you know that it means something to the establishment to be serving you! For a table of 4 our bill was about $150 for approximately 6 rolls and edamame.
(5)
Alec B.

Tanoshii is hands down my favorite sushi in the city. We went here a few weeks ago for my birthday, and not only did all in attendance like me considerably more after than before, but one person who came with was converted from a sushi naysayer to an addict. Feel free to order off the menu, but bear in mind that it is pointless. You want to order fish and chips, and 1 sushi mike special per person. Then desert. Then maybe another special to fill in the corners. And try to get the one with the seasoned olive oil drizzled on top, sweet Christ is it good.
(5)
Lisa W.

Love Love Love this place! Sushi Mike Rocks! I've been going here for years and have never ordered off the menu. We just tell the waiter/waitress that we'll take whatever Sushi Mike wants to make and he always comes up with such delicious creations. The Sushi creations are so unique that you can't get them at any other Sushi place. That is what makes Tanoshii such a fun, unique place. I've also had several parties here with 10-15 people in the back room and they are always so accommodating with great service! It's BYOB so we always take full advantage and we never feel like they are rushing us out. The service is great and if you stay late enough, Sushi Mike might even come out and do a Saki Bomb with you. And order the Fish and Chips as an appetizer. It's so yummy!!
(5)
Julie H.

I had high hopes for Tanoshii based on other Yelp reviews but my friend and I were not impressed. The quality of the sushi was very mediocre. Both of us found scales in a piece of our sushi. I've never found that in any other sushi place. Plus, there was some kind of creepy crawly walking up the wall near our table. There's too much good sushi around to settle for this.
(2)
Jessica B.

bleh. I went here with my fiance and we were just awfully disappointed. We eat sushi an awful lot, so I can say that it's NOT because I don't know what good sushi is supposed to taste like, or what the price for good sushi is. I've read some of the other reviews that say the fish was fresh. I don't know what that means to you. I'm going to have to agree with the yelper who said that the shrimp looks like it's from a platter you can get from some grocery store. It's plastic-looking and chewy. I don't understand why people rave about the flavor. WHAT FLAVOR? The flavor of the sauce that they DROWN everything in? It all tasted the same! I want to savor the taste of my fish, not struggle to get through the sauce! There was so much rice in the roll, I couldn't tell where my fish was. I actually thought they gave me the wrong thing. This poor place is O-V-E-R-P-R-I-C-E-D for what it is. We spent about $120 without drinks- that's kind of a lot!! - and still had to eat dinner later, because our hunger was not satisfied. I'm going to save my complaints on the service and decor, you can figure that out for yourself, maybe it's a matter of taste. I can honestly say you should save your money and make the trip up to the Indie Cafe at 5951 N Broadway. It's close enough. I was so sad, this place is 100 feet from my place and I wanted it to be good. I still feel a tinge of bitterness every time I walk by it. boo.
(1)
Nez A.

Definitely pricey, definitely worth it.
(5)
Bharat W.

A coworker of mine and a friend had been asking me to go to Tanoshi for a year. Let me add that he is one of handful of people that I absolutely trust with food recommendations. He also went to culinary school which is a plus. I digress. So finally we set foot at Tanoshii a few weeks ago. The place is very unassuming and not memorable from a setup standpoint. I was beginning to question the effort upon arrival. The friendly staff sat us and I should add they are very friendly across the board which is really important to my dining experience. We started with a fresh seafood Ceviche type appetizer that our server deliberately placed on a wafer. One bite and I was blown away. This was one of the most fresh tasting appetizer I have had. Think of the refreshing taste of freshly prepared guacamole. This really bolstered my confidence in the place and set the tone. Our server recommended to go with Mike's custom rolls instead of the usual dragon, caterpillar, etc options. The customization involves being as brief as "I/we like spicy food" to as specific as "allergic to shellfish, like salmon, don't like my sushi fried, big fan of mayo, hate cilantro and dairy" you get the idea. Boy were we in for a treat! The next 4 rolls kept coming in customized to our general requests and they just blew us away. One I recall was torched, had melted cheese inside and drizzled with olive oil and oregano on top. This should give you an idea of Sushi Mike's creativity. At one point tears start to well up in my eyes, a very remarkable first. I have never had tears of joy stream because of delicious food, and trust me I have had some great tasting food, I kind of live for it. We concluded with a dessert that was also customized and not on the menu made with fish, spectacular. So Sushi Mike, thanks for opening Tanoshi and hands down unseat my favorite Chicago sushi restaurant MIrai and Nobu in Miami. Sushi wabi, Tank, Coast, Arami, and all the other great spots are going to take the backseat for now.
(5)
Jeffrey K.

Tanoshii is not an ordinary Chicago sushi spot. If you are looking for mass quantities of the usual rolls that are slathered in mayo to drown the dubious fish and want to eat quckly, go somewhere else. More room for me! However, if you are looking for a different spin and want to explore then try Tanoshii. The owner and chef, Mike, is truly a sushi virtuoso and he makes a symphony in your mouth with some of the most unexpected and delightful flavors. Being there is like being blindfolded and taken into a bedroom, you have to trust the other person and your heart may skip a beat, but Mike is worth the leap of faith so be brave and try something new. Once you order, relax and enjoy the process and have a true sensory experience like fine dining should be. When the sushi arrives, slow down, be aware of what is on the plate, how it looks, how it smells and then savor each piece. For best results go early or on an off night and sit at the bar so you can chat with Mike or his minions. The waitsfaff are typically non-entities and can be hit or miss but it's really all about Mike and what's cooking in that wonderfully creative brain that matters. Also, it's BYOB, light wine, beer, and cider pair really nicely.
(4)
Zaven K.

My seemingly unending search for a good go-to sushi spot entangled me in the web of Sushi Mike this evening. I had seen the "Check Please" piece about this place some years ago, and had heard other people mention it in passing, with breathless raves about how great it was. Today, I decided it was time to see what all the hubbub was about. Upon sitting at the bar, which I always like to do at a sushi establishment, Mike proceeded to ask if this was my first time there. I admitted it was and he proceeded to deliver an oral Curriculum Vitae of all the TV appearances, write ups and accolades he has had over the years, celebrating his superior sushi. By the time he finished, I was ready to leave. This all seemed pretentious and un-nescessary. If I'm in your restaurant, you don't need to sell me on your product. I'm there. I'm sitting down. Ive committed, for better or worse, to whatever you're preparing to serve me. By the time Mike's pre-meal infomercial ended and I was contemplating heading down the street to Ora.I decided to go ahead and see if Mike could put his sushi where his mouth was, and went with the Chefs Choice "Omakase" menu. The first course was what Mike called "Fish and Chips". This bore no resemblance to the British dish of the same name. Tuna. Tobiko. Diced tomato. Avocado. Green Onion. All formed in layers in a ring mold, which he presented to us in the center of a large round white plate. He then removed the mold, and proceeded to mash everything together with a fork. His assistant then arrived with the "Chip" component: A toasted flour tortilla, cut into a triangle. Mike then scooped the mashed fish onto the chip and asked me to hold out my hand, and presented it to me. I bit into it. It was good. Essentially a fresh version of a ceviche, without an acid component. But anyone expecting Sushi would be disappointed...this was not sushi. The Tortilla was bland, basically being a delivery system for the topping. Next, three Maki rolls in succession, all of them essentially the same. Tuna and/or Super-white tuna (escolar) and/or Hamachi with Avocado, Rice, wrapped in Mame-Nori, which is soy-based wrapping paper, used in place of traditional Seaweed Nori. I asked Mike about this. He said he prefered not to use traditional Nori, as it gets chewy. One of the rolls had Crab Sticks inside. All three tasted essentially the same. However, each roll had a different kind of sauce on top. I need to back up here and mention that Mike had expressly forbidden us from using the Soy Sauce that was on the table if we decided to go with his Omakase menu. The Soy Sauce only serves to mask the off-flavors of other, inferior sushi places' fish, he insisted. So you will imagine my surprise when I was presented with three rolls all with generous portions of various kinds of sauce slathered on top! The first was what Mike said was "Real Wasabi". Dark brown in color, and not nearly as pungent as the fake horseradish version most Americans are accustomed to. It was good, not great. Somewhat earthy, and oily. I asked Mike what else was in it, and he looked at me and smiled and just said "I have 30-40 different oils and vinegars and other sauce components that I use for my Sauces. I have a 30 year old Balsamic! I have Truffle Oil! I have Truffle Honey!" He said, with a cheshire-cat grin and a knowing glint in his eyes, expecting me to be impressed by this. I was not impressed. If I wanted Truffle and balsamic, Id be down the street at Anteprima ordering something Italian. The Second roll (this was the same as the others but had the fake crab stick inside), was topped with two Sauces. One appeared to be olive oil. Im guessing it was his precious Truffle oil, and the other was red-orange in color and was spicy. I asked mike if this was Sriracha. He admitted it had "some" Sriracha, but also other red peppers, and other components, which, again he demurred to mention specifically. The third roll came and was topped with another of Mike's creations. This time he used the propane torch in its preparation. It turned out to taste exactly like the vinaigrette my mother has made for 40 years whenever we have dinner at her house. Again, this is not a bad flavor. Like that flavor. But not on my Maki. It was Garlicy, with chives, balsamic vinegar, oregano, and other herbs. Bizzare. At this point, I was full, and tired of being served what were clearly un-inventive Maki with lots of sauces. I asked for the check. This is where the insult of being served the same thing three times with different sauces gave way to the injury of being charged $85. I had no O-Toro. I had no Uni. No Salmon Belly. No Salmon Skin not even Fugu. The fish I was served was good quality, but nothing like Ive had at other spots, like Katsu, or Ora for example. I had none of the items that are typically wallet-busting at a sushi place. Super-white tuna, Tuna, and Hamachi with avocado, rice and crab stick and sauces. $85 + Tip? Not worth it. Will not return.
(2)
erin w.

Chef Mike's Special. I'm sooooo glad that I, and my two companions, went this route. You just tell your server about your likes and dislikes when it comes to sushi and the chef whips up something that is sure to strike your fancy! One of my companions asked for a certain fish (I forget what it was), and our server straight up told us that it was not very good right now and offered two similar choices that he said were very good and fresh. I love that in a restaurant, it always makes me feel like they are going that extra step to make sure what you get will be excellent. We had two rolls that were more traditional in presentation, though not in taste, and one that was served looking like tacos in delicious mango shells! Luckily, our server also had the good sense to instruct us on how to eat it. All three rolls were so good, we wanted to order more (especially after looking around at other diner's sushi, yum!), but were too stuffed and decided against it. I cannot wait to go back! Oh, and it's BYO.
(5)
Katie H.

I had been hearing rave reviews about Tanoshii for months, and finally decided to give it a try. GO THERE IMMEDIATELY. Every single other Yelp review mentions Sushi Mike's Special, but at the risk of redundancy, I'll echo everyone else: it's fantastic! We started with the "Fish and Chips" (for some reason it's not on the menu so ask your server): fresh diced tuna, avocado, onions and spices on a house-made chip. Delicious. For the maki, there were 4 in our group, and we ordered 4 rolls from Mike's Special, plus a few other simpler rolls and a couple pieces of nigiri. Everything was delicious, but Mike's concoctions were especially creative and flavorful. I don't even know what was in most of the rolls (except exceptionally fresh fish) but I loved them all, especially the one with Mike's homemade wasabi sauce and avocado. For atmosphere: it's BYOB and totally casual. Don't go here expecting a swank/trendy place like South Coast - go here for the food. I actually thought it was fun being sort of crammed into a corner, chatting with other patrons about the awesome sushi and the choice of music (we heard Michael Jackson, Madonna, Journey, and lots of 80's music... which I loved!). But if you're thinking of Tanoshii for a romantic date, you might be disappointed. Lots of other reviewers mention the prices, which yes, are slightly higher than your typical corner sushi spots - but totally worth it. Actually I don't think the price was any higher than Mirai or even Coast, depending on what you order there. Sushi Mike's Special rolls are $16-22, but are also way bigger with way more ingredients than your traditional spicy tuna. Bottom line: I can't wait to go back to Tanoshii!
(5)
Jess B.

If you're a regular at this place, you'll love it here. I've been here a couple times. Since going vegan I don't eat sushi anymore (Yes, vegetarians can eat sushi. Don't ask - they just can.) so it's an increasingly rare occasion that I find myself in a sushi restaurant, but Tanoshii is alright. That is, if you don't mind waiting 50 minutes on a Tuesday night in a half-full restaurant while the servers literally spoon feed glistening morsels of delectable shit into the mouths of the bourgeois lizard-faced regulars at the next table while you and your dining partner's stomachs and brains are searing with hatred because you've been waiting forever for a couple of Mike's rolls which are going to cost about as much as a black-market kidney and they could at least maybe fit those in amongst the sushi they're showering on the lizards and the other regulars at the bar. That said, where else can you say: "Bring us two delicious vegan sushi rolls!" and it works? Also, they were playing Steely Dan the whole time. I happen to have a sense of humor, and also I kind of like Steely Dan because my high school boyfriend made me listen to them all the time and I have sort of a pleasantly charred groove in my brain for those guys and so it was amusing to me but seriously STEELY DAN? You know that means vibrator in the 50's, right?
(3)
Candace D.

Sushi Mike isn't cheap, but it is unique and absolutely delicious! That is with a capital exclamation mark. A BYOB place (and do if you plan to order the Sushi Mike creation as these are truly works of art and take time so you'll enjoy sipping), the place is not fancy. But the food outstanding.
(5)
Abhishek M.

SO I now have a new favourite restaurant....sorry Las Tablas!! :) Tanoshii aka 'Sushi Mike' is in good ol' Andersonville, right across from the Jewel, which is nice considering this place is BYOB. We went to celeberate my roommate's b'day on a Monday evening. Although, there is a regular menu, we ended up getting the chef special rolls which Mike creates based on ingredients you specify. We ended up getting several special rolls including Spicy Tuna, White Tuna, Sea Bass & one with Mango & Unagi. They were all so good that I couldn't tell which I liked better. ;) We also got some sashimi and the fish was all so fresh! Other than the awesome food & the BYOB, Sushi Mike himself is very personable. He created a special b'day roll for my roommate and inturn we offered him some sake. Oh, and if you go on a weekday, say hello to Marc, referred to some as the 'Knob Creek' guy. The only con of this place....not the cheapest Sushi in town. We spent $125 on the 3 of us (tax, tip included).
(5)
Robert R.

Fantastic! Had Mike's Special and enjoyed every plate. Be forewarned that the plates add up quick and you could be in for a bit of sticker shock when the bill arrives! :-) New favorite place as I love great sushi just as much as I love the 80s.
(5)
Stacey P.

oooooooooooh the famous sushi mike and his custom made rolls, everyone talks about how great you are.... A bunch of us went out, 6 makes a bunch doesn't it? We all got "Mike's special" Welp, ONE was really good. It was kinda like a variation on a rainbow roll with some kick. There were 2 that were slightly enjoyable. and 3 that were pretty much not good. for 16-22 bucks each, NOT WORTH IT. Yeah, we spent between 20 and 30 bucks each (no drinks!) and had to go out to dinner AFTER going out to dinner to get full.
(3)
Kate L.

I enjoyed my rolls but overall, I dont think it was worth it. We ordered the chef's choice. Although the servers were relatively attentive, the chef was extremely slow. There were about 10-15 minutes between each roll that came out, rather than bringing them out all at once. There were 3 of us, we ordered 5 rolls and we were all still hungry because the rolls are so small. Even with the small rolls, our tab was over $40 each. I've eaten sushi just as good for less and felt full.
(3)
Stefanie P.

Meh. That's all I can say about Tanoshii. The Mike's special can be good, but for the price, it's not worth it. I could get a "special roll" where I know what's in it for at least $5 less somewhere else and have it taste just as good. The regular rolls were alright but there wasn't much selection, compared to other places I've been. Our server was really friendly, though, and gave us an on-the-house edamame when ours took too long. So they gain a star back for that. Overall, it wasn't mindblowing, but if someone else wanted to go I wouldn't refuse.
(3)
Sam C.

I have been here 5 times and have never seen a menu. The key to this place is to sit at the bar and just ask Mike or Chris to fill you up. He never disappoints!! If you ask what's in it...He'll say fish! LOVE IT!! He will change his rolls with the seasons for the freshest ingredients. He is truly an artist. Every time I have gone here I leave full and satisfied for around 50 bucks a head! It is well worth it!! I will be going back regularly.
(5)
Adam M.

Sometimes there's nothing I like more than a night out at a BYOB restaurant where you can eat, drink, and generally linger in the back of a restaurant until the servers and hosts are giving you the stink eye to give up your 10 person table already. Tanoshii earned a three star review from me because at no point did our boisterous table of BYOdrunken fools receive anything but excellent service. We were able to hang out until our wine-soaked hearts' desired. However! Part of the reason we were at dinner for so long was the wait for food was very long. Half of our party ordered the chef's maki special, which as other reviews have noted is basically telling the chef to make up a roll of his choosing. I was able to try each of the five "unique" rolls and they were ok, but each roll came out one at a time. It was so spread out that I was the last one served and the non-sushi eaters at the table had already received their dishes, eaten, and had their plates cleared before I had my first bite. Not cool. Clearly the chef was busy with other people and took his time with the rolls, so thankfully the server was attentive. If I'm paying that much and waiting that long for a sushi roll it better be damn good.
(3)
Nicolas H.

Sat at the sushi bar and brought some sake and beer. Upon opening the sake we poured some for us and one for the chef (who apparently wasn't "Sushi Mike", as he appeared to have his attention on the other side of the bar). That glass sat there until the very end of the meal at which point I literally pointed it out to the chef again, which he drank without so much of a thanks or cheers. Pretty much summed up our "service" for the night. As for the food, it was good, but not great. We started with the fish and chips which was definitely the best thing I ate. He packed on plenty of tasty tuna onto the large chip that was thick enough to withstand the heaping mound. For my meal I got the sushi-sashimi combo as I'm not a huge fan of "rolls". While the sushi tasted fresh enough, the chef didn't take the time to tell me what he chose for me so I still am not sure what everything was that I ate. My friend ordered the "Mike's Special" which consisted of two rolls. What was in/on them? No clue. When she asked he replied: Fish. I did taste both rolls which were fine, but I honestly couldn't tell you what was on them and what made them "special". Maybe it was an off night, or maybe we really needed to talk to Sushi Mike as what I experienced was far from special...
(3)
Michelle O.

The portion sizes are very small for the price. I didn't see any pictures on the menu so I had no idea what to expect. The food tastes good. I would just order the special because those rolls are a decent size. Be prepared to spend. The special rolls go between $16-$22. I won't be back any time soon. I was also expecting the chef to be super nice and outgoing. He didn't say a word the entire time I was there. I went on a Saturday night around 6PM. Not sure if it was because it wasn't happy hour or a weekday, but that's the original reason we came to the restaurant.
(2)
Jennifer L.

I love sushi and this was terrible. It gets 2 because I can't do 1.5. I don't know who this sushi mike guy is, but if he's so awesome, why can't he make a basic roll? I went on a saturday evening. You should come expecting a local BYOB hangout, where a caucasian crowd gathers to be adventurous and chat over glasses of whatever wine they brought. It's very friendly. But I came for dinner, which was the worst sushi I've had made to order. Easily. We ordered an appetizer, and four rolls coming out to ~$50 for two. Their card says it's "food for the senses". Here's what I sensed: The agadashi tofu, which should be japanese custard tofu lightly fried, was a regular tofu of medium firmness not at all silky or custard-like and they didn't even manage to make it lightly crunchy. Apparently they tried to make up for this by drenching it in sauce, which was the right sauce and made it tasty, but not worth it. (If you want to try custard tofu, Ken Kee makes it with vegetables, not agadashi style, but it's probably healthier and it's super tastey.) The rolls (alaskan, tempura roll and two other basic ones) were memorable only in their awkward skimpyness. The fish in the alaskan was thinner than my chopstick. Biting into the seaweed skin was a texture akin to biting into a soggy defrosted crab leg, it was rolled tightly and the way it poped and tore chewing was unpleasent. How can a sushi roll be tough? How?? With little filling aparently, I mean the fish to rice ratio was alright, but there was just so little of it. For the price, it was too little and too few (6 pieces the size of a knuckle). Perhaps they put so little raw fish in for sake of their patrons who may not be used to eating raw? I didn't order the made to order special after seing the poor quality of the basic rolls. The service was barely passable. I'm cutting them slack for being busy, and they did accomodate us when we requested a window seat. But the food took a while to come out, my tea was not refilled until I requested it when dinner was almost over and the waiter recommended one or two of the lackluster rolls. You will have fun if you want to make friends and nice-nice with the chefs at the sushi bar and bring a bottle. Being drunk would definitely help with the exprience. I'm assuming that's how it got so many 5 stars because I have never been more dissapointed by the texture and quality of japanese food. Dominicks has done better and that is a sad sad thing.
(1)
Marina K.

Did I really just pay $36 for two maki rolls? Yes, I didn't have much choice, I guess. Everyone raves about "Sushi Mike's" specialty rolls, but there's no description or prices on the menu. So, I told the server the types of fish I like and got back two "special creations." They were OK, and, I will have to admit, the sauces were the best part; there really was no need for soy sauce. But, after paying nearly $50 with tax and tip for two rolls and leaving hungry, I was pretty disappointed. The biggest insult was the sashimi platter, which my friend ordered. Again, nearly $40, a plate with a few tiny pieces of fish. To add to the insulting portions, one of the fishes was stringy and didn't taste fresh, and one was a tiny butterflied and flattened over-cooked shrimp. Since when are boiled shrimp considered sashimi?!? (A brief visual aid: if you've ever been unfortunate enough to have the sushi party tray from Costco, this exact shrimp is on there.) Just as an aside, I am used to very elaborate presentations in sashimi platters, with all kinds of pretty edible garnishes, like radishes, lemons, etc. This was just a few slices of fish slapped down on a plate. We had to go down the street for coffee and desert, and very large desert to make up for dinner.
(2)
Jessica F.

This experience almost requires two different reviews. Food and Experience. The Food: Absolutely amazing. I've never actually ordered anything off the menu, so I can only comment on what Mike has created. Count on one thing regarding the food: Tanoshii does not serve anything that isn't fresh and of high quality. I learned that I actually like uni (sea urchin) at this place because of how fresh it is. If it isn't good, Mike won't serve it. I recommend calling ahead to see what's good that day if you are craving something in particular. The quality of the sashimi is top notch. The rolls are fantastic. Creative, with delicious sauces and fish/vegetable/fruit combinations. The portions are very generous. I don't even know if they serve dessert there - I'm always stupidly full by the time we get that far! We've gotten takeout a couple of time and there is no loss of quality in the fish or the presentation. Excellent!! The Experience: It really depends on things such as the phase of the moon, the day of the week, and how busy things are. Our during the week experiences have all been excellent. Lots of personal attention to everyone there, no waiting, not to mention the best fish ever. Weekends are a bit different. Waits are longer, and it is definitely recommended to get reservations for an earlier time (before 7:30) if you want to sit at the bar, and if you are hungry. The atmosphere is louder and pretty funny. Everyone always remembers to bring an extra bottle of whatever the BYOB is for Mike, so once in a while it can get awkward if Mike is enjoying the B a bit too much. Regardless of speed of service or odd comments, the fish has always been the best. I also think the biggest unsung hero at Tanoshii is Chris. He is hilarious, extremely hard-working, and makes excellent rolls. This place is pricier than other casual spots, but we're in the mid-west and this is the best fish I've had consistently so far in Chicago.
(4)
Lawrence Y.

For a Sunday night, the restaurant was kind of empty, but the service was very attentive. The place was BYOB and we brought a bottle of wine -- which they took care of for us. (I think the corkage fee was like $4). We started off with edamame (which, I'm completely used to as being complimentary, but I digress), and that was fine. Of the sushi we had, I liked them all: dynamite, rainbow, and I think the last one we had was the red caterpillar. Whatever it was it was drenched in sriracha sauce which was a little overpowering over the sushi flavors, but still good.
(4)
Ethan H.

Warning: The Sushi Mike Special should not be used for casual sushi binges, california rolls, or "I want my sushi done my way." He's a sushi chef and an excellent one at that. Let him surprise you. Otherwise, have the dragon roll and leave satisfied. Jeremy and I went after he came back raving about Sushi Mike. I was skeptical - especially at a bill that was $50 a person. Seriously?? Can sushi be THAT good in Chicago? Yes. Yes it can. Sake in hand, Jeremy demanded we sit at the bar and converse with Mike. Best decision ever. For $50, Mike fed us (sometimes chopstick-fed us!) the best sushi I've ever had, hands down. When our sake ran out, he kept pouring us more (!). We never touched the soy sauce. We never needed wasabi. All we needed was to converse with Mike, to let him take care of us, and to enjoy the ride. All in all, we left 10 pounds heavier than we came. I've never eaten so much great sushi in my life. This was the first time I tasted dessert-like sushi or had sushi so delicate I was hand-fed. A few tips: - Be ready to have a relationship with your Sushi chef. - DON'T sit at a table for the Special. If Mike doesn't see you, he can't talk to you. If he can't talk to you, you'll get a roll or two. - Bring your own sake to start. Drink with Mike. Kompai. He's a great guy. - Let him choose your adventure. After all, he's the expert. - If you just want sushi, sit at a table and order a dragon roll.
(5)
James G.

Best, freshest sushi in town, hands down! Make a reservation to sit at the bar, and just let them feed you - it's worth it, the service is great.
(5)
Jennifer G.

This will probably be my most simple review because I really don't need to say much... This place has ruined every other sushi place for me! I live in the suburbs and am used to going to a couple places near where I live and work. I like those places a lot, but now I can't even bring myself to go when I have the sushi craving because I know it will be a disappointing experience since I'm not at Tanoshii. I've already brought a couple people here and I plan on bringing many more so they can taste the awesomeness... and also so I can try different rolls! I've ordered 1 roll of their menu and since the fish is fresh and ingredients good quality, it was still delicious- but Sushi Mike's creations blows anything out of the water! Go, and you will be recommending this place to everyone, I swear.
(5)
Scott D.

I've been to several sushi bars throughout Chicago and Tanoshii is the only place at which I've had a bad experience. I made reservations for 9pm and was not seated until 9.45pm. In addition, menus weren't distributed for another half-hour, which meant that we were being served during their closing hours. Also, the sushi chef's would not allow ANY alterations to rolls without labeling your order "Mike's Special" and charging $18 per roll (even for something as simple as requesting a cucumber roll served without avocado). Finally, when we attempted to dispute some charges on our bill, we were told to pay the bill in its entirety or he would CALL THE POLICE. I thought the owner exercised poor discretion in handling the situation as we politely attempted to discuss the charges with our server. Irrespective of the terrible service, the food was okay at best. For better sushi and better atmosphere, I recommend Indie Cafe. It has much better service, a greater menu selection, and more substantial rolls.
(1)
Ariel R.

Phenomenal sushi restaurant... Visited while in Chicago in May 2015. Mike was an absolute pleasure to watch and speak with. I would strongly suggest against ordering from the menu. Let him know what you're in the mood for and let him take the wheel from there. If you manage to get on his good side, he may even pour you a complementary shot of Knob Creek! Cheers!
(5)
Racheal S.

Tanoshii is the only place in Chicago that I will go for sushi! Just as many other reviewers have said, sit at the sushi bar and let Chef Mike work his magic! He will ask about preferences and food allergies, and go from there, Every time I go to Tanoshii, Chef Mike makes something new and delicious that I have never had before. For reference, Chef Mike also loves Miller Lite. So if you are stopping by and planning on sitting at the sushi bar, bring him a 6 pack.
(5)
Brian S.

Decent sushi, albeit American style which translates into way too much sauce and rolled with a lot of rice so it can only be fit in the typical American's mouth. Over priced, which is again standard for the clientele in the city. Friendly staff and clean establishment. I am still in search of a nice reasonally priced place in area.
(3)
Shauntae W.

Went alone for a snack. Best sushi! Service great and attentive. Food delicious. Will return to this place for the Chicago roll!
(5)
Elizabeth A.

The sushi here is great. It's fresh and well executed. The service here is AWFUL! Our waitress never came back to ask if everything was fine and if we wanted anything else (even though I kept a menu and told her I'd be ordering more food). After having her avoid eye contact for a good twenty minutes, I had to hunt her down to order more food. I didn't want to do it again, so I ended up going home and having the rest of my dinner. She totally avoided any niceties overall and was generally worthless. Need. New. Staff. This is why people hate tipping. I had to tip this girl for being awful at her job. That's ridiculous.
(3)
Rebecca N.

Some of the best/ most fresh sushi I have had! Great service and enjoyable atmosphere. I would definitely recommend doing Mike's Special where they bring out food for you. The one "special" roll we got was out of this world-- wasabi puree with super white tuna and regular tuna. The Kamikaze roll was very good as well. The pieces were SO fresh. Melted in your mouth. Loved the mochi at the end of the meal :)
(5)
Sergio N.

Fresh sushi , good service ... Nice ambience .. Our second time to this place . Byob... And if you forgot to bring wine , jewel osco is just across the street ... Servers are friendly ... Good for groups .. The master chef owns the place ...
(5)
Allen B.

I ordered Mike's Special....2 vegetarian rolls....got two very different and very delicious custom rolls....the most satifsfying experience I've ever had at a Japanese restaurant. Love the attention to detail made from chefs who obviously love what they are doing and the waiter made specific request if there was anything I didn't want or was allergic to. Love the Japanese chili that made it spicey. You pay a little more, but what you get is well worth it. Best value!
(5)
Elina S.

Okay so this place really annoyed me and I hardly get annoyed and I hardly give out two stars. A few weeks ago I made reservations at Tannoshi but to my own mistake I made it for the wrong location and really wanted it to be here. We arrived at 6:30 and the place was practically empty. The guy told me Made the reservation at his partner location and told me to head over there. That's at least a half hour away with little traffic and obviously we would have been late over there. What really pissed me off is that they could have made an exception even though it was my fault since the place was empty. He kept saying those are for future reserved spots like for 7:30 and 8:00 which was more than an hour away. I begged him asking him if we could sit at the bar or anywhere really and that we eat super quick and would be out before those times guaranteed. He said sorry no. I've never been turned down like that especially since there were a plethora of empty tables. He didn't care that we drove over an hour from the burbs to get here, just plain rude and lacked all customer service. Being the kind of person who believes in second chances I decided to give them another shot last weekend and made another reservation, this time at this place. We arrived and were sat in their back room which felt very desolated and I would have preferred to be where the action was at. Oh and the room was also more than 70% empty on a Saturday night waiting for future reservations. Our hostess had that "I'm too cool for school attitude" about her the entire meal. She didn't really offer any recommendations and I had to really ask her what she would suggest. She felt too busy to give us any ideas. We decided to order a few simple rules to taste the quality of the fish and a few of their renowned specials. The simple rolls weren't expensive but lacked a lot of fish and were oh so blah. The specials we tried were the salmon special and the soft shell crab special, only thanks to the yelp pics on here. They were $20 and $22 and I felt extremely ripped off. Were they decent rolls? Yes absolutely. Anything out of the extraordinary? Nope. I mean that salmon roll had a few pieces of salmon, some drizzled honey and what looked like imitation crab inside. Yes you get like 9-10 pieces but for $22? I mean this isn't Sunda or any special downtown place so where do they get off charging such prices for such mediocre, lacking tons of fish, rolls. You can easily spend way too much here and I'm glad we didn't do too many other rolls. Toro and coast are way better in my opinion and wayyy cheaper. This is not Morimoto, it's a little edge water place charging way too much. I won't be back, and not only due to the sushi but mostly, how I felt I was treated which wasn't very nice. Maybe the Randolph location is nicer on the inside which a much nicer staff and I should have ended up their after all.
(2)
John P.

best sushi in Chicago!!!!!! Mike makes it very difficult to eat sushi anywhere else. Thank you for an amazing meal
(5)
Kayu T.

Came here after two bars down the way for a small snack with friend. Not sure if its because its just been a few weeks old, but I didn't feel like it have the selection a sushi place should have. I swear I didn't even see a sashimi platter! They did however, had the shishito peppers here which was a first I've came across at smaller places. Sushi was good, and fresh not sure if I love the atmosphere or the tile floors that makes it feel like a cold place to be with friends.
(3)
Scott A.

First off, the space is pretty nice and cozy, not overdone like other sushi spots in the city. Service was prompt and server was really nice to my son. We ordered a couple different kinds of nigiri and our dinner mates ordered the omakase. We ordered hamachi, amiebi, maguro, chutoro, uni and the unagi. Hamachi was blah, not very fresh and lacked the melt in your mouth flavor I'm used to. Amiebi wasn't sweet, and tasted fishy. Maguro wasn't vibrant red like usual and had an oxidized look to it, not much flavor to it. Chutoro was definitely not fresh and was chewy? Uni looked fresh, but didnt have that fresh sea flavor and tasted old. Unagi was actually pretty good, but the sauce was a little overwhelming. All the nigiri also had so much wasabi that it ruined the flavor, but did clear my sinuses. I am not a big americanized sushi fan, but I did try the specialty rolls and while the flavors did go great together, the fish itself was not fresh. It was almost as if the sauce was there to cover up the low quality fish they used. We also ordered yakisoba for my son, but you could tell it was packaged or the chef just wasn't good at preparing Japanese food. This feels like a cheap sushi joint that charges premium quality prices. I don't mind paying for good sushi, but I wouldn't recommend this place.
(2)
Sheila K.

My husband and I came here for our anniversary dinner. I was in the mood for sushi so we decided to check out this place. They also have another location on Randolph. He got the Tanoshii Special and I the Chirashi. They have thick cuts of sashimi here which it nice, but I do prefer it sliced thinner. The meal came with miso soup and salad. The miso soup was good, not too salty. The Tanoshi Special came with the fried shrimp head, my husband's fav! Overall, the quality of the fish is fresh. However, the prices are a bit more steep than the other places around here. I could only imagine how expensive it would be for the specials. We have only tried Ora and Tanoshii on Clark, but between the two, I would choose Ora over Tanoshii. This place is bigger though so you might not have to wait during peak hours.
(3)
Natasha K.

Meh, starting with the service. Our server looked incredibly unhappy to be working (which I understand) however it didnt matter how nice we were nothing changed her mood. She was very inattentive, didnt check on us, didnt refill waters. I really didnt want to tip her because thank you for bringing us our plates? The food was nothing to write home about, we ordered 3 rolls, they were all surprisingly short (5 pieces). The sushi was packed with rice and little else. It was just mediocre at best. I was really kind of frustrated because as much as I wanted to order more food, I didnt see the point in doing so. We paid for our meal, tipped the server, and cooked a half meal at home. I will not be returning to eat here, as there are many other sushi options in the area.
(2)
Stephanie H.

Went here for the first time this past weekend and it was quite tasty. A few of us did the Mike's Special and it was good. Basically you let them know what you like and they make rolls for you based on that. For example, there was a request for truffle oil, avocado and fruit (yes, berries!) at our table. I did the veggie udon and the kamikaze roll of the menu and was really good. All of did the 'fish and chip' appetizer which was really fresh and tasty. For those who prefer cooked food, the menu had plenty of the regular bento box dinner entree options too, so no excuses!! Also, it's BYOB but there was a $2 charge per person for it. It's not that big a place so reservations on a weekend might be a good idea. Our server was really nice and they play 80s music on Pandora all the time, so that's a big win for me!
(4)
Andrea B.

I must have been Japanese in my past life because I love sushi!!!!!! I can eat it all day and all night and Tanoshii is seriously the best sushi ever. I try and go there once or twice a month ( I live in the suburbs so it's quiet the hike), My brother and his fiancÃ© introduced me to this place and we have hosted a few events there and it is just the best. The service is great and sushi is even better. Recommendation: Don't come here if you want plain sushi, order the Mike's special, you can't fail. My personal favorites are the spicy shrimp Mike's special, Honey truffle ( salmon or tuna) Mike's special, Spicy Strawberry Mike's special and the truffle tuna IS THE BOMB.
(5)
Jenna J.

The sushi here is some of the best I've had. If you're going to eat at Sushi Mike's, here are three recommendations to get the most out of your experience: 1) don't come here with a party of more than 4 people. 2 is ideal. this is because... 2) sit at the bar. it's cozy and you get to watch them make your food; it's a great show 3) order The Special. the rolls are a little pricey, but you won't be disappointed Sushi Mike clearly has a following and it's easy to see why. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be rushing to come back any time soon. About 3 rolls into our amazing dinner, Sushi Mike pulled our waiter aside behind the register (in front of all the customers and other staff) and started reaming him. It went on for what felt like ages. I don't know whether the guy deserved it or not, but it made us feel really uncomfortable. I kept worrying if it was something we'd done that had gotten this poor guy in trouble. It left a bad taste in my mouth that lasted far longer than any of the tasty food they served us. There are lots of places in this city that serve amazing food. The next time I want great sushi, I'm going to a place that treats their staff with dignity.
(2)
Jeana C.

Very small place so you probably want to make a reservation, and BYOB. Meter parking on the street. Great thing about this place is the Sushi Mike creation roll. You simply tell your server what you don't like or like and he'll accommodate to that and make a roll for you. Ranges from $16 to $22 per roll. My favorite roll he made was one with shittake mushrooms, avocado, super white tuna and a truffle/yuzu type sauce. So good. And they don't overdo the rice either.
(5)
Anthony J.

They managed to make two members of our party cry, and just about ruined my sister's birthday. Avoid this place at all costs. Party of 11 on a Saturday night. We all arrived a little bit late for the 7pm reservation, so maybe the wait staff just felt like being vindictive, but more likely they just didn't care as we sat there waiting for menus, glasses, any sort of service. Took about 20 minutes. Once we finally got that stuff, and eventually placed our order for some appetizers, we seemed to be back on track. The apps came out quick enough, though they were kinda lacking in flavor, especially the calamari. Guess we shouldn't have ordered 3 of them sight unseen, but we just assumed they'd be tasty. Nope, bland breading and bland dipping sauce. Oh well, we're here for sushi, not calamari, right gang? We got our sushi orders in pretty promptly, and then waited. And waited. And...waited. Not so for those of our party who had non-sushi entrees - they were served while the rest of us twiddled our thumbs. Unprofessional. My pregnant wife can't have raw fish, so the sushi Mike special, where you tell him what you want and don't want, seemed ideal. She was clear on disallowing raw fish or avocado (not a fan), but when around 9:40 (remember we got there at 7:20), a roll was finally served her, she dutifully and stoically began peeling off the large slices of avocado on top. That's when I finally lost my mind. Never in my 35 years have I been so close to flipping a table, throwing a plate against a wall, and storming out. I would've felt justified. The story ends kinda anti-climactically with us paying for what food we did get. They gave us an alleged discount, but the bill was still over $150. I hated the idea of giving them anything, and they deserved far less than that, but whatever. Sushi Mike should've prostrated himself before us in a gesture of deep apology, but clearly he didn't care. Several of us left hungry, some were reduced to tears, and all were unhappy. Tanoshii should be embarrassed.
(1)
Karl H.

Took my six-year-old here at 5:30 for a "date night." We sat at the sushi bar, and ordered within a minute of sitting down. she likes two simple rolls, I like sashimi, and the people who recommended it said to trust in the chefs. My kid's first roll came more than an hour later. my sashimi was primarily two spicy tuna rolls. They charged us almost $100 for that. My parking ran out twice in the 45 minutes we waited for the check.
(1)
Kim Z.

Great, great fresh sushi. Very creative and mouth watering good, the cucumber roll literally melted in my mouth like butter. I can't wait to go back!! It's BYOB, which certainly helps keep the bill on the lower end minus a bar.
(4)
Chi D.

There is nothing you can say about Sushi Mike and his quality ingredients and flawless technique other than...HANDS DOWN BEST SUSHI IN CHICAGO
(5)
Joel G.

Ok it just get's better. Tanoshii just opened an 2nd location on Randolph in restaurant row. Place is big, bit more modern, but same great sushi. Mike was here when we went on Sunday. Brought a couple with us that also love sushi and we introduced them to "Mike's" rolls. Basically you go in and ask for Mikes rolls and he makes this incredible selection of maki that are unlike most you have had at normal sushi places. One roll in particular everyone loves is the shitake mushroom roll. Man that's a good one that I highly recommend you try. Home made gyoza and a solid selection of sakes. I do like that the original location was byob but it's great that there is now a south side location as the original one is up in Andersonville. If you like sushi this is the place to hit in Chicago.
(5)
Laura S.

We began coming to Tonoshi about 2 years ago and have been loyal customers - I mean EVERY Saturday! In the last 2-3 months the place has become a huge disappointment. Example: we order everything when we sit down and don't get our first roll for OVER AN HOUR. This is not an isolated incident. I write this because it has happened every weekend for the last few months and I can no longer put up with it. Anybody going on a Saturday night should plan on 3 hours. I was told the reason is because they hired "slow" sushi chefs. In Chicago that shouldn't be an issue. I'm not a fan of excuses. We actually have left 3 times now before Getting all of our food and they made NO acknowledgement or accommodation. OFF tonoshi for good!
(1)
Adele n.

It was expensive, but the food was excellent. The gimmick is the Mike's Special. Tell your server some ingredients that you like and don't like, and Mike will whip up (an allegedly) one-of-a-kind maki for your table with some unusual ingredients. We went for this option and were served a generously sized smoky, salty roll with shiitake mushrooms, avocado, white tuna and truffle oil. Pretty cool and definitely unique. We also ordered some nigiri, which is where I feel like Mike really justified his fairly steep prices. The fish was excellent and (in addition to all of the standards) they had my favorites: raw scallop and uni. Both were awesome and were pretty generous servings. It's BYOB and street parking is available on the block. I'm adding "eat at Tanoshii all the time" to my list of "things to do when I have more money." (My favorite thing to daydream about).
(4)
Becky M.

+ Good quality fish and friendly good service on a Friday night. - Weirdly huge amounts of wasabi smashed between fish and rice in nigiri. Like, tons of wasabi. Like the chef thought he needed wasabi adhesive to connect fish and rice (no dude, it doesn't
(2)
Eve S.

A good friend of mine recently moved from Brooklyn to Chicago and suggested, or more like insisted we have dinner here. I was the tiniest bit skeptical BUT that changed pretty quickly when I tasted the rolls. The big secret to to order the chefs special. We came without a reservation and were told there was a big wait so we were going to get a drink somewhere but as we headed out the door a table became available. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Kristin R.

I was recommended to visit this place by an old co-worker, and they have since opened a second one downtown. I am a huge fan of sushi, and coming from California, I am often critical of the ones I have found here since it's hard to find some fresh fish! Alas, this place was certainly an experience. While I thought the cost was a bit high (hence the four stars plus I'm not sure if my husband got food poisoning here or from the Starbucks we went to after since we ate off the same plate) but it was worth it for the truffle roll we had. As suggested by my co-worker, we sat at the bar and ordered the chef special. He gave us three delicious, good sized rolls that were not the typical sushi rolls I've had in the past. They were beautifully presented and tasted both fresh and new with the different ingredients he added into each roll. They were all different too. I can't tell you what rolls they were because I don't think they were on the menu! The cool thing about ordering the chef special is that they create some pretty neat rolls and they ask if you have any allergies to make sure you are taken care of. This place was definitely an awesome date night place. I think we went here on a Friday or Saturday in the early evening but it's a small space, with easy to find paid street parking.
(4)
Phil K.

Omg, get the chef special They gave us this roll with shitake and super white escolar. Holy effin crap. My favorite all time roll now. Then this octopus roll comes out. Ridiculous. I don't know, I may have brought too much sake (byob) But these rols came out before I got wasted. So Thumbs up. Oh, the staff. .. Hilarious.
(5)
Christy B.

This is the best sushi will you eat in Chicago! Sushi Mike is a genius. My advice is to always sit at the bar and get Sushi Mike's rolls. Mike, the owner, will ask you what you like/don't like and then create magical sushi for you. He lets you choose if your next roll will be sweet or spicy but don't mind asking what's in the roll, his answer is always "fish". The best part about the Andersonville location is it's BYOB and sushi Mike loves bourbon! So do not forget to pour him a shot. The specialty rolls can be pricey (around $20-$25 per roll) but it's worth it because you get one-of a-kind rolls. These rolls aren't mostly rice covered in seaweed like what you find in most places. It is fresh fish and mike-made sauces...no need for soy sauce here! Also, if you love tuna, get the 'fish and chips' appetizer! **I would not necessarily recommend Tanoshii as the place to go with a large party or if you are more interested in chatting with a group of people. I have been to Tanoshii 4 times. Three of those times I have sat at the bar, with my focus on eating, and spoke with Mike as he prepared my rolls. Great experiences. Mike even gave us a history lesson on rice and fish, along with complimentary saki. Once, I took my girlfriends and we were sat in the back room. This experience was not as exciting and I totally understand what others mean in their reviews when they complain that the service was mediocre and it took a very long time for the sushi to come out. However, with that being said, I believe this restaurant offers an amazing experience if you are alone or with one other person and are as involved in your sushi as much as I usually am with mine :) **
(5)
SS H.

Warning: If you dine here, no other sushi restaurant will ever satisfy you. We used to live in Andersonville and were regulars. We moved to Evanston, which isn't that far but we don't dine here as often as we would like. We have struggled to enjoy sushi at any other restaurant since moving. We recently made the effort to revisit. We always get Mike's specials and they never disappoint. You must start with the fish and chips. This sushi is so well worth the price. You won't mind it when it revisits you if you happen to burp after your meal. The only reason I did not grant 5 stars is because I am a stickler when it comes to a decent and clean restroom. While it isn't the worst, I always wait until I get home. Upon working many years in the restaurant industry, I know that a clean bathroom usually means there is a clean kitchen. The sushi bar always seems spotless which is key.
(4)
Dj S.

Best sushi in North Chicago. Great service. You don't need to any Soy sauce or Wasabi with your rolls.
(4)
Monica S.

Consistently serves up the freshest, most satisfying sushi platter (i.e., the "Tanoshii sushi combo") I've ever experienced in any city. This place is somewhat upscale (read: expensive), but I think the quality of the food makes it well worth the price tag. One of my favorites for solid Japanese cuisine.
(5)
Jennie K.

By far the best sushi I've ever had. I just moved to the area at the beginning of there summer and have probably been here 7 times already. Slightly obsessed? I guess you could say so.... What I really like about Tanoshii are their Mike's special rolls (Mike is the head chef I believe, he works at the downtown location, must be a sushi wiz). it's fun because you don't know exactly what you will be getting. You can let them know what you like and what you don't like in your roll, and they incorporate what you tell them, and they come up with a magnificent roll! For instance, I love mango and cilantro so they come out with with this ridiculously amazing roll with mango slices. It's heaven.... They also have a menu with your basic rolls as well. I love the Super White Tuna Nigiri (fat slab of tuna on a bed of rice)-Superb. My favorite is when I get to sit at the bar. It's fun watching them do their thing and the guys that work there are really friendly. Sometimes I make a reservation too late and have to sit at a table, but it's still enjoyable, but better at the bar for sure. It's BYOB also, so that's nice too. I really love it here :)
(5)
Phillip L.

Cool music and good sushi:-) The staff was super nice. I had a bowl of the miso soup, a glass of water and a Chicago roll which was perfect:-)
(5)
Evelina L.

In order to have the best experience when coming to Tanoshii, you have to have complete trust in the chef about delivering you the freshest most creative dishes that will not disappoint. Just tell sushi Mike - create something for me, I love X or I don't like Y - and voila - amazing things will start showing up in front of you until you say - I cannot have anymore! Sitting at the sushi bar is the most fun, but can be difficult for a conversation in larger parties. Most importantly - sit and enjoy as long as you like. No one is pushing your out or waiting for you to leave, it fact sushi Mike has told us several times to pace ourselves. They truly live by the sign on their front door - "we love you long time". Amen to that! Can't wait to be back! BYOB gem! He is in the process of opening up a restaurant in the city with the big boys...so hopefully the quality of Tanoshii will not go down as a result.
(5)
Joseph W.

I continue to love Tanoshii. The service is great, the food tantalizingly delicious and unique. The sushi chefs always put out a great product. I will advise that a typical night at usually lasts at least two hours, so be prepared to take your time. Is also BYOB, so that is another bonus for my favorite sushi joint.
(5)
Cherry B.

That place would have been perfect if they got my order right and didn't have to wait for a substitute for over 30 mins. Ordered special Mike NOT spicy but it was very spicy. Long wait but good food, not great, or at least I didn't get a chance to experience it!
(4)
Tim J.

Amazing place for great sushi in a casual and comfortable environment! I highly recommend sitting at the bar and ordering the Chef's special. Sushi Mike will ask you a few questions about what you like and what you do not and will create different concoctions and explain what he put in them. He will explain the difference between real Japanese wasabi and the food colored wasabi that many restaurants use. The fish is amazingly fresh, he has creative rolls and great sashimi. My girlfriend is not typically a fan of mushrooms or eel....and he got her to try and enjoy a roll with Shitake mushrooms and a roll with unagi (eel). The BYOB set-up is also a nice way to go!
(5)
Lucy P.

The best quality sushi in Chicago, hands down, and Sushi Mike will make you whatever you want. No frills inside and BYOB but Sushi Mike, who owns Tanoshi and can be found making the rolls much of the time, is friendly and funny and awesome. The quality is much better than Japonais or Coast and the service is always great.
(5)
Patrick M.

Best sushi experience in Chicago. Order the Mike's special - you tell them what ingredients you like and don't like, and they will make something special for you that is delicious and unique. Altogether a great experience.
(5)
Chris m.

This place is just OK, at best. We were hit with their strange marketing strategy that entailed "what you don't like". I said well I don't eat raw but what sushi do you have that is cooked? Of course then you are stamped with an "L" on your forehead. So the soft-spoken boy rattled off California roll, shrimp tempura roll, etc. Oh how original! There's the end of the customer pleasing. I asked if they could do a spicy California roll ie spicy mayo, yes but mayo must be on the side and it's 50 cents. I was like, OK, kinda shocked. I guess Mike and co. cannot put the mayo inside the roll. I also ordered the shrimp tempura roll. I asked if they had Uni, which I love, almost to prove I know the deal, no....we don't. We were also being sold on the fish and chips, which I thought maybe was some panko crusted Japanese version of the Brit staple. No, it (as I observed) is a tuna tartar type thing that Mike molds then smashes and then serves to the lucky drooling customers on some tortilla chips. I've had similar things before, no big deal but not doing raw these days. Don't quite get this presentation. Why not serve it unmolded in its shape surrounded by the chips. Whatever. Bottom line, food items reviewed as follows. California rolls worst ever. I don't even mind the fake crab, but how about real. I wouldn't mind paying a few bucks more. I thought this was a higher end place. Never got the 50 cent mayo. Skinny, chewy, bland and dry. I read on yelp that the nori here is tender and special. It was tough and almost couldn't chew. Shrimp tempura roll...worst ever. Again dry and bland. Do they have a dragon roll or creative take on a cooked item? Didn't seem so and/or was not communicated by our server. Both of these I have had much better at countless sushi places even grocery store type sushi. The shumai was OK in a decent ponzu sauce but really tasted like just from a frozen bagged item from any asian store. My friend's salmon terriyaki was good on a bed of decent crisp veggies w/ rice. He got miso soup which I was denied I guess because I didn't rank. Maybe it would have been 50 cents. I agree with a couple Yelpers. There are way better places to go, including Japonais for about the same $ and much more satisfying. And dare I mention Sunshine Cafe or even Toyko Marina or Indie Cafe, Renga Tei, Katsu, etc. . There is simply no warmth or satisfaction here. A cold place, not a pleasant experience on any level. That's the bottom line for me.
(2)
Rick F.

I don't know where to begin! We went early thinking it was going to be packed! we were the first customers and of course snagged the best seat in the house. The place was packed by the time we left. Chef Mike is famous for his Chef Selection, so we took the leap and left our culinary adventure in our server and Chef Mike's trusted hands! THe best decision we ever made! I cannot describe each dish but suffice it to say everything was amazing and I will definitely be back and bring my out of town guests as well.
(5)
M Z.

We waited over an hour for sushi. There were no acknowledgment made and there was no food. This is not the first time this has happened to us. In fact this is the fourth time we had poor service. You think we would learn our lesson and not come here. We got up and left. Will not be coming back.
(1)
Gerry M.

Takes 30-40 minutes to get food after ordering. Waiter screws up your order, doesn't apologize and then you have to wait another half-hour for a replacement. Sub-standard quality twenty dollar rolls.
(2)
L L.

We lost Tank Sushi in our 'hood to a new Filipino place in the same location. I'll never go there. My wife had been to Tanoshii many times and says she told me about it, yet I don't believe her. The chef's special tasting was expensive and worth it. I don't remember the rolls we got, yet they were delicious. Even the one with mushrooms. I hate mushrooms, yet I ate every piece of that maki. We also had the "fish and chips" app and it was really good. If I like a place I like to get the generic California, Tekka, etc to see how they are and judge the place based on that. The generic rolls were ok, yet after eating the chef special, it kind of seemed like the chef was bored with creating the generic rolls. That said, the maguro was really good and really fresh. The staff were great and attentive. I think this may be our new goto sushi place.
(5)
Kate H.

Worst. Restaurant. Ever. Two and a half hours and 3 people didn't even eat. Delivered food and didn't know who to give it to. Didn't know what they were bringing. 2 plus hours in and they delivered the chefs choice. You tell them what you want and the chef makes whatever he wants within those criteria. I gave the waiter TWO criteria and they f***ed up my order. Waitress ARGUED with us when they forgot one person's order. Food that did arrive did not come together, in fact, it was over an hour from the first person to last person served. The owner came to the next table over for several victory laps but couldn't be bothered to step up for us. F*** you sushi Mike.
(1)
Eric T.

One of the best, if not THE BEST sushi restaurant experiences I've ever had. I agree with many of the reviews here - sit at the sushi bar, order sushi Mike's special, talk to him about what you like and don't like, and enjoy the experience. He "guarantees" you will be happy, and if you don't like something he makes for you then you don't have to pay for it. Everything he made for me was beautiful in execution (seriously - each a work of art), creative simplicity in it's combination of flavors, and everything was unique - you won't find it on a menu with some funny "rainbow-fire-thunderclap-caterpillar-hundred-Âflavor roll" name. He explained that his sauces are vegetable based unlike most sushi restaurants which might use some sort of thickened chicken stock or beef stock (which complicates the flavor and detracts from the fish), and I had to laugh when he explained that soy sauce is not allowed. (if you need soy sauce on your sushi or maki roll, then something is wrong) The quality is high and the prices may reflect that, but it depends on what you consider a fair price for the best of the best. Dining here will be a treat for me, much like going to a high-end steak house downtown. Compared to that, Tanoshii is a great deal.
(5)
E M B.

Used to love this place, I've been going for years. The thing is, I'm really good at justifying the cost for great food but the quality has gone downhill and the prices are super high. Before tip our byob dinner for 4 was $160 - and I left hungry. The creativity was lackluster and felt stale, the rolls weren't exceptionally creative - and that's how I used to justify the price. I think I'm over it.
(2)
Gino W.

I honestly believe I have found the best sushi bar in Chicago. Instead of ordering from the menu, I opted for whatever the chef would prepare. The server asked if I had any favourite seafood and if I had any allergies. I responded to his inquiry and he said that he would have the chef prepare three rolls. Food bliss. Let me just say that I could not understand what the server said, other than "spicy" and "I recommend that you do not use soy sauce." My eyes were rolling around in my head, the rolls were so delicious. Fresh without a fishy taste or smell, I gobbled the rolls to completion and then had thoughts of ordering more. Instead I convinced myself that I shall have to return at a future day. And return again and again I shall.
(5)
Jennifer S.

Melts in your mouth........ fresh, clean and super friendly staff! This place knows what its doing. Sushi chef Chris made an outstanding dinner per his own recommendations and it surely did not disappoint. As mentioned by other reviewers, the glory behind this place is completely trusting the chef by telling him your preferences. I told them spicy salmon and spicy tuna and before you know it i had amazing creations that included honey&truffle(WTF??), fresh grated wasabi and a spicy concoction that i could not get enough of. Anyway, BYOB is a major plus and their hot sake is great. :) TOTALLY my new fave sushi spot!
(5)
Kim M.

Best sushi ever!! But you have to get the Mike's special, otherwise its just like any other sushi place. Trust it! it's amazing, I've never been disappointed.
(5)
Mad I.

Pretty cool experience, very different from any other place in Chi. Sit at the sushi bar, have Mike feed ya, and pay a LARGE bill, rolls if you are lucky average like $17-20 a piece! Reserved for special occasions for me. Those we my thoughts at first...now after my 4th time there, I decided I'm dunzo.... Reasons: * $21 a roll is just too much, and they are far too simple to warrant that price * You think Mike is making you 'special rolls' catered to what you like, but really he picks 4 or 5 to make that night and cranks 'em out to everyone * I cannot sleep at night lately knowing I paid $21 for rolls filled with crab stick and cucumber.... seriously... * crab stick and cucumber (I had to say it again) * I cannot be shamed for wanting some freakin soy sauce * I don''t like to be told "No". Ex: "Mike, I like eel, can you make me an eel roll?" Mike= "No". Me: "Mike I don't like salmon" Mike: "here is a salmon roll" Me: can I get some spicy mayo?" Mike: "No" Oooookkkkaaaaayyyyyy * random $4 at the bottom of my bill (cork fee??) * Being almost turned away at 5:45 even though the restaurant was empty...reservations were at 7:45...I can be out in 2 hours....sheesh... $104 tab (see pic) and I brought my own booze...ummmm...not happenin again
(3)
Jane M.

This sushi place is my favorite. Chef's special is the only way to go. Not crazy about the roll with truffle oil and oregano but just asked not to have it. Fish and chips appetizer outstanding and a must have. Service is very good. BYOB is just the cherry on top.
(5)
Kyle D.

I've only had sushi a few times here in Chicago, and so far this has been the best experience I've had. I'm sure it's not THE best, but it was very enjoyable. The service is friendly, the atmosphere is great, and the food is fantastic. It's BYOB which is a plus too if you are a fan. They have a wide selection of foods but everyone says go with the custom rolls, so that's what we did. With that said, the food was delicious. The 'fish and chips' appetizer, which was a mixture of spicy tuna among other goods, was fantastic. The custom sushi rolls were also great. There were some interesting standouts that I had never thought of in the sushi world, but there were also a few dull rolls. Overall great though. The downside is that the nigiri is expensive and, while I didn't pay for the bill this time, I'm sure the rest of the menu is as well. It is great sushi, but not super. They had uni, which is one of my favorites, so that was nice. Overall a great experience. Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Food: 8.5/10
(4)
Jason M.

Holy Mary, Mother of God. This is unequivocally the most inequitably priced sushi restaurant in Chicago. It's been a few hours since we sat down to eat there, and I'm still in a state of disbelief. I'm in shock. I'm going to do my best to write in this state, but I don't know how well it's going to go. The sushi was fine. Good even. I want to give it its due. It wasn't great and it wasn't special, but it was good enough. To be frank, however, for it being "specially made" and "based on our tastes," it was all pretty pedestrian. Yeah, calling something pedestrian is a douche move. I don't care. I calls 'em like I sees 'em. So, let's discuss that the cheapest of our three Sushi Mike specials was $20. $20. $20. To be clear, this is for a skinny maki roll of 10 pieces. Skinny like sushi you get at Dominicks. $20. At this point, I think it makes sense to point out that precisely 0 sushi rolls on the Japonais menu cost more than $16. The same price point holds true for Sushi Mirai. This math is telling me weird things. For $4 less per roll, I could eat at Japonais, a place that's not really my scene, but certainly has a 'cool-factor' and makes some great food. For $4 more than Japonais, I could at eat Clark and Bryn Mawr, in a dark, unimpressive back room where the temperature stayed at a brisk 55 degrees throughout the entirety of 2.5 hours of waiting and starving. We never even received our last two rolls. We had to give up. I'm glad. If they had come, we'd have broken the $100 mark for a party of three who were barely even fed at a BYO. That might be the new definition of insane.
(2)
Daniela V.

I always get Mike's special. I love it. He asks what we like and don't like and everything he makes is awesome. People need to not be such brats. Try something different. Obviously the guy who makes the rolls knows what's good. You gotta try the fish and chips. It's my favorite thing!! The only thing is it's pricey, but most good sushi places are. When you get the sashimi you can taste how fresh the fish is! Yummm I want that in my mouth now!
(5)
Yaeko M.

Overall, The food was a lot better than I expected. We walked pass in front of the restaurant everyday and I saw people are smiling from glass window. I always wanted to go in. We finally did. We found out it's Korean owned sushi restaurant. We had Tanoshi sushi combination, Anderson sushi roll, and few different kinds of Nigiris. The location, ambience, service and food were pretty good. The pricing is Chicago standard. We spent about $100 for two people. I had a good time.
(4)
Jesse L.

I went to the one in Andersonville. After looking at reviews online (both Yelp and otherwise), I told my friends that if we came here, it would be a bit pricey but the quality would be really good. The quality was fine, but it didn't make up for the total confusion of the experience -- the communication barriers, the mix-ups, etc. When I explain below, each gripe might seem petty, but add them together, and it was a frustrating night. The much-celebrated Sushi Mike wasn't there, and maybe that made a difference. Before the full party had arrived, my girlfriend and I arrived early and ordered sake to bide the time. The waitress took the order, but a few minutes later, she informed us that that was a mistake; she couldn't serve us alcohol, but we could go across the street to the Jewel to buy some. By then our friends had arrived, so I went to get wine while the rest of the party stayed at the table. The waitress then had a really hard time opening the bottle, which kind of stressed me out and I just wanted to go and do it for her (which is weird given the $8 corking fee). When we actually ordered, the idea is supposed to be that you tell the wait staff what you're in the mood for and the chef surprises you. But the wait staff didn't know how to walk us through it. They had a hard time understanding what we were saying and vice versa. Normally, sub-par English isn't a big deal at sushi joints where you just mark off which items you want on a paper menu. But it doesn't fly when you're trying to give an impressionistic sense of what you want and letting them run wild with it. You spend so much effort just trying to communicate literal meanings that there's no room for subtleties and for just breathing easy -- which is the point of going out to a fancy restaurant. Letting the chef choose isn't supposed to be stressful. After the first set of rolls -- which were good -- I asked what sashimi was particularly fresh that night. The waitress didn't understand; she just listed the kinds of items available (sashimi, maki, sushi, etc.). I repeated the question, and then she started listing every fish in stock. I'm not sure how every fish could be especially recommended. I tried asking again but gave up and just ordered yellowtail. A few minutes later she came back, seemingly having now understood my question, and said the tuna is actually especially fresh tonight, and do we want to change the order? I said sure. When we got the tuna, it was drenched in flavoring -- which is fine, and tasty in itself, but it negated the question of which fish is freshest, because the flavoring overwhelmed the taste of the fish. It also defeated our purpose that night of seeking out high-quality fish. When we finally got the check, I tried to pay, but none of the servers noticed for quite awhile that I was trying to get their attention, even though there were barely any other customers. So I walked over and gave it to them. None of this is awful stuff -- these are pretty much first-world problems -- but when you're paying first-world prices, that's allowed. Maybe things would have been different if Sushi Mike were there and we'd sat at the bar. But from what I saw, it was not worth the price and experience.
(2)
Monica W.

Sushi is fresh, original and flavorful. They have basic sushi including udon soup that will never disappoint the picky sushi eaters. Please do yourself a favor and order a roll off the menu "special".. You will never look at sushi the same again. Good sushi isn't cheap but amazing sushi is worth every penny. Sushi lovers, this place is your heaven. Let the chef create you something amazing please. I promise you won't regret it.
(5)
Matthew L.

I have such mixed feelings about this place... First, the food is amazing... Chef Mike's special is the way to go if you have any sense of adventure. They will bring you as many delicious rolls of sushi as you can eat, and chances are one more because you'll naturally not think you're full, order one more, eat two more bites, realize you are full, have the next roll come anyway, take a taste, see how delicious it is anyway, then eat it despite being full, and accept the appropriate amount of gluttony happily without regard for the potential after affects on your soul or if a bald Kevin Spacey would be likely to show up to your house. However, I feel like there are more and more issues with the waitstaff each time I am there. I am not sure if the overly aggressive nature of the chefs is preventing them from keeping talent (there appeared to be some public scolding about ticket writing last time I was there) or if there is some bad hiring. I know it can be hard to work in a stressful environment so I am not sure where the blame should lie. But I do believe service is a significant part of a dining experience and when your custom sushi rolls take so long to create, you cannot have servers forgetting to take orders. And if/when you do make a mistake that causes us to go buy an extra bottle of wine to make our drinks last through our meal, perhaps comp'ed edamame is fair compensation while we hungrily stare at other peoples' delicious food. Go when it's not busy... which is... well, I don't know.
(3)
Christopher G.

OMG! We could not stop ordering roll after roll. Some great. Others okay. I just love the way Chef creates these sauces and the fact that he creates rolls around what you like, or you just tell him what you don't like. It's usually a present surprise and new flavor experience. Very fun indeed! 4 people we spent over $200 and BYOB. Cozy setting up in Andersonville. Decent service. Definitely a fun go to, but recommend a group so you can sample much.
(4)
Alicia K.

Ever since moving to Andersonville last year, I've walked by this restaurant and wanted to try it. The one thing dissuading me are the 4 dollar signs on Yelp. Well, we decided to give it a go on a Tuesday night. We arrived at 7:30pm and the place was pretty empty. By 8pm it was full - which is what we are used to seeing when walking by. I loved the Sushi Mike Special! There is something so liberating about not knowing what you will eat and having someone else make the decision. Especially at a sushi restaurant, I tend to order the same types of things over and over again. Some highlights: - Fish and chips were delicious. It's an appetizer of tuna, avocado, and fish roe on a semi-crisp chip. Perfect starter. - All of the maki rolls that we got were amazing. My favorite was the chef's special rendition on spicy tuna. The sauce was excellent - the perfect level of spice that accented the flavor, without being overpowering. Make sure to BYOB. Dominick's is across the street. To be honest, I don't think it's place is $$$$. It's just $$$. Very fair considering how well everything is made. The rolls are mostly fish and very little rice. Just the way sushi should be!
(5)
Vincent C.

After my "dinner" at Tanoshii I had no intention of writing a review, but I was cleaning out my wallet and found the receipt and felt compelled to warn you that Tanoshii is way overrated. Here's the deal: you'll be told that you can order off the menu, but there's this super creative dude named Sushi Mike who will take the things you like and make a completely customized, one-of-a-kind roll. Sounds promising, right? So, I told our waitress that I like hamachi and avocado. I wasn't expecting to have my mind blown, but I sure as hell wasn't expecting a California roll with paper thin slices of hamachi on top. It wasn't a couple layers of thinly sliced hamachi, it was one. To add insult to injury, it wasn't even a nice California roll, it was made with imitation crab meat. I think the "creative" part was the shoyu/wasabi sauce that was brushed over the hamachi. I paid $22 for that. Overpriced much? Seriously the most unfulfilling and least satisfying $22 I have ever paid for sushi. My wife also got "Mike's Special" telling our waitress that she liked unagi and avocado. She received a shrimp tempura roll with avocado and grilled unagi on top. Holy shit, I've seen at least a dozen incarnations of this roll each with its own name, but at Tanoshii since they don't put it on the menu, they can call it a "special". If I were rating Tanoshii solely on the value of what I ate, it would probably receive 2.5 stars. Unfortunately, it's difficult to ignore the fact that 2 out of my party of 7, who ate completely different things, ended up getting violently food ill later that night. I think it's also safe to say that Yelp reviews of Chicago sushi establishments are completely out of whack.
(1)
Donna V.

The wife took me here for a random night of sushi craving. Blew. My. Taste. Buds. Away. This is one if the best sushi bars I've visited. I loved everything that Sushi Mike prepared for us. We told him the things we love about sushi and the things we did not care for. He was right on the money with each creation! If you're looking to be blown away, this is the place to go. Tanoshi is a must for sushi-lovers.
(5)
Frank B.

If you like 1980's soft rock, this is your new favorite place.
(4)
Abby S.

Tanoshii is simply the best. Sushi Mike is very particular about what fish is acceptable from his purveyors so you can rest assured, even here in Chicago, you're getting the best and freshest seafood available. Don't order off the menu and you will surely have a unique and delightful experience. Just don't walk in expecting to be in a fancy sushi lounge. The environment is very casual and unassuming; be ready to jam to the best of the early 90's!
(5)
Candace T.

One of the best sushi spots in Chicago! Get the mike's special and ask for the fish and chips (not on the menu). It's like a Japanese version of ceviche. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kristin M.

It's official, I have no interest in trying any other sushi places here in Chicago. I'm committing my sushi-manogomy to Tanoshii. I honestly can no longer imagine eating sushi any where else in Chi-Town. This place has it all, inventive rolls, great value and BYOB. Although, you must absolutely sit at the bar with Sushi Mike. Definitely opt for the chef's selection, its just the best way to go. Every time its different, and he's always coming up with completely unique flavor combinations.
(5)
Jeff S.

For the food alone, I would have given it five stars. But alas, Chef Mike has a chip on his shoulder the size of Mt. Fuji. A friend and I decided to spend Friday night at Tanoshii, with the idea of ordering omakase. So we arrived at our appointed reservation time, sat at the bar and told the waiter that we will have whatever Mike is serving. Too much time went by before the "special" appetizer came by. The fish & chips lacked balance and was too sour. Much like the rest of our experience there... As the next roll was handed to us, we inquired to Mike what was in the roll. "Fish" was his response. We thought it a bit crude, but funny nonetheless. The roll was good, not great. Something with escolar on top, we presumed. The next roll comes out. Once again, we ask what it is. "Fish". Thanks, jagbag. It was some sort of spicy tuna roll. I wanted to close the bill right then and there, but we decided to stay for one more roll since this one was so good. A softshell crab roll followed. I didn't want to like it, but it was really good. We closed the tab and left for a real dinner in Chinatown at Go4Food (geoduck, salted egg yolk shrimp, whole steamed bass, crispy chicken). The bill was $60. If we were sitting anywhere but the sushi bar, we probably would have spent another $200. Unfortunately though, Mike has the personality of a grocery store California Roll. On our experience alone, I'd give this place 2.5 stars if that was possible. Don't sit at the sushi bar.
(3)
Todd G.

Most everyone agrees that Tanoshii has awesome sushi. I just read that the owners are opening a new location downtown to compete with the big boys. If you order the Sushi Mike special (where you tell the waiter what you like and Mike makes a roll catered to your taste buds), it will be delicious....and it will also be expensive. For a BYOB place, I've actually spent more money on sushi at Tanoshii than I have at downtown trendy sushi spots....so I'll be curious to see what their new downtown place will be like. Bottom line: the sushi is good, but it will cost you.
(3)
Bytes G.

Mike's Special is a must. Honestly if you don't get that you're doing it all wrong. Pretty pricey but SO worth it! Yummy, yummy, yummy!
(5)
Sourma K.

I cannot wait to go back to Tanoshii. We had one of Sushi Mike's special rolls and it was out of this world it was a perfect blend and balance of sweet and spicy tuna and whitefish, avocado and sweet egg. For an appetizer we had the fish and chips which was basically a homemade chip, which was pretty large and topped with Sushi Mike's own creation of chopped raw tuna in a lime, sesame oil infused spicy sauce with avocado which was scooped up and put into the chip for us my the waiter. Keep in mind this is BOYB and some amazing sushi. I will recommend this place to everyone I know.
(5)
Benjamin L.

We live a few blocks away and this is one of our go-to places in Andersonville. It gets pretty crowded on the weekends, but on just about any week night you can get a table. The staff is extremely friendly, especially Sushi Mike, who is pretty well known around these parts. All I can say is that he is, as advertised, an expert at crafting and tailoring sushi to your tastes. We go here just about every chance we get!
(5)
Penny L.

Wednesday night freezing winter temperatrue. We were able to find pay street parking close to restaurant. clean simple pleasant decor and lighting. Could barely hear 80's music in background due to a loud party. Able to seat family of four. Crisp salad but needed more zest for kids. My kids are into ginger soy dressing. Server always pleasant, informative and attentive. She brought glasses for our Sapporo beer. She brought wine glasses, saw we brought Ozeki junmai sake and switched to sake cups. Sake later put on ice. Udon soup good. Vegetables in broth, good. Tempura, good. Udon noodles had the right chew. Not overcooked. No mushy noodles. Chef Mike made two special rolls. One had a slice of strawberry which gave a soft bouquet taste. Almost reminiscent of a sake with a floral note. A surprising roll perfectly sliced into one bite size. Second roll, kids wanted unagi and spice. The roll looked large but was an amazing one bite. Pleasant texture. Spice was made with mayo but reminded me of mild buffalo sauce. Incredibly good. Both rolls worked with sake. Yes, byob. Did not open beer. Ordered sashimi dinner. All slices fresh and good texture and taste. Escolar, large clam, mackerel, squid, scallop, shrimp, salmon, yellow tail, missing two other. Good uni Nigiri. All worked with sake. The server brought soy sauce with fresh wasabi. Next time, I'll request fresh wasabi on the side. Good green tea ice cream and mochi ice cream-coffee, green tea, red bean. If I can't make it to Katsu or Coast, this is my new goto for sushi sashimi and Mike's special rolls. Macku, I've had 3 visits which were all omakse courses with reserve sake but I won't set foot at your place.
(4)
Jenny H.

Best sushi I've ever had. Ever. Exquisite food. Beautifully presented. Every course was better than the one before - and the one before was the best thing you've ever eaten. Get Mike to determine your menu - only way to go.
(5)
Barbara D.

3.45 Another Sushi Girls' Dinner. The coolest part of this sushi joint is the dark, wooden bar. Just looks so damn cool! It's not quite a sushi bar, I don't even think in serves alcohol, it fits yet it shouldn't. The second coolest part was the Tuna Tataki. Although, oddly the waiter scooped all of it evenly onto our three chips; it was impressively plenty. Spicy & Fresh. The rolls, usual sake and different varieties of maguro nigiri were all average. Fresh but average. So....for a quote from 3 non-anorexic girls: Appetizer 5 rolls 8 nigiris BYOB wine =around 100 bucks. Not bad. Cute place to catch up with friends....
(3)
Mike P.

Been coming to Tanoshii for a few years now. There's not much I can add. I would readily agree that it is some of the best sushi in the city. It's a touch on the pricey side for a neighborhood joint. However, the first taste will tell you that it's money well spent. Get a nice bottle of white wine and toss the menu aside. Let Sushi Mike take you on a ride. You won't regret it.
(5)
Erica T.

This place is awesome if you are willing to leave the options with the chef. I do recommend bring a group as I felt we had more options. Also, leave the picky eaters at home for this one. I can't entirely remember each roll we had. But it was interesting flavor combos like a tuna roll topped w sundried tomatoes and drizzled with oil infused w Italian herbs. A definite must try place!
(4)
Susan F.

The rice to fish ratio is in your favor at Tanoshii, especially with the Sushi Mike special. This place is not your run of the mill, all you can eat, soy sauce on every bite joint. Yes, they have a full menu with nigiri, apps, bento boxes, and special rolls but I would try the special at least once. First, we received a flavorful spicy fish, avocado, and roe-packed ceviche prepared for each of us on a giant tortilla chip. Are you allergic to certain fish, do you not like spicy food? Whatever you tell the server, he will bring you something you probably have not had at a sushi place prior. For example, we had one roll that had a tiny sliced strawberry in it. It didn't taste fruity at all, it tasted like sushi. The subtle hints of creativity they put into their food makes this place unique and worth trying. Things to note: Sushi Mike rolls vary from $16-$22. They take reservations. They have a BYOB corkage fee.
(5)
Jennifer D.

Best sushi in the city. No doubt! Always order the sushi mike special and the fish and chips. Definitely recommend whether you like sushi or not. You will leave a sushi lover.
(5)
Tina P.

Umm... for a party of 4 our expensive rolls that were advertised as "unique" ended costing us $190 for what would have been about half the price at any other legitimate restaurant with their specialty rolls listed. Sorry, Sushi Mike. I'm not coming back. I'd rather know exactly what's in my rolls and the price beforehand.
(2)
Binnan O.

Came here on a man-date and had a good time. Ambiance: Standard nice japanese restaurant. Staff were conversational and friendly, service was responsive even though the place quickly filled up quickly. Food: Started out with the fish and chips which was very interesting. It was a tuna-based mixture freshly prepared by a waitress and served on a large pita chip, very light and enjoyable. We went with 4 of Mike's rolls for the night and they were all very tasty and unique, varying from sweet to savory to mildly spicy. My complaint with the rolls were that they all revolved around a sauce almost like a crutch. Sauces are nice and they add variety but sometimes it's nice to let a roll stand out on its fish alone. To his credit, the sauces were not excessive and drowning the rolls. This place also didn't use tempura in everything like cheaper americanized restaurants. I guess if I had wanted that I should have just ordered some simple nigiri or something. The fish quality WAS really good being a good mixture of soft and buttery but not mushy. The last roll we requested a dessert roll and it was a fish mixture served on a asian pear. If the pear had been ripe it would have been amazing because the mixture was super savory and I can see how it would've worked well. Overall this place was pretty good. The quality of fish was great and the chef's creativity was applaudable. I'd be interested in coming back and trying some of the more regular rolls although having what i had tonight again wouldn't be bad either. My biggest complaint with this place is the pretty high price, fish and chips + 4 rolls came out to be ~$122.
(4)
Steve S.

This is my favorite place for sushi, and the reviews that recommend reserving a spot at the sushi bar are spot on. The quality of the fish is amazing, but the real standout are the sauces. The fresh wasabi sauce is really outstanding, and his sun-dried tomato, yuzu, spicy mango and brown sauces are excellent as well, and he goes easy on the salt so you can still taste the fish. (By the way, if you thought a sun-dried tomato sauce on fish wouldn't be good, I went in thinking that too. I was wrong.) But here's a really useful hint. Go a little later at night when Tanoshii isn't as busy. Mike likes to get really creative, but he doesn't have the time to make some of the rolls when the restaurant is crowded. We went in at 9 pm on a Thursday. If you do the same, your patience will be rewarded.
(5)
Rhoda G.

I live in an area in Lakeview where there are a ton of Japanese restaurants and Tanoshii is by far the best sushi I have had in Chicago so far. Since it's BYOB, we bought a bottle of pinot grigio. We came in around 6 pm and sat at the bar. The place was fairly empty but there were several reserved tables. For apps, we got the Fish and Chips. It's not on the menu, so make sure to order it. It's one big chip with fresh guacamole and fresh salmon mixed together. Delicious! I was pleasantly surprised. For sushi, we got three of the Sushi Mike's Specials. You just tell him what you like and don't like and he will make whatever creation. Since we were at the bar, we got to see all the action and the attention to detail was amazing. We did order off the menu as well. Fresh sake, tuna, along with their specialty rolls. Everything was fantastic and fresh. Yes, this place can be a little expensive, but it's worth it for the quality of sushi.
(5)
Yun P.

Everyone talks about sushi Mike being this fabulous person. I have been to many, many, many asian establishments and I was so disappointed in this restaurant. I really, really, really wanted to like him, but... First of all there's so prices on the menu for Mike's specialty rolls until you get the bill... i don't know about you but i dine out ALOT and $100- for NO ALCOHOL for just sushi is expensive for a small joint. $20 for a salmon roll are you kidding me? we're not at japonais.... i do have to say the spicy tuna was delicious but the softshell was eh, fish and chips which they think is a fabulous dish is just salmon tartar w LOTS of tomatoes, fish tonkatsu was good but the rice sucked... i can say that because i'm asian and i know what sticky rice is supposed to taste like, it wasn't as fresh as you think. Most importantly it took 1 hr to make three rolls. That is CRAZY!!!!!! if you are going to push sushi mike and fabulous rolls hire extra workers. I will never go back. Go to Ora down the street, AMAZING sushi for lot less and better service.
(2)
Colin E.

My favorite sushi in town. Beyond. Everyone is right. Get some sake at Jewel right across the street. They'll put it on ice for you at the table. Come with a big appetite. Start with their gyoza. Then order the 2-roll iteration of Mike's Special. Tell them what you like and don't like and stand back--such a great concept for sushi. Don't use soy sauce with the Mike's Special; the sauces that come on them are deliberate and perfect as is. Ask for one of the rolls to come with strawberrry and jalapeÃ±o. I would never have thought to ask for this but they sprung it on us and it was the hit of the meal. Nothing like you'd think.
(5)
Louise M.

WOW. I rarely get sushi... but it seems that every time I do, it's the same old vegetarian rolls. You know: the cucumber roll, the sweet potato roll, the avocado roll... blah blah blah. TANOSHII IS DIFFERENT! IT IS AMAZING! Before I picked up the menu I was debating which of the standard veg rolls to order... And then I read about the concept of Tanoshii; 'Tell Sushi Mike what you like, and he will make a customized roll just for you.' So, me and my dining companions all ordered one of the Sushi Mike custom rolls, and we were all AMAZED by how special and unique each one was! We loved them so much that we ordered two more rounds each! IT WAS AWESOME! Our server was also very accommodating, nice, funny, and quick. She made sure our Tanoshii experience was top notch! We will be back!
(5)
Maya C.

This is by far my least favorite sushi place I've been to in Chicago. I'm a huge sushi fan and I believe it's pretty hard to mess up the standard rolls, but this place was no enjoyable at all. The server didn't know what sriracha was which was a huge issue because I can't eat sushi without my favorite cock sauce!!! I also really enjoy a TINY sliver of a lemon peel in my sushi for freshness or a squirt of lemon on top of my salmon rolls, so I asked the server if she could put a TINY amount of the peel in my roll and got whole lemon slices. They put them in EVERY roll I ordered, and it was so overpowering I couldn't eat it. I explained this to the server in detail about how it's just a tiny sliver, and she didn't quite understand I guess. Totally ruined the whole experience for me. Took us forever to get soy sauce brought to our table as ours was empty. The pot stickers/dumplings we ordered were also drenched in sauce instead of the sauce on the side so that was an awful appetizer experience. Really, I don't even want to write too much more abou this place because I didn't like it at all. I'll never go back there and it's literally two blocks away from me. I'll travel a little further for better quality food no problem. Maybe this was just a one time thing as the average rating here is 4 stars, but I'd rather eat at Hello Sushi on Damen or a billion other places in Chicago than here.
(2)
Audre L.

I would give this a 3.5 if I could. The food is really interesting and you'll get some rolls that you wouldn't normally get - but its a little pricey overall. I guess if you're in the area, definitnely try it at least once, and if this is up your alley for sushi, good for you!
(3)
Matt T.

Not sure what all the hype is...sushi was good but about par for the course. We did enjoy the Sushi Mike special but for $19 it just wasn't worth it. I understand it was a big roll but I've had similar rolls for about $14. It was a take a spicy tuna with an interesting sauce and tuna on top of the roll with some tempura crunch but that was about it. We said we pretty much like everything including spicy and we got something without a wow factor. The other rolls we got were fine but nothing different for the price. The ngiri is $3-$4 a piece which is just ridiculous. There are other places that you will pay half that and get bigger pieces, including my favorite place, Rolls N Bowls. The other thing was the A/C was not working well and we went in on a 100 degree day. This took away from the experience a bit, so we ate fast and left. I might come back once more to try but for the price we paid I'd rather go elsewhere. Nothing to write home about.
(3)
Rebecca J.

Going to this place was a bizarre and unpleasant experience. It included the worst service I have ever experienced at any restaurant. Starts with us waiting longer than what is expected to get water and wine glasses and menus, and not everyone got the separate paper menus for the a la carte sushi. Waitstaff couldn't get our orders straight then wanted to argue with us about what we had ordered. Yes, I would like nothing more than for you to screw up our orders then try to prove that WE'RE wrong! Food came out at very different times, some of it came out incorrectly, and some of it NEVER came out after being there for 2.5 hours, so we cancelled the rest of the food so we could gtf out of there and cease our suffering. The food that we did get was just okay. Nothing was impressive- not even the sushi Mike special. Not sure what the problem is with service as they were not that busy and appeared fully staffed both in terms of servers and sushi chefs. Maybe they just don't care, maybe they're incompetent, or perhaps a combination of the two. In any case, there are dozens of better sushi restaurants in Chicago, even a couple in the same neighborhood that far surpass Tanoshii, so don't subject yourself to the torture that is the dining experience here.
(1)
Michelle L.

Woah. The rolls were amazing. You have two options when dining at Tanoshii: order off the menu (includes meals, rolls, sashimi, etc.) or let the sushi chef customize rolls based on your likes/dislikes. I eat anything and I'm not allergic to anything so we let the chef make 5 "surprise" rolls for us. Our appetizer was amazing! Then we had about 5 more rolls - all of which were delicious. The texture, quality of the fish, presentation, ingredients...EVERYTHING was delicious. Our chef (not Chef Mike) was super nice, funny and provided great service! This is a must try for sushi lovers. Plus it's BYOB!
(5)
Moose D.

Best darn kitty food (see, I am a puppy) I have had in a very long time. Simple, quaint and the perfect spot not to be seen, but gotta love the food. Freshest fish i have had this far from the water. Service is always impeccable, fast and courteous.place is clean and a great atmosphere. It is BYOB so come prepared. FOUR PAWS
(5)
Sean M.

I have tried 15-20 places in my life and Tanoshii is by far the best sushi ever. Everything is so fresh! Tell sushi Mike what you like and don't like and he will make you the best damn sushi you ever had! I strongly suggest the "Philadelphia" (smoked salmon) roll!
(5)
Jaclyn H.

A great sushi spot!!! They customize rolls for you based on your tastes/dietary requirements, it's BYOB, and it all tastes great! They had a special appetizer called Fish Chips that were unique, and tasty too!
(5)
Paul L.

Awesome. I highly recommend Mike's Special Rolls: you're given a list of ingredients (seafood, fruits, vegetables, etc.) to choose from and Sushi Mike makes something unique for you. The man clearly knows what he is doing. It's largely a matter of choosing what you don't want. Each of the Special Rolls we ordered was fantastic. As a note, the price for Mike's Special Rolls may vary depending on what you choose so if you're just interested in something simple (i.e., crab and avocado) you may want to just order off of the menu. It's adventurous and that's the point, but you do pay up to about $20 per roll if you're very adventurous. Each does come as a larger serving (10 pieces instead of the standard 6). I also really liked the fish and chips appetizer. It's like spicy, minced fish pate. One order is good for two people. Everything is fresh. It is BYOB but there is a Jewel just down the block if you need to pick something up.
(5)
Mar L.

Food: 5 stars Service: do I have to tip? Very Bad Service
(3)
Randy N.

You can't charge $15 for a roll and put fake crab in it. Good, but there's better fish elsewhere.
(3)
Clint B.

This is a great place! Sushi Mike rules the world......East of Harlem that is! Throw the menu away and have him make some custom rolls based on what YOU like! BYOB last time I was there!!!
(5)
Anand A.

This places gets 5 Stars if you do the following: 1) Order the Fish and Chips (Stunning explosion of taste on first bite) 2) Order the Soft Shell Crab Chef's special (perhaps one of the best rolls in the city) 3) Leave and go to another Sushi joint or another restaurant. If you veer off these steps and stay for other food here, expect an overall 3.5. The rolls are pretty good but they are quite expensive and you can get comparable food at other places.
(5)
Mikey J.

This place is what's up! So good, I dedicate my 100th review to Tanoshii. I came here today on a whim and, boy, was I pleasantly surprised. The place is just off Lake Shore, has ample parking, and a warm cozy interior. Service is excellent and quick. STEVE, you are the man. I was seated promptly and offered the menu and ice water right away. I ordered the teriyaki chicken bento box and was pleasantly surprised. I had just swam and was HUNGRY, and this bento box filled me up: miso soup, salad, rice, teriyaki chicken, tempura, sushi, and dumplings. Riding off my post-workout hunger, I then ordered two specialty rolls from the chef. I don't have their names but they were delicious!! One was a mix strawberries, egg, rice, and mixed sushi with a dab of wasabi on top. The other was a spicy salmon roll made with some twists that I couldn't identify, but came out excellent! Prices are good too. Oh yeah, BYOB. Holla! Will definitely be back!!
(5)
Kara D.

Having never eaten here, I definitely had an idea of what to expect going in. Yes, it was amazing and delicious and fun and awesome, etc., etc. I have to say, Tanoshii, Sushi Mike, and his crew of talented chefs have exceeded my expectations in every way. Let me begin (again) by saying that I don't even really ENJOY sushi - I made reservations at Tanoshii to celebrate a birthday. Upon entering the restaurant though, you have a distinct moment of realization that you are going to eat raw fish tonight, and you WILL LIKE IT. The friendly waitstaff greets you right away. (I would definitely give 5 stars for this alone - every person there was attentive without being pushy, informative without being snide, and genuinely welcoming.) After a quick explanation of the menu and Mike's Special, we had our order for fish and chips in and popped the whiskey. What can I say? You should be prepared to wait, but try to get a seat at the bar if you can. While your food is being prepared, you can watch the masters at work. Mike and his chefs definitely create a fun atmosphere, and even if you're not into conversation, watching them create these amazing sushi rolls should keep even the most impatient diner occupied. And the wait is worth it by the way - each roll we had did indeed feature raw fish, but after watching it come together right before your eyes, it's impossible to not eat. The hardest thing to do is not eat too fast!! In any case, the longer we were there, the better everything got. There were shots for the bar, as well as sake (whiskey?) bombs. The quality of the food didn't suffer - if anything, each roll was more enjoyable than the last. This place will definitely change your mind if you enter with preconceived notions of what sushi is. The only bad part about eating here is that afterwards, you realize you won't be able to eat sushi anywhere else without thinking that you could be eating at Tanoshii instead.
(5)
Stephen S.

Tanoshii is delicious and creative, providing a sushi experience that is unlike anywhere else I've been. The name of the game here is Sushi Mike and the best way to experience Tanoshii is to go with Mike's Special Rolls where you let Mike now what you like and he fixes you up something. Some people might find the price a little off putting, but what you have to appreciate is that the way you typically get this sort of culinary inspired sushi is to order an omakase which will cost you a lot more. Mike's Special is kinda like an omakase-lite and Sushi Mike has the culinary vision to deliver something truly exceptional. Plus you have more control that an omakase. We asked for something spicy and something fruity and sweet and specified our fish. Everything turned out fantastic! The place is BYO but has a small corkage fee. Don't go into Tanoshii expecting your run-of-the-mill sushi, but if you want a great experience with fantastic quality fish Tanoshii is your place.
(4)
Beth S.

The best sushi there is, period! Sushi Mike is one of a kind! Once you eat this sushi, you will never want to eat grocery story sushi again.
(5)
Tanya T.

Mike (the chef) is unbelievable. If you try Mike's special - tell him what you like and he will create custom masterpieces catered to your personality and taste. Truly authentic experience, super friendly staff which take pride about working there and unbelievably tasty plates which will play with all your taste buds. Yumm!!
(5)
Nikkie H.

My friend had talked about Sushi Mike for weeks, maybe months. I thought, "Seriously, how good can this place be? Sheesh." Well, it is that good. Indeed it is. Went there last night as kind of a spur of the moment thing (Him: Want sushi? Me: Yup.) It was, as some say, amazeballs. Started off with the fish and chips, which is really a nice mix of fish with spices on a tortilla-like chip. It was kind of impossible to not eat without slopping, but whatever. As others said before, it is not on the menu, but ask for it. Then we had several pieces of nigiri before moving on to three of Sushi Mike's specialty rolls. All I can say is that these rolls put other sushi joints to shame. SHAME! The mix of flavors just melt in your mouth - refreshing, then a kick of spice, then just delish. Mmmmmm. Towards the end my stomach started saying no more, and I finally had to give in, lest I felt sick and regret eating there. I couldn't let that happen. Without a doubt I plan on coming back, with or without my friend (sorry dude). The quality of the fish, the creativity in the rolls, the friendliness of Sushi Mike, and the overall atmosphere was outstanding. Oh yeah, and they play AWESOME music. Lots of great 80s tunes. I was in heaven.
(5)
s. m. j.

What a wonderful neighborhood sushi joint this is! I went with friends who live near here, and when we walked in, my friend greeted Sushi Mike and thanked him for the excellence of some recent party platters. It's like Cheers, here: Everybody knows your name. :) But more importantly, the sushi is divine! The menu is extensive, with a lot of choices of rolls. I went for the caterpillar roll, which was salmon and crab, I think, with avocado on the top. When I posted a pic on Facebook, I got a ton of comments, including one jealous friend who said hardly anyone makes rolls that look that beautiful anymore. My friend asked for Sushi Mike's off-the-menu special, which included fish and fruit, such as strawberries. I had a bite, and it was exquisite, just the perfect mix of all the flavors. Next time I go, I'm asking for that. As are many Chicago establishments, this is BYOB. They will bring you wine glasses for your bottle. We sat in the back and had a lovely, very cosy, extremely delicious dinner here on a recent Sunday night. If you have the opportunity to try out this great sushi restaurant, don't wait, and return again soon. I would if I could!
(4)
ashley m.

Damn I LOVE this place, never fails!
(5)
Cameron H.

I am a bit torn with this place. I heard mixed reviews. The general consensus was that the Mike's Special is what should be ordered. But if you ordered the typical items, they are good as well. The Special, which was custom (we were asked what we liked and disliked) turned out well. However, the typical items were not good. The Special came out first but was a but delayed (took 15 minutes). There weren't that many people in restaurant either. Then it took another 15-20 minutes to get our other orders. You would think the Soft Shell Crab, or the Dragon, or the Unagi would be delicious. But they weren't. Very bland.. Such a shame. It appears he focuses on the Specials more than the more traditional/every day items. Unfortunately, I will not be going back.
(2)
K E.

If someone had offered me a dish described as "a combination of sundried tomato, strawberry, and raw fish" I would probably have smacked them. But in the hands of "Mike" and "Chris" at Tanoshii, those three seemingly incompatible ingredients are amazing together in a roll. And it's not on the menu. At Tanoshii, I think it's the chefs' creativity and ability to balance flavors that make their creations unique. I haven't tried anything I haven't liked yet, but with the exception of their fun and flavorful "fish and chips", I also haven't tried anything on the official menu. I highly recommend sitting at the bar and turning your meal over to the very, very capable chefs. The ingredients are eclectic and the results are amazing. Bring your favorite people and your favorite wine - it's BYOB. You may be surprised, but you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Jessie V.

Try Mike's special. :-)
(4)
S E.

The chef's specials are wonderful if you don't mind that they tend to incorporate a variety of sauces. I very much do not mind, particularly because the sauces tend to accentuate without overwhelming the flavor of the fish, creating neat, new flavor combinations. The fish and chips and the spicy unagi are two of my favorites.
(5)
David K.

We've been going here on and off for about 18 months. It's not just the sushi, it's the smiles and the service you get at Tanoshii. Sushi Mike is a delight to talk with, makes great sushi creations of wonderful quality (which he occasionally takes calm, quiet, deserved pride in), and won't give you run-on sentences like this. I don't think I can say anything that hasn't been said in other reviews, so I leave it to you, the reader, to visit and try it out. I just finished 2 pieces of salmon sashimi I took away about 10 minutes before closing time (not a Sushi Mike night), and I couldn't help but finally insert another glowing recommendation for this place.
(5)
Lorna S.

The fish here is fresh, and the owner is an entertaining and friendly man. I've seen him on TV a few times, as he is an expert in his field. If you can stand the wait, the food is excellent. I waited for my food almost 2 hours while sitting at the bar on a Wednesday night. I had no idea it was going to take so long to get my food, but it was definitely good. I found out that if you're not picky, and you sit at the bar, just ask Mike (the owner) to just make you something, he'll come up with a tasty treat. Usually spicy, but very good. I'm not certain I will go back, unless it's for lunch on a weekday, just because it took way too long to get our food. I took off 1 star for the wait, because the food was so good. You decide if you want to do it. BYOB!
(4)
Ami K.

My favorite sushi in Chicago. Ask for their fish and chips as a starter. And definitely get one of Mike's special rolls. Amazing food, great 80's music atmosphere, good service, freshest sashimi in town. I've never been disappointed and I could eat sushi for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
(5)
Emma M.

What comes to my mind when I think of girls' night out ? Sushi & wine! My friend had heard of this restaurant from a few different people and since it was in the neighborhood we thought we'd check it out. We went on a Wednesday night and by the time we left it was packed. We ordered the fish and chips which was a tuna tartar on top of a wonton chip. It was really tasty, but they took away the extra tuna tartar mixture after they packed it on to the wonton chip, which was really annoying. We would of eaten it without another chip! For dinner, we ordered Mike's Special. You pick the ingredients and they create rolls for you. We all really liked cilantro, jalapeno, unagi, mango, avocado, etc and they created the some pretty interesting rolls. One came with mango and truffle oil and another came with sliced strawberries and a combo of the ingredients we requested.The rolls were really good, but also pretty $$. I've been to a lot of sushi restaurants where the rolls have been just as good or better and they were not as expensive. It was BYOB so we saved money there, but I don't think I will be going back. To me, it was just A-OK.
(3)
Grace L.

This place is AWESOME!! I will not try sushi anywhere else but this place. It doesn't compare to anything else. I LOVE everything about this place. Mike ROCKS!! he is just excellent on his concotions.....absolutely AMAZING.
(5)
Rick H.

Mike is diligent, creative and focused. The perfect formula for sushi to go out of your way for. While he starts with great raw materials- its Mike's extra creative touch that sets the place apart form the numerous other sushi options. The BYO is a nice touch as well!
(5)
Stephen R.

This is a decent place. Its quaint and quiet and probably the best sushi place in Andersonville, but thats like saying youre the smart guy in the dumb class. Service was a little spotty and slow...so wasnt too keen on that. Andersonville is not a sushi mecca, so its all relative. This IS a good place, so please attend and enjoy it. I liked the hamachi unagi spicy tuna tempura appetizer edamame I was lukewarm on the: shumai gyoza go enjoy as it is BYOB and I always like BYOB places.
(2)
Kelley L.

I took my boyfriend here who was very skeptical about sushi in the past. I convinced him this experience would change his mind...and it did! We started off with an order of the "fish and chips" which is essentially a Tuna Cevice on a fresh tortilla chip that will blow your mind. Then we ordered the traditional way by just telling sushi mike things we didn't like and to create whatever he wanted from there. we got 4 rolls and each of them was absolutely incredible. My boyfriend has since asked me when we can go back, and I am thrilled that Tanoshii was the place that made him a true believer in how amazing sushi is! Best in town...hands down.
(5)
Johnnie G.

Okay. So this is totally going against my last review and that makes me giddy!! Sit at the bar. Let the chef make what he wants and u will not be disappointed. Do not order off the menu. That was my bad before. Fish is fresh, delicious and why not splurge a bit...you can bring your own bottle
(4)
Hoof S.

Let me start by saying that we were VERY excited to go here. Great reviews it seemed, and I love sushi. We made a reservation at the bar for 9:30pm. Got there on time, but ended up waiting AN HOUR! to be seated. They brought edamame over but after sitting hungry for 60 minutes, the charm was gone. And our only wait was the obnoxious regulars that were boozing at the bar with their BYO whiskey bottles. Once we sat down, things did not improve. Mike is a tyrant with his sushi, and really... it was NOthing to write home about. Some dip-sushi appetizer and then a roll doused in sauce. By this time, it looked like most of the chefs were drunk. Our last one was a freakin' tuna roll with STRAWBERRY on it. It also had a fried tempura shell that he then proceeded to make soggy with truffle oil. WORST ROLL EVER. Honestly, worst experience ever. Oh yeah, and the total for said dip (2 big chips worth) and 2 of Mike's gross rolls? ..... $60. The only thing that made it stupider was Mike the sushi nazi telling people near us not to put soy sauce on his disgusting roll, and then him pulling all the other chefs and employees into the back to loudly berate them. The clientele made it worse. Drunk rejects hanging out pounding liquor like it was a freakin' dive bar. WILL NEVER RETURN and adamantly do not recommend! best of luck to those who do go.. But for me, paying $20 bucks a roll for that crowd and company, and that 'creativity' in sushi is NOT my bag.
(1)
Matt M.

This place has a schtick and that's it. The sushi is fine. Not all that fresh. Not at all that inventive. Sort of over-priced. Unfriendly. Basically, if you like getting chicken while watching people joust, or if you like your pizza with a steady dose of whack-a-mole, and if you consider that good chicken or good pizza instead of just an interesting experience, then you will love this place. But the jousting is at least interesting and whack-a-mole is fun. The sushi chefs here do not make anything interesting. Well, I suppose if "tuna" is exotic for you, and "spicy sauce" blows you away, then you will love it. This place just isn't very good and I do not understand the rave reviews. Then again, it seems that they are playing for a mass audience so that might explain it. Maybe it once was good when sushi was more uncommon and they could fleece the unsuspecting Americanized palette, but not any more. I would skip this place. But that's just me. It's a free country. Go if you want.
(2)
Ross W.

Best. Sushi. Ever.
(5)
Amy D.

ehh. The rolls were unimpressive and I HATE when sushi joints say they have crabmeat when they really use a CRABSTICK. That already lost two stars already. The Mike Special roll was interesting but it wasn't amazing like everyone said so that lost another star. The service was great and it's BYOB so I'm settling on 2 stars. Side note. Everyone speaks Korean. My boyfriend overheard (very easily as they were yelling it across the tiny restaurant) that they were ordered a summons that day and that the owner was an ass to one of his employees. Maybe they should realize some people speak the same language as the staff and try to act professional in all languages in front of guests.
(2)
Stephen D.

There's one thing to remember. Sushi Mike = The Man Now, here's the deal for you guys. I've followed Sushi Mike for a few years through a few different restaurants (I'm something of a groupie) and I've watched his sushi get better and better. . . He is a true artist. . .If Sushi making had a Jackson Pollack complete with bursts of creativity and mania. . .his name is Sushi Mike. Gassho.
(5)
Claire S.

Have only gotten take out from this spot, but have really enjoyed it! I am a fan of the Kamikaze makimono (spicy tuna, crab meat, cucumber, lettuce). I would like to dine-in at some point for a different experience.
(4)
Dina D.

Katsu, my ass! That place was so rude, we left and went to Tanoshii instead. I don't eat sushi. Well, the raw stuff...makes me wanna puke in my mouth a little. But I have a new found love for veggie rolls. I love avocado, cucumber, cream cheese rolls. There was not a roll like that on the menu but I asked Mike, head "chef", to see what he could do and he said "no problem." What ended up on my plate was a delicious, super-creative, avocado, cucumber, cream cheese roll lightly topped with a peanut-y sauce in the shape of catepillar! It even had eyes! It looked just like the kind of catepillar Brittany Bechtold put in my hair when I was 7...except, this one, I wanted to eat it, not scream... It's BYOB and they played the strangest, most awesome music ever...song list included, but was not limited to "Billie Jean," "Rock me, Amedeus," and "Rock Me Like a Hurricane." Tanoshii definitely rocked me without rocking my wallet like Katsu would've... Ah! A catepillar! I mean, mmm...a catepillar!
(4)
Holly M.

Urg...just...not good. I had been living down the street from this place for about a year and finally got the opportunity to go with my roommate. We sat down and ordered and everything seemed to be going well. Our miso soups came out two minutes after we ordered them and our water was constantly being re-filled. However, after we ordered our sushi...and after our third refill of water, the rest of the night crashed and burned. When one of the waitresses came to refill our water, chunks of..something came out with it. My roommate received a water with a long--I can only assume--booger in it. My water had a few pieces of mucus in it, too. 10 minutes passed, then 20, and finally at the half hour mark, one plate of sushi came out. I devoured my little sushi roll and my roommate waited to eat his since I still hadn't gotten the rest of my food. Still hungry and waiting for more, I almost fell asleep at the table as we had to wait another 20 minutes for the rest of the food to be brought out. After the OK sushi, we waited yet another 15 minutes for the bill and had to send it back since edamame had been added to our order and not the miso soups. For the quality of food (and water), it's extremely overpriced. And honestly, I just really didn't like having my order come in segments over an hour and 45 minutes in an un-crowded restaurant. Somehow the most truthful reviews got filtered out down below. And obviously, from every other review on here, you only get good service if you're buddy-buddy with the head chef. My roommate and I ended up stopping over at Hamburger Mary's afterwards since we were still hungry.
(1)
Eric R.

My wife and I explored Tanoshii for the first time last night and became big fans. I can see how this place would get busy on the weekends as it was pretty packed on a Thursday. We had a little trouble getting served at first, but once the waiter actually took our order he was quite attentive. We started with an appetizer course of the fried tofu and the soft shell crab. The tofu wasn't really to my liking...I found it mushy and kind of bland. However, the soft shell crab was delicious and I'd definitely order it again. We then had the sashimi platter. Absolutely delicious fresh fish, and large pieces of it! Really filling for the both of us (we split one order). Even the octopus, which I'm never a fan of due to texture, was really nicely done. I'd gladly come back with friends and recommend it to anyone!
(4)
Moyah M.

Fantastic and wonderful. He has ruined me for sushi anywhere else. Service- amazing and attentive. It's byob and that's amazing in itself. The food is incredible. Do not order off of the menu and let Sushi Mike do his "magic". Make sure if you byob grab something for Mike too.
(5)
Ile F.

why doesn't this place have 5 starts. one of the greatest dining experiences i had. ever. food was amazing. the chef just wowed us with whatever he picked, he made us feel welcome, so comfortable. we left with a smile. It was worth every penny, we will definitely be back as soon as we can! Loved it! loved it loved it. please go.
(5)
nancy b.

i really love the concept, but i wasn't a fan of a $21 roll, especially one that had little fish on it. i love the idea of telling mike to whip up whatever based on my few dislikes/likes, but i was left feeling a little robbed after two 10 piece rolls that were $18 and $21 respectively. i'm glad i went once, but it's not going to be my sushi standby. i rather have really good quality fish for way cheaper (e.g. Lawrence Fish Market), but that's just my preference. i also really liked the unusual ingredients he put together that i might not see again in sushi - diced sundried tomatoes or truffle oil. however, our second roll had way too much rice to charge $18. good to go once, but not again.
(3)
Hai B.

Sushi Mike is funny and crazy all at the same time. I have a picture of him carrying me...enough said. This place is pretty fun because I'm from California and this place allows BYOB! That's just so cool to me. The fish and chips is pretty awesome. It's tuna tartare on top of fried won ton chips. The portion size is pretty decent (enough to feed 3 hungry people). I can't remember which rolls we ordered but overall the food was pretty good!
(4)
Katty D.

i brought a few friends here on the recommendation of a college friend who said that this is her FAVORITE place to get sushi. After trying this place, I can see exactly why. I will say, it is one of the most expensive sushi places I've been to, but their fish is very, very fresh. A special thing they do is something called Mike's Special Roll (I think). Genius! You just tell them what your favorite fishes and ingredients are, and he'll make you a custom roll. We had a Yellowtail custom roll and a white tuna w/mango, cilantro and more. For an appetizer we tried their fried calamari which was breaded in something lighter than the typical breading and came out soaked in a light soy/sour sauce. The table next to us had udon that I wanted to stick a spoon in, something that I definitely plan to try when I go there again. Between 4 girls we had 10 rolls. My favorites: Kamikaze, Dynamite, Red Caterpillar Ambiance - Very chic, without overdoing it. Food Quality - fresh fish, innovative rolls Service - a little slow to be honest, only 2 servers for the whole place, but its made up for in the food. Value - expensive. our bill was $160 for 4 people.
(4)
Jill D.

Here's the deal: Sushi Mike knows his stuff. He's decided to take a creative, nontraditional approach to sushi, and it may well be the most delicious food I've ever eaten. If you are looking for a purist sushi experience, go somewhere else. Experimentation is the name of the game at Tanoshii. That's the whole concept. Get the Mike's Specials. I don't even know why Tanoshii has a menu. My favorite of Sushi Mike's special rolls is the "Italian." He actually doesn't name any of his creations, but regular customers have developed their own names for their faves. The must-have appetizer has been dubbed "fish and chips." When you order, just tell them if you have any strong preferences and let Mike run wild. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Brenda S.

Mike's special here is great. I have never had a bad special, but that's all I order here, so not sure what the other menu items are like. To enhance the experience definitely make a reservation at the bar to see Chef Mike in action, and BYOB!
(4)
Matthew H.

Flavor is king at Tanoshii. Sushi Mike guides you through is menu with different levels of spice and lots of tangy sauces. Generally, the sushi is of a high quality and he brings in fresh Uni which is worth the price of admission. he has a passion for sushi and you can tell Moke doesnt cut corners when it comes to getting the best quality fish in the area. It doesnt quite get the fifth star because I have had sushi in Seattle and San Francisco which is the best in the country. But for a landlocked midwestern city like Chicago, Tanoshii is a great choice for Sushi.
(4)
Ladan S.

One of the best Sushi I had in Chicago in a while. Love the creativity!!!
(5)
Nora H.

This was our second visit and it was just OK. We opted to try food other than sushi this time and it was unremarkable and my husband's soup was way to salty. I had the shrimp which was fine, the tempura was tasty but a bit mushy. In a city full of sushi places I don't find this to be a stand out and the Mike sushi specials are pricy.
(2)
Jennifer P.

Truly delicious. Enjoyed every course and every bite. Loved the surprise of the chef's special and the truly unique "fish & chips".
(4)
Jenna K.

We live down the street from Tanoshii and decided to grab dinner here tonight. When our (American) server greeted us, we were met with a haughty pseudo-superior tone that spelled, "Have you ever had sushi?". We thought, "what's with the attitude?" but dismissed it . The service was a little on the slow side (after 20 minutes I had to ask for glasses) but whatever. If these were our only problems, I wouldn't be writing this. However we were verbally insulted when our entrees arrived. Our horrible server accosted my husband with a LOUD and OBNOXIOUS display of disdain when he dared to reach for the soy sauce. "Oh NO!" she squacked in furor, we were absolute IDIOTS for RUINING the food. "That's not how it's done". Really? Because I think it is. Apparently "Sushi Mike's" sauces are so divine it warranted this valley girl to yell at us and embarrass us as she made a grand display of taking our soy sauce away to the kitchen. I will NEVER return to this place. They obviously hire tacky, boisterous people who have NO idea what a demure Japanese place of "enjoyment" should be. I'd give it one star because I'm still smarting, although I have to admit, "Sushi Mike" makes some rolls. EDITED: because I forgot to add the music sucks! It was like traveling back in time to 1999 and flipping on a boring adult contemporary station. It was more weird than anything, so I'll keep this at 2 stars.
(2)
Gwynne R.

I made a reservation here for my 23rd Birthday dinner, mainly because it was sushi...which I love, BYOB...which I also love, and they were able to accomodate 12 people easily. They gave us a private room with a big table. I'm sure ordering for so many people was kind of annoying, but the staff didn't seem to mind. In addition to the numerous bottles of wine and champagne we had, my friend walked in and plunked down a mini-keg on the table. They didn't seem to mind that either! Great sushi, great atmosphere, great staff. I highly recommend!
(5)
Allie J.

This is a great place for sushi. I've been to Tanoshii a number of times and always had a good experience. The wait staff is very kind and attentive. It's a fun place to come if you are open to experimenting with sushi. Simply tell your server what you feel like eating and Sushi Mike will create something that is more perfect than what you imagined. The flavor combinations that he creates are fanastic. He worked us through a sushi dinner starting with a light appetizer roll, meatier dinner rolls then a sweet dessert roll. The dumplings are also fantastic. It's byob and they always offer straight away to put your beer in the fridge. I would definitely recommend Tanoshii for a date or group of friends.Oh- and the 80's music they play is awesome: )
(5)
Joy L.

Some of the best sushi in the neighborhood. The Andersonville roll is a must--delicious! And for those who can't decide what to order, the teriyaki bento boxes (served with chicken/beef/or salmon teriyaki AND sashimi AND gyoza AND shrimp tempura are just perfect. Good stuff. All the sushi on the menu is divine. That being said, be prepared for mediocre service if you're not sitting at the sushi bar. All in all, a good place to go if you have some time on your hands and a hankering for top-notch sushi.
(4)
Amanda Z.

Left starving late one Saturday night...after waiting 45 minutes for a #22 bus that never came, we hopped in a cab in search of a sushi joint. After hollering STOP to the cab driver upon seeing an open restaurant, we entered Tanoshii... First impression? 80's music BLARING. It was so loud, we had to ask them to turn it down (yeah, we're old!) They did turn it down, sorta. We ordered 5 rolls...they were all flavorful and delicious (The fish was really fresh) but I thought they were pretty small. We did get offered the custom made rolls by Mike the Chef...but at $17 to $22 a pop, we couldn't do it. All in all, the sushi was good, but not really anything that I would rave about to my friends... If you go, try the Japanese Sprite...it's super-fun!
(3)
Eric B.

As other reviews said, Sushi Mike makes Tanoshii a wonderful place for adventurous diners seeking a casual place with stellar, creative sushi and not a lot of pretentiousness. We had Sushi Mike's Specials & enjoyed the variety of flavors represented. We liked them so much we ordered a second round. And we were impressed that even on a busy Friday night, Sushi Mike asked us personally (We sat at Sushi Bar) how we enjoyed our roll! Will definitely return.
(4)
Shawn B.

We had a very good experience at Tanoshii. We ordered the Sushi Mike special because it's the thing to do. Everything was good and interesting and they clearly listened to the guidance that we gave them in terms of what we liked. We found the service to be good. There were two servers and they both seemed to be working every table, so someone was always available. The biggest downside is the unpredictable price. I suspect that if you asked them to keep it below a given price they probably would. in our case each item averaged about $20. At that price they weren't abnormally expensive, but perhaps on the high end. However, since the place is BYO, you almost certainly make it up alcohol. On the whole, I wouldn't make it my regular sushi place, but we'll definitely be back.
(4)
Deep D.

The best sushi in town, period.
(5)
L N.

If you love sushi and byob, you must try this place. The best part is you just pour a glass of wine and relax!! The chef will customize your order to all the things that you love. My favorite is the italian roll.. The setting is pretty low maintenance, but the food is excellent. I was very impressed with the quality of the fresh fish. I am a big fan of tuna, and their super white was melt in your mouth delicious.
(5)
James D.

Sushi Mike is the real deal, bringing creative inspiration to his food and impressing your taste buds with flavors you don't expect. Granted, letting him handle the menu can be expensive, but I suggest going in a large group. It'll let you try more Sushi Mike for about the same price (and you know you want to try at least 7 different rolls). BYOB at this place is great, but there are a few things to keep in mind. 1. There might not be enough clean glasses in the restaurant for you. No worries. Run across the street to Dominick's and get some plastic Solo cups. It's just like being back in college, only with better food. 2. The service can be spotty. Take it as a sacrifice for the food. Oh... and leave a beer for Mike. He gets thirsty.
(4)
Jon L.

If you're looking forward to a bespoke sushi experience that conforms to your personal marine proclivities, addictions, or phobias, you may be left wanting more. When ordering my Mike's Special, I told the waitress I liked oily flavorful fish like mackerel and shad, preferred octopus to squid, and didn't mind spice. This was met with a blank stare and an inquiry as to whether or not I liked tuna and yellowtail. Apparently, the old Chicago adage "Give the Lady What She Wants" is not alive and well at Tanoshii. For dinner, our party of three ordered as many Mike's Specials. Much to our surprise, the first showed up as an appetizer, "Fish and Chips," interpreted as a mushy pile of under-flavored tuna to be scooped up by fried wonton shells. While the two Mike's Specials presented as entrees were admittedly tasty, I had long soured on the restaurant due in part to our obnoxious dining companions. I don't usually judge a place by its clientele, but Tanoshii is the sort of joint where Lincoln Park Trixies and Chodes keep autographed sake cups behind the sushi bar. It wouldn't surprise me if Tanoshii has played host to a sake bomb or two over the years. The food is just fine, but the restaurant's premise and popularity is driven largely by a bizarre cult of personality and the blatant mistruth that you're getting a customized dinner when the kitchen is just sending over two or three of whatever they happen to be making that night. Andersonville's sushi scene would be none the poorer if Tanoshii moved back down Clark Street four miles or so.
(1)
Crystal N.

Good sushi AND right down the street from my house! What more can I ask for? I'll tell you what more...the Mike Special! I was hesitant at first when the server suggested this but I made the plunge. I told her what I liked (salmon, flounder, mackerel, SPICY) what I didn't like (octopus, eel, mayo, that weird egg thing) and she brought back a concoction that made my toes curl! Because of this, I'm hooked!
(5)
Jessica R.

I went here a couple months ago with my girlfriend, and aboslutely loved it. I LOVE sushi, and have for quite some time, but now that sushi has become such a big thing, lately I often feel like every new sushi restaurant I go to tastes about the same and is all "pretty good". Until I went to Tanoshii. I felt comfortale and sort of like I was at Chef Mike's home when I walked into the restaurant. It was kind of late on a Sunday or Monday night, so it was pretty dead and we sat up at the bar. There was another obviously regular group that had Chef Mike as their "server" up at the bar, and so we had one of his sous chef's, who was very pleasant as well, as our server. As we were looking over the menu, we noticed a lot of different rolls that aren't at your average sushi restaurant and we were very excited, but were having a hard time deciding what to get. But, our sous chef saved the day when he came and described their menu thoroughly, and also told us about their "chef's choice" menu, where they ask you in general what flavors you like and whether you like spciy, etc. and then they make you different rolls that are essentially surprises based on how you described your palatte. We were immediately sold on the chef's choice, and it was SUCH a fabulous experience and made our tastebuds go crazy with different flavors. I think we ended up having about 4 rolls plus an appetizer hand roll. He incorporated all different sorts of fruits, veggies and some of the freshest sushi grade fish I have ever tasted. After over eating, but we weren't complaining, Chef Mike came over to talk to us. He described all of the different ingredients he has imported, where they come from, and how he really makes an effort to get ingredients that most places in Chicago simply do not have. He also asked all about how the rolls tasted for us, of course we said fabulous, and he actually suggested that next time we get less rolls, eat slower, and spend less money! He was very genuine and I just found this extremley polite and over the top nice for a restaurant owner to encourage his clients to spend less money because he wants them to enjoy his food and not walk out stuffed to the gill. Chef Mike continued to strike up conversations, and ended up also giving us a free half bottle of some of the best Sake I've ever tasted, just because he wanted us to try it and noticed we did not BYOB that particular night, so wanted us to enjoy a drink as well (we were just a bit hungover from the weekend). Needless to say, we had a fantastic experience and I can't wait until the next time we go back. I have already referred Tanoshii to a couple of other friends, all of which went and said they had an equally fantastic experience. Major props to Tanoshii, Chef Mike and his Sous chef's for making a Sushi restaurant that stands out from the rest. The only reason I'm not giving 4 stars is because it was a little on the pricier side, but rightfully so with all of the incredible ingredients and on the spot-tailored to your tastebuds made rolls. I'm just broke and therefore will subtract one star for priciness no matter how great the restaurant is. :)
(4)
Shakeia T.

My friend and I went to Tanoshii on Saturday and I was all too thrilled to go after reading some of the reviews. While I was expecting a different atmosphere, I enjoyed it nonetheless. It's BYOB so I took a bottle of riesling. (the corkage fee is $2 per person, but worth it!) The sushi was fantastical! We also had a Sushi Mike Special made with eel, avocado, spicy tuna, and a some other stuff I can't remember- but it was like a party in my mouth. I will most certainly go again, AND I'll take more friends! Who's with me?!
(4)
Beth N.

My boyfriend and I go here any chance we get! Andersonville is a bit of a hike for us but absolutely worth the drive whenever we can. We always start with the same two appetizers, the "fish and chips" (amazing, it's like some delicious finely chopped ceviche that they put onto toasted housemade chips for you table side. Do not miss), and the muscles (so good, warm with some spicy sauce). Then we let sushi Mike do his thing. We both love super white tuna so we just give him that direction and added that we like spice. We got a roll back one time that had super white, oregano, strawberry slice (!) and something spicy. We don't know what all was included, but it melted in our mouths and we could have died happy, so we didn't care. He can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Plus that all they play is '80's music and it's BYOB.
(5)
Kim R.

We used to love this place, but after a recent meal with not-so-fresh fish, and the following morning with an upset stomach (for both of us), we won't be back. Bummer, its close and used to be reliable, but the good ones come and go, don't they...
(1)
Amy H.

Wow, this place is the definition of mixed reviews! I like it, personally - the fish-and-chips is always tasty, and Sushi Mike makes a good non-traditional roll. He'll tell you about all the ingredients if you sit at the bar and chat. It has a nice mix of regulars and newbies, a very friendly place. You can hit up the new Coffee Studio across the street and down the road a bit after for some yummy coffee. (plug plug, it's about time Andersonville got a good coffee spot.) It is wicked expensive, though, so keep an eye on what you order. But I've never had bad service here, even the night the waitress squirted lemon juice in my eye by accident. Got me some free dessert, which is a yay in my book.
(4)
Rochelle G.

Loved loved loved it! Went there for girls night out and had a great time. Sushi Mike is the way to go. Tell the server what you like and they create rolls based on your likes. So delicious! I will definitely be back. The BYOB is a bonus. Caution the custom Sushi Mike rolls are twice the size but they are about $18/each. I do think its worth it. Four gals with tax and tip $42 ea.
(4)
Jennie S.

I came here for the first time, yesterday and was blown away by the food here. The restaraunt is dimly lighted, and has a smaller front dining area across from the sushi bar. It was rather crouded for a Monday night, but I'm guessing that's a pretty good sign! There is a larger dining area in the second room. my gripe is that the service was not that great. There was one waiter for 9 tables. Since I'm new to sushi I settled for something practical and something more off the cuff. My date and I decided to have the Vegetable sushi and the Red Snapper special. The Red Snapper special was phenomenal. I will most definitely be back.
(4)
Carine M.

It's rare I travel outside of a mile radius for food, but I must make an exception for Tanoshii. I've only been twice, but I promise I will go many more times. You need to eat at the sushi bar, and if you want it to be quick you need to go early. I totally agree with Leslee H., the music is bizarre, but awesome:) Have Sushi Mike make you whatever he feels like, no need to look at a menu. One last thing, this is a great place to take rookie sushi eaters, but it won't disappoint seasoned pros. EDIT: Ok, now I have gone back many more times and still love it. Even moreso now. I love you Tanoshii.
(5)
Clover S.

This really has nothing to do with Tanoshii. I was a customer of "Sushi Mike" way back in the day before Tanoshii. Best sushi chef, ever. Really. Unfortunately, he's also unbelievably racist. One night full of amazing sake and sushi, Mike told my friend and I a story that made my jaw drop. It shocked and offended me deeply - cuz' I've never heard the "n" word come out of someone's mouth more than it did that night. No joke. Sushi Mike may be skilled with the raw fish, but he's also a terribly hateful person. So, I won't spend my money anywhere he works. 'Nuff said.
(1)
Gina M.

Just went here on Friday night, came with two bottles of Champagne and it was a great time. Service is a little slow but the great tasting sushi made up for that. We went for the Mike's Special. Warning: if there is a certain ingredient you don't like, let them know. I hate cilantro and I didn't bother saying anything, but it was in 2 of our rolls. kind of a bummer, but my own fault. I really liked the atmosphere, in this smaller space you get a homier feeling, neighborhood-like. Sushi Mike makes the place pretty fun too cause you can tell he's having a great time. inside scoop: sushi mike LOVES blue moon, so if you bring some for him, he will treat you extra special!
(4)
J T.

1. Make a reservation to sit at the counter and bring some beer. 2. Have Mike make you a few rolls. 3. Eat. That's all folks.
(5)
Anna C.

visiting one of chicago's best picked sushi... dont even look at the menu... just pick the chef's special... you'll be in an awh with deliciousness with every plate!!! ... it's so good .. you dont even need to use soy sauce!!!!! mmmm mmm mmmm a nice cozy friendly space!!!! it was worth the trip to the north side after walking in this rainy day and being sandwiched in the red line forgetting about tonight cubs game... LOL will be back again!!!! (oh... and gotta love chicago's byob's) OH! MOST IMPORTANTLY... THEY HAVE THE BEST DAMN CALAMARI APPETIZER IVE EVER TASTED!!!!!!
(5)
Nancy Z.

This is the best sushi in the world... Go there and plan to spend what you spend for sushi anywhere in the city (30-50 a head) but understand you will never want sushi from anywhere else. Sushi Mike is the best sushi chef in Chicago and surely one of the best in the world. You can even have him just create his own signature rolls for you. Oh and another great thing is that Tanoshii is byob!
(5)
Andy S.

I've known Mike for years, going back to the Hama Matsu days. After I moved from the neighborhood I explored some other sushi joints around town. There are good ones, but Tanoshii has always remained my favorite. Mike is a true culinary artist and never fails to deliver a true work of art. He taught me how to savor sushi and has never led me astray. If you're looking for a hidden gem, look no farther.
(5)
Patty S.

4.5 stars!!! I'm not easily impressed w/ a sushi restaurant - especially with how many there are in the city. However, we went here with a group of friend and it was by far one of the best in the city. We didn't even look at the menu as our hosts have been here before and knew exactly what to order. We started off with "fish and chips." I know what you're thinking.. fried fish? What special about that?! Well, their version of the "fish and chips" isn't what you are thinking at all. It's actually tuna tartar on top of a large pita chip served table side. WOW! It was absolutely delicious and had all kinds of flavors in it ranging from salty, sweet, spicy, and sour. What a great way to start a meal! We also ordered the "Chef Mike Special." All it means is that you allow the Chef to make whatever maki rolls he wants. Obviously, if you are allergic to something or don't like octopus (as an example), he'll make sure to not put that on the roll(s). I don't think there was a roll that we didn't like. I thought they were all very innovative and just the right size. None of these gigantic rolls nonsense that makes your cheeks look like a chipmunk when you try to eat it. We got 8 unique different rolls and ended up reordering a couple that we all really enjoyed. The best part about this place? It's BYOB! And there are no limits on how bottles you can bring (unlike another popular BYOB in the city) and they are very accommodating with glasses, ice, and whatever you need. I would definitely go back. My only compliant is that I wish they were closer to me! Hum.. I wonder how I can get them to move closer to River North????
(4)
Dave H.

It took me a while to realize that this place wasn't a tapas restaurant (hey, their awning is the same colors as a Spanish flag!) Glad I stopped in. Definitely let Sushi Mike make dinner for you; the rolls were really clever and not what you would normally expect. One star off for blasting the 80s radio station. Van Halen was funny for about the first 5 minutes, then it got really old.
(4)
Culinary P.

Started going here because it was BYOB but this place really is so much more. This is a great place to check out if you're adventurous and don't mind letting the chef choose what you eat. You must request the fish & chips though...they are to die for!
(4)
Christine S.

My favorite sushi place in the Midwest....honestly. Sushi Mike's fish is fresh and inventive and I don't even get tired of the big band CD that plays on repeat. Don't order off the menu, sit at the bar and ask for Mike's specials... inevitably a combination of unagi and peanut sauce, maguro and basil and oil, or himachi and shataki mushrooms. Don't wrinkle your nose.. you got to try it. And what could be better than BYOB.. pick up a bottle of your favorite something across the street at In Fine Spirits.
(4)
Lisa M.

We stumbled upon this place after trying to go to Hama Matsu down the street and not finding parking. It was a Saturday night and we sat down without a wait. The place was rather packed though but we got a great table in the window. I love BYOB and we had a nice bottle of white wine to accompany the sushi. This was the most creative sushi place I've been to yet! I was hesitant to try the Sushi Mike special because I didn't know what to expect. You tell the server the kind of fish you like and Sushi Mike whips something up for you. He created an Italian roll that was topped with oregano seasoning. I know what you are thinking, that this sounds strange, but it was outstanding!! He also made us a white spicy tuna roll that was excellent as well. I think it is a unique offering that Tanoshi brings to the table and I would come back again to see what he could whip up next! Don't be afraid to try new things.
(4)
Daniel B.

This is my best Sushi place in Chicago. I always go for the mike special and am never disappointed. The BYOB is a nice, as always. I don't give it 5 stars because it's a bit expensive for what you get, but other than that, this place is great.
(4)
Rachel Y.

This place is amazing! The rolls are so inventive (the italian roll with the white fish, olive oil and spices is to die for) and the "fish and chips" is enough to keep me coming back. I went with a friend who knows "Sushi Mike" so we sat at the sushi bar, and all the other patrons were regulars, and we had a really fun time and of course amazing sushi. I have heard table service is extremely slow. I admit I haven't had a table seat but I promise it's worth the wait--make sure to ask for Mike's special that night and you are sure to be blown away. This is also the only sushi restaurant I've been to where you don't need soy sauce--in fact it might ruin it. Plus there's a Jewel right across the street to grab a bottle of wine as it's BYOB.
(5)
Nastassia J.

HOT DAMN IS THIS PLACE GOOD. If you're new to sushi, or scared, tell Sushi Mike what you like, and he'll make something amazing. I was very very impressed.
(5)
Josh E.

See, now I'm all tossed up in this Tanoshi - Hama Matsu debate. Prior to eating at Tanoshi last Friday night I had no doubt in my mind that the best sushi in Andersonville was absolutely Hama Matsu, and now I just can't tell anymore. First, I have to admit that my meal was *not* served by Sushi Mike. But that was fine. In fact the other sushi chef was really good too. We ordered 3 special rolls and they were outstanding. Amazing even. It looks like Tanoshi is the kind of place where if you come back often enough for the chefs to get to know you then it will just get better and better. There was one dude in there for his birthday and the it seemed like the chefs were on a first name basis with the entire group of 8. That's promising, but not all that abnormal I guess. The minus one star is simply for the price. Call me cheap, but $17-19 per roll is a little pricey, even if it's "custom made." I'll definitely be back, but will only order from Sushi Mike if it's a special occasion.
(4)
Dave A.

Stumbled onto this place, as I was searching for a DIFFERENT sushi spot, but I wasn't disappointed. The inside was clean and decorated as a typical sushi restaurant would be. The service and the menu options were very good. We went with an assortment of rolls to get a feel for the chef. The caterpillar and Chicago rolls were excellent, but the spider was so-so. Overall, a nice dining experience. I'd go back.
(4)
Don M.

My goddaughter was in from out of town and her friend recommended this place. I have heard good things so we gave it a go. We brought our own wine. The waitress told us to try the Mike's special they are very good. Well I guess everyone has their own tastes. No one at the table was impressed. Nothing met up to the hype food was bland. Service was so so and the prices are high. No need to go back.
(2)
Stephanie M.

i used to really love coming here but i brought some friends from out of town here about two hours til close on a thursday night and had super shitty service from our waiter. idk if he is new, i have never seen him before. we got mike's special and our ONLY requests were no eel and seasonal fruit please. the waiter comes out with our roll and no fruit... because they were all out... could you have told us this possibly?? so we could have ordered something different?? and as we were leaving sushi mike gave the stink eye customers that came in about an hour until close. i work in a restaurant and realize it is a pain in the ass when people come in close to closing... but a hour? and you are the owner? it made me sad. i had such respect for him :(
(2)
Michelle C.

I'm not sure where some of these people are eating, but I LOVE this place!! Best sushi I've ever had-fresh, delicious, and uniquely prepared. We have young kids and don't get out much, but this is always my choice when we have a date. The best experience is to surrender yourself to Mike. Tell the server you want however many "Mike specials". My favorites are Fish and Chips (sushi grade tuna salsa on large chip wedges), the Italian Roll (they pour olive oil heat infused with italian spices over the sushi-YUM!), the eel, and the spicy tuna...oh, and the one that has yellow tail, salmon, and tuna on top of little bite sized rice pads. Each of these is 1 Mike Special. and all you need to do is tell them how many you want and what kinds of fish you like (and how spicy you tolerate things). We don't even use soy sauce because the seasoning is perfect as served. We don't bother with appetizers-no need! We have never been charged to bring our own alcohol, but we usually bring Japanese beer.
(5)
Tiff D.

First of all, I love yelp because I use it ALL THE TIME NOW. So, I went to tanoshii on a first-time date. My date was raving about sushi Mike, and when we arrived, apparently sushi mike had already went home (it was a tues night). So, the waitress called Mike to ask him to come back. He did. And... it was worth it! Sushi Mike is no joke: he will take care of you. Now, I can see someone getting upset to pay $16 for a roll, but then again, Sushi Mike is an experience. If you are just hungry, go find a $20 per person dinner that is so-so. But, with sushi Mike, $40 per person and you will have the best sushi experience on the northside. F.Y.I., This place is BYOB and Mike doesn't refuse a drink. He likes bourbon....
(5)
Joel S.

Just skip this place. Had basically three bad experiences here in one visit with a friend of mine. 1) Ordered 2 appetizers, they were out of one of them - they subbed something else without asking for us and said "Sorry about that, we made this for you since you were inconvenienced," we were really thankful as this was a seemingly nice gesture - but then they proceeded to charge us for it. 2) Ordered 2 "base ingredients" for sushi each and one to split, where "sushi Mike" decides what he'll make you. We made it clear what we were ordering, and both wanted our own unagi dishes. "Sushi Mike decided you already had unagi so he subbed this roll instead." "But we both wanted unagi, can you please make another unagi roll?" "No." 3) I ask the waitress to take off the roll we didn't order and the app we didn't order. She says no. I say ok, I feel really bad about this but I'm not leaving a tip (I've never left no tip before or since) because twice you didn't bring what we ordered... she says ok and takes the app and roll off... we leave the same amount, which at least gives her 15% or so - I mean I'm pretty sure it must be Sushi Mike who's the nutjob, not her so I would have felt bad stiffing her. I understand the concept of letting sushi mike craft the ingredients, but be prepared to get whatever he decides, main ingredients included - your menu choices are not really respected at all. If it were presented in that manner or anyone communicated with us at all, that would have been 100x better. The food wasn't even good, overuse of avacado in every one of our rolls - if you're gonna rep soup nazi style antics, your soup better back that $@#$ up! The one good thing that I took away from this meal is that now when I eat with my friend and we order, one of us saying "Sushi Mike has decided that you do not want this, you want yellowtail" always gets a good laugh. (Note: this review is from an experience about a year ago, but was too good not to share.)
(1)
Z. Z.

Look, i get it...this place is pricey. If you read any of the reviews, that will be clear. But of COURSE it's going to be expensive. Asking for cheap maki rolls that other places serve is like going to a fine steak house and asking for a mcburger. Along the same lines, would you tell Picasso that you think his art is over priced? Bottom line: you get what you pay for. This fish is fresh, fresh, fresh. The mike's specials are so expensive b/c they cram lots of quality ingredients in to one little roll - and they do it with imagination and artistic flare. Start with the "Fish and Chips" - a delicious tuna mixture served on flour tortilla chips that could be likened to a ceviche. Suggest that they put soft shell crab in your special roll - it's always my favorite, no matter what they do to it. Great for sushi aficionados as well as sushi novices (I've brought both and they can't get over how amazing and unique it is). If you sit at the bar and share your wine (it's byob), you might be lucky enough for a free nibble or two.
(5)
Jason H.

go here. sit at the bar. let them make you whatever they want. deliciousness will ensue. tanoshii = sushi genius. i am absolutely amazed by the negative reviews here on yelp. i wouldn't trust any three-star or lower reviews.
(5)
Jonathan H.

Tanoshii is phenomenal. A wonderful date - sit at the bar and get a couple of Mike's specials. Half the experience is hanging out with Mike, so go on a midweek night when it's not so busy. I love this place and will go back again once I can afford to. Tanoshii is expensive but worth it for a special occasion.
(5)
Mag M.

sushi mike's custom maki is the greatest invention on earth. hyperbole is my thing, i admit. but the fact that mike will make you a giant maki to your specifications (or, if you're feeling really adventurous, just order it and see what comes up) is pretty fantastic. tell him how spicey, what kind of fish you like, if you want fruit ... he will do it all. the nigiri is great too -- always tastes fresh. i recommend popping into In Fine Spirits to grab a bottle of something before heading in here, then take your time enjoying something creative a la mike.
(4)
Damien J.

#1 Make a reservation to sit at the bar if you have a small party. #2 There is a Jewel conveniently close in case you need to run back over and get some more to drink for the perfect BYOB at the place. I have never ordered off of the menu - I just ask Sushi Mike for the specials and he will ask you what kind of sushi you like & its amazing. I have always had good times here & miss it bunches.
(5)
sarah y.

One of my favorite sushi places in Chicago - I love Sushi Mike!!!
(4)
Michael M.

I read a review from someone today and felt I should write an amendment to my last review to clarify what to expect from Tanoshii if it is your first time going. Tanoshii is not your average sushi house. It is a modern infusion restaurant build on deep rooted tradition. When you go and you want to have the best experience you MUST, I repeat MUST sit at the bar for your first time. Tanoshii has a ordering style all it's self and this is something you will never learn at a table. It sucks that the waiters are not better explaining this but the only people who can are the chefs them self. So please if you had a okay experience go back, get seats at the bar with the regulars like my self, and get strapped in for a culinary ride like you have never seen before. If you ever feel you are not being impressed speak up and tell the chefs they are there to help. Also if you want the best input on what to get look out for Jeff, Mark, Janet, or me Mike and we are always happy to offer suggestions.
(5)
Erika G.

Flat out, thee best, most creative sushi in Chicago. "Sushi Mike" is fabulous, he tosses the menu if you sit at the bar and will make something awesome with your favorite ingredients. "No soy sauce!" a frequent refrain, and you don't need it! We got there before the owner was in, but he entered during our visit - the energy of the place really picked up -clearly he's a man who loves his work.
(5)
Marie L.

I was not sure what to expect after reading some of the more scathing reviews on yelp, but I tried Tanoshii anyway. Boy, yelp, will I ever learn? NO. Tanoshii was a huge let down. I waited for about an hour while I watched my girlfriend eat udon with chewy noodles, no vegetables and a sickeningly sweet broth. Meanwhile, I was holding out hope for a toe curling combination of unusual flavors and textures offered up by chef Mike. Then, my much awaited Mike's Special came out and it was, well, bland and uncreative. To make matters worse, we were seated in the back room, which has no ambiance whatsoever and watched all the other parties get served before my main course arrived. Moral of the story: If you want to pay 20 bucks for a so-so maki, you may as well go to noodle zone and get more bang for your buck.
(2)
Johanna C.

This place is okay. The service isn't that great. We didn't have napkins on our table and we had to flag down the waiter a couple of times just to follow up on things (the bill, some more water, etc.) I really wanted to like this place but it seems like when they're busy they can't keep up. We had the unagi and it was fishy tasting and chewy. That's when things become unpleasant. The sushi was okay but not great. There are definitely interesting options on the menu but based on the 3 choices we made, I do not need to go back.
(2)
Erin J.

My friend and I met here one night. We both love sushi and I was so hungry I could not stand it. When we arrived the place seemed clean enough, but after a bit I detected a fishy smell. I know that many will be quick to tell me that sushi has fish in it and that may render an aroma of fish, but sushiphiles near and far will tell you that very fresh fish has no odor. Our server was nice enough, and our food came quickly, but I was less than impressed with the presentation of the food and how sloppy our maki was rolled. It looked like something that an apprentice or not-so-good sushi chef or possibly a three year old had made. The nori was separated from the rice and the fish fell out when we picked it up leaving us eating nori and rice with gobs of spicy mayo (which seemed to be on every roll we ordered, even though I'm not a fan and didn't order rolls with said condiment on it.) That was kinda gross.
(2)
Jack C.

love this place... heard about it back in September and been dying to go ever since - it did not disappoint and I can't wait to go back! Sushi Mike is super cool and his rolls very inventive. arguably one of the best sushi joints in Chicago (and I have friends that will argue such all day long). definately worth checking out!
(4)
Adam S.

This is the second time I've been to Tanoshi and both times did not disappoint. The place is pretty small, only seats about 30 or 40 and has a dozen person sushi bar. The sushi is priced about the same as higher-end places on Randolph, $12-$15 for fancy rolls like dragons, caterpillars, and spiders, and $4-$7 for ebi, spicy tuna, etc. We got edamame, miso, and then 3 rolls, plus a "Sushi Mike" special. The edamame was WAY over-salted; I felt like I had just spent an hour in the dead sea after eating it. But the miso and sushi more than made up for it. The rolls off the menu were outstanding, and the sushi mike special, while certainly not even close to anything I had ever tasted before (I think that's the point) was great. As for ambiance, date-worthiness, etc. this is definitely a locals place and not a see and be seen establishment like Coast. However, depending on the kind of person you're with, they may be impressed with your ability to find outstanding sushi off the beaten path and you certainly don't get the up and down looks to make sure you paid at least $120 for your jeans and your girlfriend is carrying a Longchamp purse. Also, I'm writing this the next morning and feel totally fine so even though it's a small indy place, the fish is fresh. :)
(4)
Amanda T.

"Mike's Special" & 80's music
(5)
Ken A.

This is the BEST SUSHI IN CHICAGO. If you are the type of person who is satisfied with the standard stuff--a California roll, a few pieces of tuna and salmon, etc, then this is not the place for you. But if you want a truly unique experience from a master craftsman, then you need to go here. I cannot stress this enough. Mike is a legitimate genius when it comes to making unique, flavorful, creative, and visually appealing sushi rolls. Besides using high-quality ingredients, Mike creates delicious sauces that complement the fish without overpowering it. If you can, try to go on an off-peak time, sit at the bar and watch Mike work his magic. As others have said, ditch the menu and put yourself in his hands, you will be glad you did. By the way, I'm surprised that others have commented on the price. Yes, Tanoshii costs more than the typical neighborhood sushi joint. Our meal came to $110 before tip for 2 people (and we were stuffed.) For a sushi experience of a quality this high, we thought it would have been more--we've certainly paid more for less at other places. The only downside to our experience at Tanoshii is that I don't think I'll be able to eat sushi anywhere else. I'm ruined.
(5)
Julie K.

Agreeance with all of the other fans of Sushi Mike. We didn't even bother looking at the menu. My friend, a Mike "regular," just told him "medium spicy" (you could say whatever) and voila! Just sit back and enjoy the delivery of delicious sushi goodness to your mouth. (In one case, quite literally: Mike spoon-fed our party of three some yummy raspberry sauce.) The great: fish n' chips. Went from merely good to great by the addition of a wacky, slightly rambling story about Mike's travels in Amsterdam. Also 2 out of three rolls he served us (wish I could be more specific, but when we asked what was in them, he replied "Fish. Rice. Sauce." Decide for yourselves whether that is charming or surly.) The meh: whichever roll had the Italian seasoning. Not gross or bad, just...meh. Mike took our criticisms well, though, and rebounded with a fantastic roll with sesame oil and tempura something. I'd be more specific, but "Fish. Rice. Sauce...." you get the picture. The superfantastic: The mango w/fish, avocado, onions and sour raspberry sauce we had for dessert. Totally messy and flavorful and delicious! Now, Sushi Mike's services can get a little spendy, so be ready for a little sticker shock. However, if you bring more people, you can split the costs and eat more. I'll just have to save up a bit before my next trip there, but there will definitely be a next time!
(4)
Carolina P.

This is a place I go for a special night out. This isn't your typical sushi joint. Ask for the mike special and you'll love what you get. A mike special usually runs about $16 but the rolls are big and excellent. We just said 3 mike specials and let them know we liked spicy and crunchy. Our dinner was great. He makes traditional rolls but they're not what I'm looking for when I go to Tanoshii. Oh and its BYOB.
(4)
Kyla B.

Hands down best sushi place in town!!! I never order off the menu, leave everything up to Chef Mike and you can't go wrong!! The rolls are so good you keep ordering and ordering and the bill can be a little high if your not careful but well worth it!
(5)
emily c.

i loooooove this place. mike's special is always phenomenally tasty. my partner and i have kind of made this our special date place. it's also byob which is always a bonus. it's definitely on the more expensive side (okay it's really pricey) but it's totally worth it every once in a while. the regular maki is delicious and all but really, get a mike's special. tell them what you like in a roll and he'll whip up something super delicious.
(4)
Christina K.

Popped in for a spot of sashimi and a roll for a light meal, and wasn't disappointed. Portion size was excellent, their quality good, and the artisans behind the counter a spirited, loquacious trio who seemed to relish engaging their patrons in chitchat. They do seem to pride themselves on their rolls, so I'll have to make a point of coming back and sampling those more extensively.
(3)
Stanley T.

The custom sushi thing is really cool and all the custom rolls I've had were pretty good. I'd recommend going with a group so you can try a variety of flavors. The price can add up pretty quickly though as you ask for more and more rolls so be mentally prepared for that.
(4)
Glenn L.

This is hands down the best sushi I've had in Chicago! The service, presentation, even how fresh everything tasted was truly remarkable!! Highly recommended!!!
(5)
Karen C.

i walked into tanoshii a vegetarian and walked out a sushi lover. since being turned onto sushi by my ex and sushi mike, i've since had a lot of different kinds and i've never had any as good as here. do not use soy sauce. do not order california rolls. bring mike a kirin to warm him up, sit at the bar and chat with him. if you tell him "i don't eat ___" he'll make you love that thing you thought you hated. if you want the real deal, order the mike special and prepare to sit and wait for excellence. it can only enhance your experience and he'll remember you next time. and if you can convince him to, get him to meet you for drinks after close. he's a riot!
(5)
Michael V.

I had a taste for sushi and was tired of the same old places, so I hunted Chicago Reader for establishments around work and found Tanoshi. Quaint little place; sushi bar or table seating. But what a surprise! Just tell the friendly waitress what kind of fish you generally like---it you like spicy or not so much---and they bring you a roll custom made for you. I was by myself but ordered two different rolls and they were both fabulous. The second one even had fatty tuna included in it and I walked out of there with a beverage and miso shiru for $40. I enthusiastically recommend Tanoshi!
(4)
Dan M.

My wife and I have been to Tanoshii several times and have always walked right in (even at 7 on weekends). We haven't experienced the special, but really enjoy the rolls.
(4)
Nicole V.

There are a ton of sushi places in Chicago....but only this one has Sushi Mike. Sushi Mike is the most creative and spectacular sushi creator I have ever come across. Here's the thing, when you arrive at Tanoshi (which comes across as your typical BYOB sushi restaurant), they seat you and bring you a menu. If you are not familiar with Sushi Mike or a regular...then you review the menu and begin marking your sushi choices. If you are familiar with the greatness that is Sushi Mike, you say "I would like a Sushi Mike roll please", which your waitress will respond to with "spicy or regular?". After you tell her your preference she simply walks away and then the magic begins. Sushi Mike will then create your roll out of the freshest ingredient they have that day and mix in his special touch. Now that is the way I like my sushi! Granted, I am not picky...and I love trying new things (if you are picky I wouldn't go this route). Also, if you get a Sushi Mike roll...don't bother asking for soy sauce, wasabi or ginger, you aren't getting any. Sushi Mike doesn't like people drowning his creations in such things thereby ruining the taste. One of the best ways to get the complete effect of Tanoshi is to go in one day and sit at the sushi bar and watch Sushi Mike in action. I promise, if you are a true sushi lover...Tanoshi is your place.
(5)
jennifer r.

Good sushi no doubt. Every time I forget about the HORRIBLE service, I head back there for more punishment! Three times.....enough for me - especially when I have a choice. The service is beyond bad. Having lived in Chicago for over 20 years and never have posted a negative review, this means a lot! If you have 2-3 hours to wait for your sushi, if you just ate, then go here to enjoy the special rolls that 'sushi mike' creates. Otherwise go somewhere else.....'cause being upset with the service makes for an unhappy dining experience. I also want to mention that it is pricey....
(1)
Michael K.

We went to Tanoshii for the first time last night after hearing about this place and "Sushi Mike" from some friends. We live just down the street but never even knew of this place and how great it was! All I can say is that we have been to a vast amount of sushi bars in many cities and this was one of the best sushi experiences we have ever had! Needless to say we are hooked and the "Sushi Mike experience" and it was something that you should experience! All I can say is trust me ---- GO NOW. And put your trust in Sushi Mike! He is amazing we will be back for years to come. I have no idea of any names of what he made just try anything he does, its amazing!
(5)
Leslee C.

The best sushi in the city! When you order Mike's Special, you never know what you're going to get. Being byob makes the bill very reasonable and worth the trip so far north. Sometimes the service can be questionable. They play awesome 80's music.
(5)
rachel p.

what a disappointment! service can make or break a dining experience for me; the food was good, but not good enough to overshadow terrible 80's music playing from a broken radio and atrocious service. we entered at 8pm on a saturday night and were seated promptly. they were busy, but not at full capacity. the focus of the food here is chef's choice, so we decided to start w/ 8 pieces of nigiri (chef's choice) and an order of edamame. the edamame was on the table within 5 minutes, dropped by a food runner. 50 minutes later, our glasses empty and our table strewn with empty edamame pods, we STILL have no nigiri. you don't even need to COOK it!! our server approaches our table and asks if we'd like to put in an order for some maki. excuse me?? we still haven't gotten our first round of sushi!?! but, judging by the current pace of our meal, we decided to go ahead and throw the order in. 10 minutes later, still no nigiri. we ask the waiter if our food is still coming, figuring we had been forgotten, he quickly brushes us off and assures us that the nigiri is on the way. no apologies, no refills, nothing. the people sitting at the sushi bar seemed to be getting much more attentive and prompt service, so maybe sidling up to the chefs is the way to go. the sushi was good, but not mindblowing, and with such poor service, i'm pretty sure i won't return.
(2)
Valerie K.

Wow! Until now I was not a big fan of sushi - it was just OK. My girlfriend was always pushing the "raw" stuff on me but, I just couldn't buy into it. I watched Chef Mike on Chicago's Best and had to give it a try. My girlfriend knew exactly where I wanted to go and said it was THE BEST. We started with the Fish & Chips (I didn't think it could get any better than that) and let Chef Mike do his majic from then out. EVERYTHING was amazing. I don't eat meat anymore but, in meat terms I was eating McDonalds and now I found the Chop House. I was really nervous about no soy but the sauces he made were amazing - mixed them in front of us. I tried all kinds of new things. These were designer rolls. I will NEVER eat sushi anywhere else in Chicago.
(5)
Amber R.

Taonshii has long been one of my neighborhood favorites. The quality and freshness of the seafood is the best in Andersonville. The service is usually terrible but the food makes up for it. Arrive early or make reservations on the weekends, there can be quite a wait.
(4)
Nate B.

Went here for a post v-day double date, the food was great, the servers attentive, and Sushi Mike, what a guy! I said I liked "spicy", never ever tell that to a Japanese Chef, I got a soft shell crab/scallop roll that oh man was so good, and SO HOT. Well worth the pain :)
(4)
Shane H.

Interesting mix of food here... the girl I was with ordered fish and chips for an appetizer, which was a spicy tuna puree served Mexican-style. It was good, but not what I was expecting out of a sushi joint. If you just tell Sushi Mike what you like he'll make these crazy unique rolls. You just leave your tastebuds in his hands. He does a pretty good job but at $18 per roll, it's a bit pricey. I think they ran out of rice because they started using cabbage with the sashimi and that is not cool. I saw cabbage on everyone else's plates too. The music was God-awful 80s music. Overall, I can recommend lots of sushi places over this one.
(2)
Cat B.

Okay, the sushi here is delicious!!! I used to be a Hama Matsu girl, but now that I have discovered this wonderful BYOB in Andersonville, I am a changed woman. I agree, as others have said, about the "Sushi Mike" rolls...they are so wonderful and I love that you can get something made just to your taste. But be prepared to pay! Those special rolls run up to $18 and $19!!! I mean they are good, but come one! That is why this place gets 4 stars. That pricing is a bit outrageous. The staff here is really nice. The decor is warm and cozy and it is a larger space so they can seat lots of people in here. Decent prices (besides the special rolls) and...my barometer for sushi...they have melt-in-your-mouth Escolar. Mmmm....Escolar. And you can't beat the BYOB, especially with Jewel right down the street. If you want a larger selection of good wines, definitely make the trek back south to the one on the corner of Clark and Foster. Well worth it.
(4)
Craig B.

I don't like sushi. I've been saying it for years. My wife likes sushi, my kids like sushi. I grew up in Boston - if it wasn't fried, it wasn't eaten. Sure I tried it a bunch of times. Never liked it, and resigned myself to ordering chicken teriyaki every time the family went out for sushi. That being said, Sushi Mike has changed my mind. Even a simple California roll is far better here than any I've tried. That opened me up to try more, and I am now a fan. Not of sushi, mind you - of Sushi Mike. I've tried other places (expensive places) and found myself wanting Tanoshii. The sauces, the flavors, the freshness; it just can't be beat. We've brought family and friends there and they've had nothing but raves. When you routinely find yourself sitting next to people who drove 4 hours from their new home because they missed Tanoshii after moving away, you know this place is special. I highly recommend Tanoshii for everyone - even people who don't like sushi, like me. Sushi Mike just might change your mind, too.
(5)
Brian A.

Tanoshii is over-rated and a frustrating dining experience. They have no idea how to run a restaurant and cannot take care of a full table of people. Service is lousy, slow and just a mess. The much-vaunted "Mike Specials" are overly spicy and just a fish hash. Not worth the money, the trip or the time.
(1)
Anne M.

Previous code violation or no, the place seems to have no troubles now. There on a Wednesday night to a comfortably full house and the noise levels were quite bearable. The best bet really is to let the sushi maker create something for you based on your preferences. All the fish we had was seriously fresh and high quality. Interesting addition of truffle oil to one our rolls had us oohing and ahhing. Four stars for the food. Decor-wise, it ain't sushisamba so, giving three stars only because the ladies room was a bit icky (wet and bloated roll of toilet paper).
(4)
Kat M.

The roll that Chef Mike made us- Tuna, unagi, avacado, tempura flakes, and delicious sauce was hands down the best sushi roll I have ever had. And yes, I have been to Japan. Sashimi was also fresh and delicious. Outstanding, I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Elizabeth R.

I love to come here because unlike other sushi spots it is BYOB and it's reasonably priced. They don't charge a cork fee like other places... that sha'll remain nameless (BC $10 cork fee per bottle!!).I love having their Fish and Chips. Definately try a "Mike's special"...I always order "spicy and cruncky" and he has yet to dissapoint. Totally worth the drive from Humboldt Park to Andersonville.
(5)
Jason H.

My first time in was on Saturday night. I thought the prices were great for the quality of the sushi. We also had two of Sushi Mike's special maki rolls and were quite happy with them. We were worried that the service would be slow (as we read the reviews) but it wasn't. Everything came out almost too fast. I looked around though and saw people seated before us who still weren't served though so I'm guessing their service issues there are a matter of load balancing the tables, servers and kitchen.
(4)
Jon K.

The service at this place is horrid. When you go out to eat, a patron shouldn't have to ask for water. The food was mediocre at best...Save your cash, go eat somewhere else on Clark. Clueless when it comes to sushi!!
(1)
Julie J.

Seriously, this is the very best sushi I have ever had. We went on a Tuesday night for a birthday (with 5 small children mind you), and the food and service was excellent. It is BYOB, and the server was very attentive. We ordered the Fish and Chips (not on the menu), and it was quite possibly one of the tastiest appetizers I have ever had. ORDER IT. The sushi was beyond amazing. My mother has only had sushi a few times, and she LOVED it-though her chopstick etiquette was interesting ;) The Sushi Chef's (Mike and Chris) were awesome. We started our dinner experience w/ rolls off the menu, and then we transitioned to signature rolls. Basically, we told the server what we like and don't like, and Mike and Chris concocted something mouth-watering. The kids enjoyed the miso soup, tempura and edamame. Lastly, the 80's tunes were pumping in the place which made the entire experience bubbly and fun. LOVED it and cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Inspector G.

Been twice. Mediocre at best. Haven't gone back since the health department shut the place down for a week in 2006 and slapped a big orange code violation sticker on the front. Just not willing to gamble with sushi.
(1)
Victoria R.

Great quality for a neighborhood sushi place. I usually sit at the bar and let Mike make whatever he feels like, and it's always great. It can get expensive though if you order off the menu. It's also good for groups. Definitely one of my favorites for sushi in Chicago.
(4)
Audrey H.

If you live in Andersonville (or even if you don't), this is definitely THE sushi place to go to. It opened up in late 2005 and from the looks of it, seems to be doing pretty well. Prices are decent. You can expect to pay about $50+ for dinner for two, and the portions are nothing to scoff at. Memorables: definitely the sashimi. And get the soft shell crab appetizer (one of the rare places that actually gets it right!).
(4)
Paul C.

The sushi is great! Great composition and balance of flavors - colorful, really nice portion size. On the bad side the service is very slow - even when they're not busy, and timing of food delivery could use some improvement. Immediately when you walk in you can see that Sushi Mike is indeed a very friendly guy and extremely personable. So much so that he usually greets everybody that walks through the door by name, and often comes around to shake hands or even the occasional hug. If it wasn't for my experience lastnight I would have given them a very high rating. So lastnight I was awaiting my sushi order while a young family with two very adorable little girls walked in. Apparently Sushi Mike hadn't seen them in a while, and came around to greet them. I thought that was very endearing - not something you see every day. Before long Mike had picked up one of the little girls, and walked her back behind the sushi bar. While happily chatting with the mom and dad, and the girls feet dangling and swinging over the sushi laid on his counter, he proceeded to feed her food. With his bare fingers. This, in itself is a little creepy to me, but whats worse is that more than once his fingers went IN her mouth. Now I waited to see if he would wipe his hands (at the very least!) or wash them, but no - he continued handling his knife and cutting more of what he was feeding her with the same hand that was in her mouth. After a good amount of stuffing food into her, he started to walk her back around to her parents, when she spit up her food onto the floor. So Mike carried her back behind the sushi bar, gave her a sip from a glass of water, then cut and fed her some more food with his fingers. I'm sure by this time my jaw was agape. After returning the girl to her seat, Mike returned behind the sushi bar. WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS he began to prepare more food, between taking pictures of the little girl with his cellphone. I was horrified. I gathered my things, canceled my sushi order, and paid for my appetizer. When the waiter rang me up and asked what was wrong, I explained how absolutely unsanitary his behavior is. His comment in return was along the lines of, "Well you should work with him" - leading me to believe that this type of behavior is not unusual. I've been trying to find why Tanoshii was shut down for a while in 2006 with a Heath Code Violation - at this point I think I can probably guess the reason why. It's really too bad - because the sushi was great. Luckily mine had always been prepared by the other sushi chef (Chris?), who appears very conscious of sanitation and wisely gave Mike a wide berth during all of this. But, since Mike runs the show, and has demonstrated a truly disgusting level of carelessness with regard to food safety, I'll never be returning. The only reason Tanoshii gets 1 star is because yelp doesn't allow 0 star ratings.
(1)
Jodi L.

This is the correct spelling; I notice there are more reviews posted without the extra "i". This place is fabulous! I will not go anywhere else for sushi. I am a vegetarian and was blown away by "Sushi Mike's" creation. My boyfreind was a little timid regarding raw fish but loved his as well. The BYOB aspect made the bill embarassingly small. The two of us ate lots of appetizers, sushi, and dessert, and spent around $40. It was nice to be around the obvious regulars but feel welcomed as newcomers. Waiter service was OK, you can't be in a hurry. Sushi Mike is worth the wait and obviously puts much thought and care into what he creates for you. Great food!
(5)
Bridget F.

For those who are frequent sushi eaters, this is a great place to go. It's great because you have the choice of standard rolls that you can get at any sushi joint, but what makes them different is their "made-to-order" rolls. You tell them what you like and they create something on the spot. I had an italian roll with fatty tuna, oregano, fresh basil and spicy tuna on the inside. It was fantastic and I've never had anything like it! Try the fish and chips -- they are a must. The staff was prompt and friendly. The ambiance is comfortable and makes a small space seem cozy. With the way some of the patrons were talking to sushi Mike, it almost seemed like the Cheers of sushi restaurants. It was a bit pricey for the made-to-order sushi rolls, but totally worth it for a special occassion. And, BYOB? Yes, please!
(4)
Allison N.

After too many cookie-cutter sushi places, I was ready for a change. Tanoshi isn't very interesting decor-wise. But they're more than creative with their food. We sat at the bar and the sushi chef handed us creations on a whim - each one was a surprise. And each one was a work of art. A highlight was an extra spicy crab roll (real crab!) that had my mouth searing for at least ten minutes. It was delicious, though. It's true the rolls are pricey, but considering the ingredients and the artistry, I think they're worth every penny. The seaweed salad was also excellent. Usually I can't eat the stuff because it's too slimy and fishy for my taste. Tanoshi's was obviously very fresh, sprinkled with sesame seeds and adorned with paper-thin slices of avocado. As other Yelpers have noted, this restaurant is BYOB, although they do serve sake. If you forgot your alcohol, no worries - just hop over to the Jewel across the street. I will certainly keep coming back here to sample all the fabulous sushi rolls!
(4)
Eavon S.

If you're a control freak, consider this restaurant your first step in letting go. When I go to this restaurant, I don't even look at the menu. All you need to do is tell the server you want Sushi Mike specials for each person at your table. Sit back and let the cogs in his sushi mind work on delicious roll after roll. The server will ask about food allergies and such, but otherwise, let the expert take care of it all for you. The only thing I do recommend is to order the fish and chips. This Japanese take on the London staple is sooooooooo gooooooooood!!
(5)
bri r.

This is by far the best sushi I've ever had. Trust your dinner to the sushi Mike special, but beware, the dishes range from 12-20 for a roll of your choice of ingredients. As Sushi Mike to make you his favorite, and don't forget the bottle of wine. Delicious food, great people, what more can you want. Average nice dinner for 2- around $100 with tip. If you're really hungry, try an appetizer here, then head elsewhere for the food. It's delicious!
(5)
Erica U.

I actually can't believe I'm about to say what I'm about to say. BEST. SUSHI. EVER. My husband thinks I'm being rash and that I should be cautious before I apply the aforementioned label to Tanoshii, but I can't help myself. We went last night with friends and 3 bottles of wine and had the most amazing sushi experience. The friendly server recommended that we try the "chef's special", where you choose your favorite ingredients from an extensive list and how many rolls you'd like, and the chef goes to town. We ordered 6 rolls total for the table and I was thrilled with each and every course. My favorite was the fresh tuna, unagi, and avocado concoction that came paired with some sort of Japanese flat bread. The chef ended our meal with a sort of "fruitshi" in the meat of a halved papaya. I will tell everyone I know about this place and might even make another trip this week. I also disagree with the other reviews about it being expensive. We paid about $40 per person for a ton of sushi.
(5)
Eddie U.

We went to have dinner and showed up on Saturday eve around 6pm. Sushi bar was all with 730 and/or 830pm reservations, but we managed to get a table on the adjacent dinning room. The space was a drab. I never expect extravagance in a Japanese sushi bar, but this was definitely stale with poor lite, candles not lit, loud disco (Donna Summers is awesome but not in this kind of place). Customer Service appeared rushed and made the mistake of assuming that every customer knows their menu -- waiter asked "you mean you never been here before?" No, sorry. Still, explanation was rushed and confusing. We ended up asking chef Mike to create something for us: we ended up with some sushi which was tasty, but nothing to talk about. Except that I had better customer services, better sushi elsewhere, and this restaurant was too expensive for what they offered. I hate feeling jaded and displeased. Worst -- NO SATISFACTION! I cannot suggest this place to anyone under these circumstances.
(1)
Wayne L.

The sushi at Tanoshi is art - and you are paying for the gourmet touches. Every time I eat there the sushi is creative and different plus very tasty. Definitely order the "Sushi Mike special." Also, don't count on using Soy sauce, because Mike, "The Soy Nazi" discourages it. If you want a "normal" sushi experience, this may not be the place. But if you feel a little adventurous, I highly recommend Tanoshi. Best of all, this place is BYOB.
(4)
Al G.

If you have had your share of the same old sushi try Sushi Mike's creations at Tanoshii. They are creative, tasty and fun to share with friends. Make reservation and bring a good bottle of Wine or Sake or Kirin or one of each and enjoy your evening. Don't go if you just want to eat straight sushi because your wasting valuable counter space for those who want to venture off the menu and taste a little bit of heaven. Just tell Sushi Mike how hot you like it and skip the soy sauce.
(5)
Liz W.

Run - don't walk to Sushi Mikes as the locals call this place. I've been about a dozen times so I can call it that now I guess. The food is amazing, always always get the fish and chips. The food is delicious, soup to nuts and every wacky creation in between! The service is always impeccable, as far as sushi joints go! Not going to lie, it's expensive and I am petty sure they just upped their prices. I always go with the same person and we usually get the same amount of food with some variance in fish choice, but last weekend our bill seemed abnormally high. I think it's the best, freshest fish in the city!
(5)
Jonathan B.

Mike is the best. If you decide to eat there you MUST order the Sushi Mike Special - which means he makes you food and you eat it. No special ordering, absolutely no California Rolls and in exchange you get the most creative, tasty sushi you will find in Chicago for the price. Sit at the bar, crack a B.Y.O. beer and be patient because this is sushi to be savored.
(5)
J F.

You have to expect the unusual but also the best sushi you've ever had when you come to Tanoshii. I'm from Detroit, but I'm hoping to come here every time I'm in Chicago from now on. This is definitely not the "standard" sushi place. Their "specials" tasted amazing and were very unique in their own way. Let's take the "Italian" roll for example. One reviewer didn't like it. I think it's only because he's never had anything like it and should have opted for the cookie-cutter sushi selection, or, better yet, go to some cheap "standard" sushi restaurant. For me, the best part was not knowing what to expect with the next special. Our good local resident friend recommended this place and he's had sushi from all over the world and thought this is as good as it gets. My other friend, who's been to Japan and is also a sushi fan, commented that this is the most "gourmet", yet genuine sushi he's ever had.
(5)
Cristin M.

I've been wanting to visit Tanoshii for ages now, and I finally made it this past weekend. We got there really early on a Saturday evening, and the place was nearly empty. There was a couple sitting at the sushi bar and a small group who came in and ordered several rolls to go. By the time we left, it was still empty, but several tables have "reserved" signs on them for later on in the evening. We decided to dive in and order three rolls, but let Mike decide what exactly there were going to be. We specified tuna, unagi, salmon, seasonal fruits (no mango that day), medium spicy, and no cilantro (we had a cilantro hater in the bunch). We were asked if there were any food allergies, and then off to fate. I wasn't disappointed with our first to rolls (sorry, I don't remember the names) - unagi with shrimp and avocado and the other was salmon with Asian pear. The unagi roll was really flavorful and bold, whereas the salmon roll was more delicate, letting the Asian pear flavor come through. I would order either one again. Our third roll was more like "frushi". It was made with cucumber, with fresh strawberry slices and raspberry sauce. There was probably something else going on there, but I honestly couldn't notice it. That was probably the most disappointing. While it was good, I would have rather have had something that was rice and fish/seafood based. Hence, the reason for my three stars. We also ordered the pan fried gyoza, which was pretty tasty, but then again, I've never had bad gyoza. The service was helpful and friendly. The prices are a little high. I'm not sure how much their rolls are if you build them yourself, I didn't even look at the order sheet. I'd be willing to go back, without hesitation, if I didn't mind parting with about $25 and walking out not stuffed full of sushi.
(3)
Marc W.

I went to Tanoshi b/c my regular place (Tampopo) was closed and the guys at In Fine Spirits recommended it. This is not your normal sushi place. I was told to order off the menu which is what I did. I also ordered my meal take out which avoided all the service issues that seems to have plagued other reviewers. My first impression is that Sushi Mike is a very talented, gifted, passionate and inventive sushi chef. He really cares about what he does and avoids the normal sushi dishes like the plague. I asked him for a Mike special and I had never seen any of it before. All very innovative. I liked all of it except the one that had some oregano/rosemary. That one dish was just not to my taste but I liked the rest. It wasnt cheap though. All that innovation costs money. I would say, go here if you want a new sushi experience and are willing to pay for it.
(3)
Tom M.

Mike is a-ok. We let him pick and choose and he did not disappoint. We finally had to ask him to stop, as we were all full and satisfied.
(4)
Agnes O.

The fish was great, sushi pricing bit on a higher end for rolls - I guess that might be the novelty factor (not knowing what you will get - Mike's Special). I like my rolls spicy and I've asked twice to increase the level of heat but I guess the chef ignored my request. It did take quite some time to get our order. It's a byob so that's a big plus and street parking was plenty available. Overall it was a good experience, the quality of fish is great and you will get variety of different rolls that perhaps you won't find somewhere else. Having said that, I prefer my sushi with a little more punch so probably won't be back.
(3)
Brandon W.

'Scuse me Govna, Id like some of your fancy "Fish 'N Chips". That Mike sounds like one chap that can make a good plate of "Fish 'N Chips" like I got over seas. Waiting........... Excuse me, this isnt "Fish 'N Chips", this is various articles of foody goodness on an actually crispy delicious.... Oh who cares, it was awesome! Mind blowingly awesome.. mouthwateringly awesome, tastebudsfallingoutofyourmouthcausetherewasaflavorÂexplosion awesome... I'm not even going to describe it. I will just say, if you like sushi, there is NO reason why you would even THINK about passing on this dish, get it, eat it, die happy. Next, we ordered a MIKES SPECIAL - which consisted of my girlfriend and I rambling to the waitress about what we like and dont like.. then about 10 minutes later... like a karate kick to the face, more flavorful explosions were destroying my mouth - and I couldnt even tell you exactly what was in it! 'Cept some avocado, and I think Shrimp Tempura... Anyway, the pricing isnt bad on their standard rolls, really decent actually - and none of the ones we tried were anything less then excellent. The "Mikes Special" runs a little higher in price, but is also a much larger roll then a standard roll and is well worth the money you will pay for it. Sushi here is a treat, so treat it as such... ..and the BYOB doesnt hurt either.
(4)
MarBear F.

Sushi Mike rocks. The specialty rolls are a little $$, but they are delicious and the BYO helps. The Italian roll is one of my favorites, and just try to not devour the fish & chips appetizer. I also loved a tasty mango one he made. The 80's music playing in the background doesn't hurt either.
(4)
A C.

OMG Sushi Mike is a genius! I have eaten a lot of great food, but this was the best food I've ever had in my life! Super good! Who would've thought? Edgewater... He made this one roll he called sushi bruscheta that had a strawberry slice, raw salmon and sun dried tomatoes with truffle oil. Sounds weird, but OMG it was sooo good! I am shocked that there aren't more stellar reviews on here. It was on the expensive side, but well worth it.
(5)
Sara P.

I really loved this place. I went here on a Saturday night with a group of five. We got tempura as an appetizer and also got six chef mike's specials. They were all really delicious! I loved each one. They were not bland, and all had interesting aspects. I loved a chips and fish/tomato mash (I know it's not called that, but trust me, it's great.) It is a bit pricey, but I felt like my money was well spent. Service was good, they always were refilling my water and the timing of all the food was good. I liked the music too!
(5)
Leang E.

It's not bad for a place out in Andersonville. My friend and I came here to celebrate, and it was a very chill place. We didn't sit up at the bar where the chefs are pretty personable, and opted for a more private conversation. We did try one of Chef Mike's creative rolls amongst many others. They were pretty tasty, but not as mouth watering as some of the other sushi I've had at other places. The prices are pretty competitive to other sushi joints, and our waiter was okay. I do wish that I brought some wine since it's BYOB, but maybe next time. It's good to know of another place where I can do sushi take-out.
(4)
Anne B.

Love it! Did the Mike's specials & loved every roll. I will definitely be back
(4)
Stefanie L.

YIKES! This place was terrible on so many levels!!! I was stoked to go because all the reviews from friends have been great! I ordered the sushi/sashimi platter. The salad and soup came out within 5 minutes. It took over an hour to serve the platter!!!! OVER AN HOUR!!! People at our table were served at different times (some 20 minutes after ordering...others over an hour after ordering) came out and was quite possibly the worst platter I have had in my whole life! The cuts of were cut FAR TOO THINK (such that I was unable to even chew a few pieces). Never in my life have I had that experience with any fish! So, all together, terrible service (the waitress didn't even know the difference between caterpillar and dragon rolls, which someone else had ordered) not to mention the OVER HOUR wait for my platter, and, most importantly, horribly prepared fish!
(1)
Jackie P.

Since I was recently named both "Maki Princess" and also "Sushi Loving Loud Mouth" I figured I might as well live up to the titles and so here is yet another review from this Maki Princess - Sushi Loving Loud Mouth! After leaving Tanoshii tonight I can say without a doubt I have no idea what all the hype is about. I left with a very so so feeling of this place and that's really sad because I really love my sushi. Here's the reasons I wouldn't travel to Andersonville again to eat at Tanoshii. 1. The service is really slow. They move at a snails pace here. Our server Paul was super nice about everything and believe me my dining companion and I threw a lot at him. So props to Paul but really when a table orders an appetizer it should come before the actual meal. 2. We did get our appetizer finally (see above) but it was not as the menu described and was not very good. Note to self do not order the gyoza here. Just don't do it. I felt bad about sending it back since they forgot about at the beginning of our meal but bad food is bad food. 3. The rolls are pretty good. But they are filled with a lot of rice. I like my fish thick (see my review of Bentonara) and I like my fillings full and not just full of rice. Also the rolls or sorta sloppy. They easily fall apart and unroll. 4. I will not pay $8.00 for a California roll when it's made with Krab not crab. Sorry try again. 5. Speaking of pricing. The pricing here is decent but some rolls are a lot more expensive than others. Again $13 for a roll with Krab stick and salmon only isn't going to cut it. So there you have it the low down on Tanoshii from the Maki Princess - Sushi Loving Loud Mouth! Stay tuned my friends.
(3)
Katie T.

Andersonville roll! Caterpillar roll! Dragon roll! = so good. Steamed shu mai! Tempura! Green tea! Oh my!
(5)
Bianca S.

I'm a member of a monthly dinner club, we each have a month and a letter. Mine was T. I've never been so happy for the letter T, I should join Seasame Street. On the recommendation of a co-worker I chose Tanoshii. All the reviews are not lying when they say Mike knows his stuff. Even down to telling us not to use silverware on the sushi as it changes the flavor and which rolls to dip in soy sauce and which ones to not so you get the full flavor. We ordered a mix of rolls. The catipillar was by far my favorite. We ordered 2 of his specialty rolls that were amazing! One was white fish the other was salmon. I will definitely be going back for more sushi at Tanoshii
(4)
ken q.

Just the first steps inside the bustling restaurant, I couldn't help but notice a good vibe. It was packed with people and smiles. With so many sushi bars in Chicago filled with flash and modernity, there was a refreshing simplicity to Tanoshii. Fortunately, I made a reservation - otherwise I probably wouldn't have been seated. The BYOB is obviously a huge plus. Its nice to enjoy your meal and not worry about running up a bar tab on the side. Just a bottle of white wine will do. The food was moderate, borderline great. I recommend their Edamame to kick things off - nice and hot with the right amount of salt. Probably the best I've had in town. The sushi was good - but nothing that made you leave blown away. The big issue I had was the service. There really isn't a wait staff - just a roaming host. I wanted to order and additional sushi roll but he mentioned that I would have to wait 40 minutes for it. Obviously, not worth the wait. I give Tanoshii three stars because of the sub-par service, great BYOB atmosphere and so-so food.
(3)
Tony D.

Well... my buddy is super stoked about this place, and believes in Mike- went last week and I was less than impressed. While I appreciate the creative inventions of the rolls- I wonder if it's really just an ideal way for them to sell the fish that hasn't sold that week. Well, we put the trust in Mike's hands for a few rolls and tried the "famous" fish n' chips. It was more like ceviche meets guacamole- wasn't bad, but just didn't dig on the presentation and wasn't wowed. This place is way outta my budget- granted, i'm used to throwing down some $ on sushi, but at $22 a roll, I'll pass. I also don't live in this neighborhood, so it's unlikely I'll return. Even with the BYOB aspect, it still comes out on the expensive side. Last rant: service wasn't very good either...
(2)
Joe L.

Fantastic sushi, get the Chef's Special. A little pricey, but the food is amazing.
(5)
Julie B.

Tanoshii and Sushi Mike will give you an incredible experience. A friend took me here last night, we sat at the sushi bar and said please just order the Chef's Special - what does that mean you ask? That Sushi Mike will come by and ask you what you like and dislike then will create a tantilizing sushi experience. You don't know what will come next but trust me - you will love it and want more! Low key BYOB and reasonably priced - please visit Sushi Mike!
(4)
Steven M.

I must have gotten served something different from everyone else, because this place kinda sucks. The Mike's special that everyone raved about, tasted and looked as though it had italian salad dressing on it? I felt as though I was at a Japanese Olive Garden. Of course we had 6 of his rolls. The salmon was ok. But everything was very bland. To much fruit? And when we got the bill, I thought we broke a window. 6 rolls 2 app's and we get charged 8 buck's to bring our own wine. At a total of a 165 dollars. Are you F%#@ing kidding me. I wouldn't come back here if they started serving salad and bread sticks.
(1)

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Address : 5547 N Clark St
Chicago, IL, 60640
Phone (773) 878-6886
Website https://www.tanoshiisushi.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

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

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Tanoshii

5547 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640

Tanoshii Menu

Sushi Bar

Makimono

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