4. Restaurants

Toro Sushi

2546 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60614
  • (773) 348-7255
  • Store is closed

Toro Sushi Menu

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  • Amy X.

    Fresh Fish. Great sushi. Great Atmosphere. Mitch is funny and very professional. Decent service. Needless to say, I had a great time here. With tip, it was $100 for a table of two. Yes, it's a bit expensive, but it worth it. Usually I wouldn't even try to know the chef's/owner's name. But almost every other customer called out his name to greet him good-bye as they leave, so it's kind of hard to not know that he is Mitch. My friend and I came here around 9pm on a Sunday night. We were ready to order, but it took a while for waitress to notice so and take our order. And somehow they ran out of rice, so some order was changed to shashimi instead. Mitch was very professional and considerate though. He informed us immediately and even gave us some extra fish! We had a great time. I will go back for sure! Small place. So it may not be a great idea to come as a big group.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey D.

    A quaint establishment with an accommodating staff and solid sushi. Definitely worth a visit!

    (3)

  • Ryan W.

    Awful. Slow service. Rotten avocado. Expecting quite a bit more. First time here and surprised at the overall experience - wouldn't let my girlfriend change her order or make any substitutions, took almost an hour for one roll. Never coming back. End of rant.

    (1)

  • C D.

    Toro is consider the best sushi in town! So my boyfriend took me and his friends there for dinner. The place is super tiny so be prepare to wait for at least 30 mins to 1 hr. We ate over $150 of sushi for a table of four! It was the most expensive sushi that ever we ate. Haha. I have to say the sushi was very good. I love the salad!!!!

    (5)

  • Jay I.

    Hands down, best sushi I had so far in Chicago. Simple menu. decent price range. Well cut and fresh sushi. Well cooked and marinated rice. There was nothing I had problems with. Definitely go back to this place many many times.

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    This place was great! Worth the wait. Get the Holla Hollapeno roll.

    (5)

  • Kyle G.

    Everything you'd want in a neighborhood sushi restaurant and more. Sitting at the bar and talking to Mitch during dinner was an added bonus. Along with our order of sushi (which was very good), he also explained different pieces of fish and provided samples to try.

    (5)

  • Adam K.

    I guess I've been on a sushi kick lately. This is also one of my other favorite neighbohood sushi bars, this time in the LP neighborhood. This place is crammed, it feels like you're in Tokyo. The sushi was very fresh and well prepared, loved the spicy mayo (we got a variety of the specials), and we finished off with the mochi ice cream dessert. Mmmmmm. I'm coming back here!

    (5)

  • Samantha T.

    Amazing sushi. Best place I've been in Chicago, by far. Don't miss out on the lunch specials Friday and Saturday, it gets busy but absolutely worth the wait!!!

    (5)

  • Whitney C.

    I will never go back to Toro Sushi. Not because of the food but because of the experience my two friends and I had last night. Never in my life have I been asked to leave a restaurant, as a paying customer, because they "needed to seat other customers". I don't know why their inability to seat customers accordingly became our problem, but now the three of us and our friends will no longer be dining with them again.

    (2)

  • Stacey S.

    Mediocre sushi for cheap in LP. Expect a very long wait (1 hour+) unless you go early because it's a "very popular restaurant" according to the wait staff. You will also hear all conversation from the next table because tables are placed less than 15" away.

    (1)

  • Soo C.

    Fish is so good and fresh here! I loved the raw stuff more than the cooked items. Servers are nice and friendly, but space is really tight.

    (4)

  • Christopher S.

    I love sushi. I might love Toro more. I went here for a first date based on a recommendation from a friend. The date went well and I dated the girl for several month and part of me thinks I have Toro to thank for the good start to what was later a roller coaster of a relationship. Sometimes i wonder what would have happened had I taken her to Toro one more time when things started to go down hill. I'll never know, but I can assure you this...I've taken every girl that eats sushi to this place as a first date ever since. What makes Toro so delightful? Well for one one, the rolls taste fresh and come in multiple varieties. There's no boredom to be had on the menu and if there is, it tastes delicious. Service is fast and on on point. Also, it's BYOB which is always great. Especially when they skip the corkage fee. The only negative thing I'd say about Toro is that it's VERY small and gets packed fast, so the wait times are ridiculous. I always try to get there at 6. If my date isn't available until later I still get there at 6 and get myself on the wait list and roam around that area until she shows up. Yes, I know that sounds nuts but it's worth it!

    (5)

  • Chelsi C.

    Best Sushi in town. We try to go to Toro every other week. I crave for it if we don't visit the restaurant for a month!

    (5)

  • Cassie H.

    We had Toro sushi in May 2013 when we were visiting, and I have been daydreaming about it ever since. So on this trip to Chicago, we made a point to clear a dinner for it again. With a large party and a 19 month old, we opted for take out which was fairly prompt... and it did not disappoint. Yummy yummy! Wish I could transport myself throughout the year for this sushi!

    (5)

  • Rebekah P.

    I have been going to Toro for a few years but am just now getting around to writing a review. I didn't realize how much I loved Toro until I moved. I have not found a single sushi restaurant that even comes close to the quality of fish and rolls. I only wish they had more locations or delivered. Mitch is great, too.

    (5)

  • Jodi P.

    Great sushi, even better service! My husband and I came to Toro a couple months ago. A couple of friends took us here so we would try out a new sushi joint. We gave them our name and was told it was be a 1.5 hour wait. Yikes! Luckily it's on a street with a ton of night life so we walked to a nearby bar and had a few drinks before dinner. After looking through the menu my husband and I picked a few interesting rolls to try out. Since it was our first time, we were't sure about what to pick. I followed my friend's suggestion but my husband decided to be adventurous and ended up ordering the most awful tasting roll I have ever had. It was with cooked fish- I think it's a "you either love it or hate it" kind of deal. He immediately ordered what I had since it was DELICIOUS! The waitress was genuinely concerned with my husbands satisfaction which I found surprising and awesome. She was great and put in the new order immediately and took away the previous roll. The sushi was very good and the prices were fair. When we received our check, we saw that she didn't charge us for the first roll. I thought this was a prime example of going "above and beyond" with your customers. They didn't do anything wrong, they could have charged us for that roll- but they understand the importance of return customers. (the Pareto principle!!) Bravo Toro!

    (5)

  • Joyce H.

    Toro may not be the world's best but for what it is, a small sushi restaurant in yuppy Lincoln Park, it's pretty good. For me, the way to test its yumminess is if I have a lasting impression / craving a few days after I go. This usually happens for me w/ the sashimi or nigiri, and this place seems to specialize on rolls. I came away craving really only one roll (spicy tako maki.) We waited for Toro for 2 hours! We made a big mistake by not putting our names in earlier. We arrived and we were told that we'd have to wait 1.5 hours. We came back with 30 min to go, and then received a call that we'd have to wait 30 more min! By the time we started eating, it was 10pm. I was trying to be a good sport but those last 10 min were rough. Noting our edginess, the waitress came by with an order of agedashi tofu on the house. (Why are people in Chicago so nice?? They know how to treat their customers.) Here is what we ordered (among 3 people): AGEDASHI TOFU (on the house): 5 - I think this almost tops my list in terms of favorite dishes here. I love tofu, and I think this particular tofu was made fresh. The agedashi broth was soooo flavorful and the textures were perfect. MISO SOUP (with sushi order): 2 - nothing notable CHIRASHI: 3.5 yum, but a little disappointing. Everything was fresh, but things weren't quite right. (The documentary 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' has ruined me and my idea of good sushi. Drool.) The red snapper was tough, the salmon a little too fatty (though that is tasty), and the tuna was sliced too thinly (maybe because of our overfishing and tuna shortage?) There were a few great pieces, including the pink one (can't remember the name!), which was really soft, and the tamago egg sushi, which had great texture. They were nice and made sure there were 3 pieces of each sashimi, one for each. As usual, we couldn't finish the sushi rice (very flavorful) so our friend took it home. then we ordered four rolls (no thanks to the cream cheese ones! what is that???) SPICY TAKO MAKI: 5. This was by far my favorite roll of the night. There were 6 pieces of sushi with an octopus salad on top -- great flavor and balance, and the octopus was so so yummy. I would go back just to eat this roll. SPICY TUNA CRUNCH ROLL: 4. I can't stay away from crunchy fried stuff. Guilty pleasure. We were surprised by how much we just really enjoyed it. KAMIKAZE: 3. It was a good idea, but flavors weren't that strong (could use more scallion, less of the sauce that was holding it together) and the amount of fish topping the roll was overwhelming. I can't remember the last one but it was spicy - something jalapeno?? 2. It was terrible - not sure why anyone would make a roll with a dipping sauce this spicy because it numbs your tongue to the flavors of the fish! I was not happy about this because I wanted to really taste everything, and I had to wait to wash out the spicy with rice and water. Not a fan of this one. We were able to finish everything. Again, I'd come back for the spicy tako maki. I'm continuing my search w/ the sashimi and nigiri.

    (4)

  • Ana R.

    Considering how terribly small the place is, the servers are not much help but the sushi speaks for itself. By far the best Sushi in Chicago!!!

    (5)

  • Mario Z.

    Sushi has long departed its status as an exotic excursion in major US cities where people venture to sample the highly sophisticated, yet wild food. Most customers of Toro Sushi, I presume, are not first-time sushi eaters and the restaurant provides an excellent means of endorsing their tastes. The selection of Maki and Nigiri/Shashimi is diverse and certainly interesting. The quality of fish is one of the best in the city for mid-level prices. The two-stars given to Toro at present has nothing to do with their food, for it is fantastic. However, the abysmal service and bland presentation fails to elevate this restaurant into the upper echelons of Chicago offerings that are able to provide a unique, defining experience despite the (at times mundane) prevalence of their cuisine. There is no hostess, which given the small nature of the place, is understandable. However, the waitresses who serve intermittently as hostesses inconsistently follow reservations and give very poor estimates on availability; it is not uncommon to be told there are no tables for at least an hour and observe a party get seated while you waited outside talking with your friends (the party did not have a reservation, this was verified between both waitresses). Given its prestige, expecting some difficulty getting a table could be pardoned if it wasn't for the poor service. Either from being allotted too many responsibilities, underpay, or bad selection of service employees, the waitresses were absent for most of each meal. Each waitress has an unpolished disposition that would be expected of a mid-90s Chinese take-out restaurant with two tables for the occasional customer choosing to dine in. The logistics of take-out and dine-in have not been properly established and it is common to see the best of Toro's sushi chefs working laboriously on take-out orders while multiple in-house orders are pending, leaving many patrons to wait extensively for their food. As a consequence, an ama-ebi sushi order was presented cold, when the head should be expected to be slightly warm. Also, the lack of efficient order management resulted in a hamachi being served "ice-cold". The fish was so cold that it contained ice-crystals in the center of the meat. Given the cold environment of the restaurant, the hamachi did not warm up to a palatable temperature even by the end of the meal; I am sure Mitch himself would never have served such a plate, but it was observed that he did not personally prepare this or assess the quality of his assistant's work. Appreciating the Inuit culture should not be an aspect of Chicago cuisine unless stated so on the menu. Sacrificing quality can be undesirable in any case, but valuing the quality of take-out over the dine-in experience seems flawed. On the nature of the restaurant itself, it is evident immediately that little to no money has been invested in renovating the design or environment. The restaurant is poorly insulated, leaving most patrons to retain their frigid cold weather attire and it allows a most obvious and penetrating smell of pizza from the neighboring slice shop. The design, although distinct, is homely and unpolished. The plates and cups are all plastic and monotonic in design and color. Perhaps, the lack of quality in aesthetics allows for a casual appreciation of the quality fish, but the lack of environmental controls prevents even this from being accomplished. Good people work here who care for their cuisine. Some reinvestment of money should be made in controlling the environment and improving service and logistics. The aesthetics of Toro Sushi could work for them and provide a high quality, casual sushi experience. However, as it stands, it serves as a poor understatement of Mitch's capacity and good nature.

    (2)

  • Lidia L.

    Hands down the best sushi in Chicago so far. And you're talking about a girl from California where the sushi is freshest you'll have. I've had multiple different rolls here. The raw fish is the freshest I've had in Chicago. The cooked rolls are delicious as well. Although I took off a star because I got the rainbow roll as take out once and it was not the freshest fish I've had and the rainbow roll is suppose to be know for simply good fresh fish. Other than that- all the other rolls I've had were superb!! Here's what I've had thus far: California Tempura Caterpiillar Dragon Crazy Horse Rainbow Spicy Tuna Spider Super White Crunch Big Ten**** yum El Fuego*** Kamikaze***

    (4)

  • Byron H.

    Delicious sushi. The owner was very attentive and even gave us a complimentary sashimi. . Got everything we needed in a timely manner. Would definitely order the El Fuego and Spicy Tako rolls. Well worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    I'm officially a Toro Sushi fan! The food is very good but what really makes the experience is the sushi chef and sidekick making the sushi. The sidekick was super funny and friendly...thanks for eavesdropping on our totally inappropriate conversation, sidekick! The sidekick, along with the sushi chef fist pounding and giving us free sashimi, really made the experience for my friends and I! Toro does not take reservations so put your name down and take a walk up and down Clark St. My friends and I went to Del Seoul and then Molly's to hang out and play some dirty Scrabble. Fun times! When it was our time to sit, I was a bit hesitant when they put us up at the sushi bar. As I said above, it really made my night though and made it a lot of fun. I liked sitting up there to watch all the behind the scenes, as well. To start with, my friends and I got the Hot Finger Roll for $6. Not a bad price but probably will just skip it next time. It was a lot of food and just so-so. They had a lot of yummy sounding appetizers though so looking forward to trying others on future visits. For my main entree (roll), I decided on the Midway Monster. There were so many choices but I settled on this based on what was in the roll. I can't even remember now what was in it but I remember it being delicious! I tried my friend's Best of Both Worlds which was good but I much preferred mien! The one downfall of this roll, the pieces are humongous! I couldn't fit them in my tiny mouth! All in all, had a very fun time at Toro and really liked the food! I will absolutely be back!

    (4)

  • Andrew S.

    Don't get what the big deal is. You have to wait for 2 hours for average sushi. I was expecting exquisite cuisine but after trying it there really isn't anything special about it. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but this place is no 5 star joint. Still searching for the best sushi in chi town Chabba

    (3)

  • Robert W.

    Underwhelmed by this place. Byob is great but the sushi was mediocre. The ambiance is unremarkable. I'd go back but not worth waiting for. It was just eh.

    (3)

  • Sasimon B.

    The rolls were good. But this review is not about the rolls, it is about their sashimi and the way the situation was handled. When the sashimi arrived on the table, it was frozen in the middle. Not just ice cold, but frozen to the point where we even tried to let it sit for a bit to defrost. When we asked for a new plate with not frozen fish and if we could possibly substitute it with a roll instead, the sushi chef came out to tell us that his fish was good and there was nothing wrong with what he served. In fact, he told me "this is how sashimi is in Asia." Let me just add that I am Asian and have been to Japan. Sashimi should not be served frozen. He kept insisting that his fish was good and instead of giving us a new plate of food, he brought out more frozen sashimi for us to "prove" the quality of the fish. We ended our meal with a bad taste in our mouths, two plates of uneaten-still frozen sashimi and when the bill arrived, we saw that the frozen fish (both the sashimi we ordered and what we thought was complimentary) was on our bill. The least they could have done was not charge us for the plate we ordered, but to tack on the plate the chef brought out as well was appalling. I would not go there again, there are plenty of other good Japanese restaurants in this city that know how to serve sashimi and have better service. This place is for people who care more about the sauce and other ingredients they put on sushi rolls rather than the quality of the fish.

    (1)

  • Mike M.

    I would put negative stars if it was possible. Have never had a dinning experience where I have felt more rushed. I brought my fiance there for her birthday with the mentality of enjoying two bottles of wine with our (many) rolls of sushi. However, the waitress refused to open the second bottle of wine with the explanation "we have other people waiting," even though we ordered 5 rolls and an appetizer. Other than that, the Cali tempura roll was good. The En Fuego roll was abhorrent - cilantro overpowered everything. Kicking myself, as I pulled an audible from our usual BYOB place.

    (1)

  • Bianca T.

    Absolutely hands down the best sushi place I have ever been too. It's not too overly priced and corporate focused like Ra. It's a low key hole in the wall that is basically the epitome of Chicago if it were a sushi joint. Amazing. No tiny rolls like Aodake. Big, carefully hand crafted sushi with fresh fish. Even better than Yuzu. I recommend this place to coworkers and they fall in love!

    (5)

  • Natalie B.

    This place is truly a 5 star experience. The service was exceptional...and like said earlier, Mitch really does know everything about fish and creating the freshest sushi available in Chicago. Our favorite rolls were the Sunny roll, the California Tempura, Oh My God roll, and the crazy horse (which you must like fresh raw fish because it's all raw). I can't wait to go again to try more!! Loved this place!

    (5)

  • Brandon T.

    By far the BEST sushi place in the city hands down. Never had a bad experience when ordering from here. I've only eaten in one time though as they don't take reservations until day of, there are very few tables, and and its a small place. My advice would be to go early and put your name in, go home, and come back around 3 hours later. Oddly enough, the time I actually ate in there was no wait on just a random Wednesday.

    (5)

  • Melissa N.

    Sorry Chicago, I'm going to be a brat. When you are from San Francisco...you take a lot of things for granted. Running along the Embarcadero in February. Amazing coffee roasters. Hot new restuarants. Dolores Park! And of course....fresh sushi. My husband and I went to Chicago a few weeks ago and when we asked for a good place to grab some eats, my friend recommended Toro Sushi. A hidden gem in Lincoln Park, she said that although there was no sign above the door this place often had 45 min waits for it's delicious sushi. Sounded like a Mission hot spot to us, so we were excited to go. We ended up not waiting for a table at all (awesome; the foursome next to us had to wait the requisite 45 mins and were none too happy) and were seated promptyle with waters. Since we were still recovering from the prior evening we did not bring any alcohol (BYOB, awesome) and instead had the iced green tea (delish). We ordered edamame (can't screw that up) and then the sushi..... It was good. Solid. But not "amazing" like we had heard. And it's not Toro Sushi's fault. We're just spoiled Californians.

    (3)

  • Annette J.

    I figured it out! Step into Toro, place your order for carryout (might I suggest the Oh My God roll, the Sunny roll, and the spicy tuna?) and go a few doors down to Molly's while they prepare your order. Pick out a delicious cupcake. Sit, have a hot chocolate or coffee. 15 minutes later, walk back over to Toro. Pick up your food. Laugh at all the suckers waiting 1.5 hours for a table. Go home. Put on your pjs. Watch Gilmore Girls season 2 on DVD. Enjoy your sushi in the comfort of your own home (fuzzy slippers and/or socks are a plus). Gorge on your cupcake (if you have any room left). AMAZING. The perfect set up!

    (5)

  • Partha A.

    A very dependable place and I eat almost twice a week here. Somehow the fish seems effortlessly tasty. My favorites - - Seaweed salad - Arizona roll - El Fuego - Sunny - Ahi salad roll - sake - tamago - simple yet dessertlike and a couple of other rolls that i have tried over time. Only disclaimer and this is probably me - the HOLLA HALAPENO - it is draped with fish and then torched - rendering the fish fishy. I almost puked because I am not used to that flavor - the waitress did warn us about it. But I think she mentioned the taste is "smoky". Actually, it is "fishy". Don't order if you can't take it. Service at the onset can be a bit slow - like getting to the menu and saucers for the soy sauce. But food starts arriving pretty fast. Also, do not reach the restaurant after 8:15 ish because they are already people waiting and on days they close at 9, they would have to turn you away.

    (4)

  • Heather L.

    I wanted to like this place, I did. 4.5 stars and all those reviewers? Six rolls later, I looked at my fiance and he looked back - I knew that we both found ourselves unusually dissatisfied with following yelpers. We had lunch here on a weekday, deciding that it was finally time to try Toro as we were in the neighborhood. We sat down, the service wasn't abysmal, but nothing impressive - made us feel like rightful patrons. We ordered a couple of rolls, I think the frequently-raved about Big Ten, Kamikaze and O.M.G rolls were in there. The price was kind of steep. I believe the bill came up to be $80 excluding tip for 6 rolls and 3-4 pieces of nigiri (which, imho, you should be spending at Sunda, Mizu or Wabi... now you know this is going to get ugly...). I guess when we are talking about maki rolls governed by sauce and crunch, freshness doesn't really apply. But for what it's worth, the quality of the fish on the nigiri isn't plucked-out-the-ocean as gossiped about. In fact, it is the same colorful block of transcontinental sashimi, both bland and monotonous. However, there still can be great maki rolls that can be made out of those (I've seen it done!). But (another "but") that wasn't the case - at least not a 4.5 star-deserving case. The rolls we had were not "Yay, I'm a fan!" Some were arguably a few steps below Whole Foods and a couple rungs above Southern Tsunami. They were merely "A-Ok," ... ... BUT (we're on three strikes here) not for $10-$15 a roll. And we weren't even full. Just dissatisfied. The restaurant is overpriced for the sloppy ambiance as well as for the caliber of sushi. And believe me - if the sushi is good enough, I wouldn't mind if it's a shack by the sea or a hole-in-the-wall in the city. But the final word is: Overhyped.

    (1)

  • Pam D.

    The great thing about living in Chicago is it's sushi! We have dined at several sushi restaurants but, Toro Sushi is definitely one of the freshest most innovative sushi restaurants available to us. The menu is simple to read and understand, no explanations needed. The chef has created unique rolls both hot and cold to satisfy the pickiest palate. We tried the Wisconsin roll wondering how blue cheese could compliment fish...but, it did, we were not disappointed. Servers are friendly and fast. It is BYOB but, when I eat sushi I want no distractions. The restaurant is super small, I recommend you get there when it opens. Reservations not accepted.

    (5)

  • A N.

    I had high hopes due to the raving reviews but left feeling disappointed and robbed. The venue was poorly decorated and very small. It's basically the perfect size for a hot dog-beef-gyro joint or a small Subway...not what I envisioned a sushi place for dinner would look like. I tried the spicy tuna roll that came with the bento box and it was uber fishy! The Kamikaze roll and El Fuego wasn't fishy because it was covered in so much spicy mayo, etc. As I'm typing this, my stomach is upset!

    (1)

  • Nichole C.

    Yup. Add this to my list of Chicago faves. I came here with a friend for lunch at around 1:40 (they close at 2 and then reopen again at 5 or something...despite what the yelp app claims...) and we found a table for 2 even though the place was PACKED. Normally, I don't want to be that guy who walks in right before a place closes, but I totally went for it today. I REALLY wanted some sushi and some of the BYOB six-pack we brought with us. Amazingly, the server was AWESOME. It took awhile to get greeted, but after that, she was SO NICE and helpful and didn't make us feel rushed at all. We each got a fancier maki roll (BOTH WERE FANTASTIC...I would definitely recommend the Big Ten), my friend rocked a spider hand roll and loved it, and I also got a spicy tuna which was good, but not nearly as good as the specialty maki, so definitely go fancy or go home. Our server brought us a bucket of ice and a bottle opener with some glasses so we could enjoy our beers too...I LOVE BYOB places and it really helps to keep the cost down. I will definitely come back to Toro next time I'm looking for some sushi in the city. YUM.

    (4)

  • Andrea C.

    This place has amazing sushi and is very fast. Amazing rolls you must try: Yum Yum Yummy and Kamakazi. Both are excellent.

    (5)

  • Caitlin S.

    By far the best sushi I've ever tried in the city. 5 stars for the delicious food. It's sometimes hard to get a table but if you put your name in (they don't take call ahead reservations) you can walk down the street for a drink and they'll call you when your table's ready. The place is byob too but they have a one bottle per table limit- I guess because they have to keep the tables moving- it's small inside! I am more a fan of sushi rolls than raw fish alone and I've tried a few of the chef rolls and never been disappointed. This is always my number one choice for sushi in the city. I am lucky I live so close. I've never been here with more than one other person- it doesn't seem built for larger groups.

    (5)

  • Van L.

    The Best. Expect to wait at any time or any day of the week, but put your number down, they'll call you, and peruse Lincoln Park. Hop over to Trader Joe's and grab some wine, beer, or sake and walk back. Belly up and fist bump Mitch (the one in the bandana). Order some miso, edamame, pop open the booze. Discuss options with who you're dining with and choose a few rolls to share. Try "O", Spicy Tako, Kamikaze, Tipsy Trixie... I haven't had anything that is not phenomenal here. Everything is fresh, everyone's nice, and there's a reason why this place is full when there's 5-10 other sushi spots in walking distance! BYOB, fresh fish, cheap prices, great atmosphere...doesn't get better than this. Come often enough and earn your chopsticks!

    (5)

  • Shin M.

    I don't understand what all of the rave is about... this sushi restaurant had a great variety but the sushi itself... not worth it. We went in around 12:15 pm on a Saturday and got seated right away. Since it opens at noon on the weekend, it was quite empty. We got seated but had to wait like 8 minutes for a menu until I stood up to grab it myself and she told me to sit down and she would bring it to me in a minute... I'm used to receiving a menu right when I get seated... There were only like 3 tables of people so I don't understand why service was so slow. The trend followed throughout the experience- slowness. Ninja roll- not really a fan Yummy roll- not bad, had cream cheese Spicy scallop- probably my favorite Siberian tiger- pretty good but didn't like the sunflower seeds Midway monster- gross... it was like a salad wrapped in seaweed... Will not return.

    (2)

  • Jean T.

    You may have a long wait but they do let you put your name in and they call you when they are ready- no waiting around endlessly like other establishments. This is a tiny place so it is best to go with a small group of people. The variety and presentation are amazing and SO tasty. I have not had one thing I didn't like.

    (5)

  • Darryl J.

    What can be said about Toro that has not been said already? Been here many times over the years and never disappointed + the pricing is quite reasonable considering how fresh the sushi is. Sushi melts in your mouth, cool Volcano roll (sparkler for presentation), + Kamikaze roll is great. Toro does it right, only downside is the wait if you do not get there soon after they open, even on weekdays. Like Tony Bourdain, there are No Reservations. Toro was my favorite for a very long time until I stumbled upon another Sushi place which I might give 6 stars, but it is a bit pricier and I have to go more often before I crown it to determine how consistent they are. For now Toro remains on the throne.

    (5)

  • Callie G.

    Best sushi in Chicago! My favorites are the Sunny Roll, Arizona Roll, and Super White Crunch Roll. The house salad with ginger dressing is amazing, I swear they put crack in the dressing. There is usually a long wait (1-3 hours) so get there early or show up when you're not hungry and head to Duke's down the street while you wait. If you show up after 8:00/8:30 it is very likely they have stopped taking names for the night altogether.

    (5)

  • Rebecca N.

    There's not much to say that hasn't been said already, but I will say that I arrived at close to 7 on a Thursday and there was ONLY a 25 minute wait!!! The sushi is phenomenal. The ginger dressing on the house salad, also outstanding. The rolls we got were the: O OMG Spring Blossom Market Mix up (or something like that) Each roll was absolutely out of this world. BYOB which is always great and all of those rolls + 2 salads for only $30! Cant wait to return...and it will be soon!!!

    (5)

  • Kyle H.

    Be prepared to wait, however the sushi is worth it. On a week night, you'll probably wait 30-40 minutes. There isn't much of a waiting area, a lot of people go to Frank's across the street to grab a drink while waiting. The quality of sushi is fantastic and very reasonably priced. The roll selection is very big. Yellow submarine & volcano roll are two of our favorites. Neither have eel, not a fan. Their tuna is delicious, can never go wrong with the spicy tuna roll, too! We've been here multiple times, and the convenience of BYOB is nice.

    (4)

  • Jitka R.

    I wish I could say better things but this place was just very average. I don't know why people line up and wait for half an hour. When we finally got seated for dinner at 7.30 on November Saturday night, we soon realized that the restaurant does not heat at all, it was pretty cold inside. We ordered and sushi arrived quite quickly but all fish we had tasted frozen. Yellow tale tasted strangely bitter. Never had such weird taste of this fish before. So that was big disappointment. Besides that all, one of the waitresses was coughing badly the whole time during our visit in the back of the kitchen. Not very appetizing either. Finally, when getting the bill, we noticed they overcharged us. We left freezing, with funny feeling in the stomach ready for hot drink and something good to change our bad taste. Not relaxing, not enjoyable, not really worth it.

    (2)

  • Tiago S.

    After reading all these reviews we decided to go check it out. Sushi was good, but nothing that deserves all these crazy reviews. Place itself is sub par. Sushi was good but nothing crazy special. Definitely a decent joint but I definitely disagree with most. There are other places around which have similar sushi and a better atmosphere. Solid 3 stars.

    (3)

  • A F.

    Best sushi in the city! and it's byob which makes it even better. Never had a bad meal here and everyone I've brought here has gotten hooked!

    (5)

  • Qian L.

    Sashimi dinner set worths the price. Sashimi is great. No complaint about that. Yet the rice is "stiff". It will be better to use Japanese rice and cook by made-in-Japan rice cooker. I know it sounds insane and I can forgive not using proper rice cooker, yet rice-water portion can make up a little. Unfortunately, it's just not good. Also, the bowl for tofu is shocking, that bowl is for noodles, not for an appetizer!

    (4)

  • Jill K.

    It's not like this restaurant needs anymore reviews as it approaches 700...but the Woody Allen narcissist in me cries in a whiny New York accent..."Whhhhyyy would you nooooot??" Therefore, I commence my (probably not well-accepted) review of Toro. This is a delayed review from an experience at Toro over a month ago, but hey...better late than never, right? Early in December, I went on a date with a sushi novice, so I took charge. It was busy, crowded, and I felt like the staff's energy made it obvious that they were rushing everything. I'm still getting used to this BYOB thing (having lived in Chicago for only a few months), and I'm not a fan, but I won't complain about it. Not the restaurants fault at all. I took fellow Yelpers' advice on the white tuna crunch roll and another roll for my date because I'm not one for rolls, in particular. I have a lot of rolls, but Toro's rolls were...honestly...just OKAY. I like my fish Tom Hanks style in Cast Away, where he simply gnaws on a live fish...mmmm. I ordered my "go-to" Chirashi to test out the Chef's skills, as I always do. I hate to rain on everyone's parade who loves this place, but that evening, a sashimi "no-no" was committed. A big no-no. Ready for this? Here it is: I could still tell that my sashimi was frozen. Oh, the horror...the humanity!!!! I couldn't believe it. If I wanted a fish popsicle, I'd hit up some weird italian ice place....come on.... I understand that in the Midwest, fish has to be frozen to keep its freshness. However, if you are a well-known, well-liked sushi establishment in a busy part of town...well, don't skip the important steps. The crucial steps. The steps that keep (self-claimed) sushi connoisseurs such as myself coming back for more. AKA: thaw thoroughly and to perfection. I would have given this place a one star, but I believe that if Toro would like to redeem itself, I'd be willing to give it another shot. I suppose I need some serious convincing, though...and that's unlike me. Hopefully, the Toro gang will at least take the time to read this review and make sure that certain sushi "no-no's" do not happen again. Not for me, in particular, but for the sake of other sashimi lovers like me, and for Toro's reputation in general. I feel like the wet blanket in this discussion, but I'm a pretty terrible liar. If tomatoes are thrown at me for my honest opinion, I will make tomato sauce...or something like that...you know... Until we eat again, Jill

    (2)

  • Natalie R.

    Absolute best sushi experience I've had anywhere, ever. Mitch's speciality rolls are outstanding. I don't think I've ever ordered off the traditional part of the menu, except for the ginger salad, edamame, and sashimi to start. In case it didn't sink in the first time: the sushi is off the charts amazing. Mitch is fantastic. He knew us by name and personally greeted us every time. We almost always got a bowl of soup or sashimi sent over on the house. The rest of the staff has always been courteous and friendly. Wait times are crazy and the restaurant is very tiny. We always went early and waited outside for the door to open. It sounds crazy, but the place fills up immediately. BYOB! So much fun. We've since moved out of Chicago and miss this place terribly. We make a point of adding Toro to our itinerary when we visit family. It's just that good. Go! Now! And they also have take out.

    (5)

  • Mad I.

    I returned here after reading the yelp reviews and checking out the pictures, since it had been a while. And, the place I used to go next door to this one that also had sushi (when I didn't feel like waiting f-o-r-e-v-e-r ) has closed. I'm not so sure this place deserves the coveted rating of almost 5 stars on yelp! I mean, that is pretty serious business. 5 stars I'm picturing lavish surroundings, BYOB chilling in a ice filled wine cooler, any rolls I want made to order, a bathroom with peaceful music playing and one of those cool sinks where the water overflows over the glass bowl edge....okay, I'm mostly kidding but here is where this place went really wrong: *no A/C (one 'window unit' looking disaster by the door) *jankey wine opener, definitely no cooler for the wine *dirty sticky floor *pretty nasty bathroom back in the server station *They DIDNT HAVE THE ROLL I CAME FOR?!?! I ordered the holla Jalapeno and the waitress said "we aren't making that one tonight" Mind you it was Friday at like 6:15, pretty empty yet. They get points for: *Location is the bomb *BYOB is the S*** regardless *Pretty friendly service *Tipsey Trixie is really good! Other ones I had were forgettable.. Prb will not be back, too many other outstanding BYOB sushi spots... (this is the part where you read the review and think, "oh yeah? Where?" And this is the part where I consider divulging my fav BYOB spot to you....hmmmm)

    (3)

  • Nathan J.

    B.IT.C ( best in the city) Believe it. Light on the spicy mayo, let's the freshest fish in the city speak for itself. Get here early

    (4)

  • Xinxin W.

    Maybe it was all the hype that ruined toros for me... Or maybe we just did not order the right items. Regardless, it did not live up to my expectations. Tried a few of their popular rolls. The boyfriend enjoyed the fried rolls and I had more of the raw items. It was slightly above mediocre for me although he did like the Southern Gals. The raw fish was definitely not fresh (and it was incredibly thin portions.) I normally loveeee agedashi tofu. I order it at every single Japanese restaurant and I didn't enjoy the stickiness of the one at Toro. It wasn't even crispy!!!! The service also left something to be desired. We sat at a table and our waitress was pretty vacant.

    (3)

  • Pat H.

    Hands down the best sushi I've ever eaten. Went in the other day with high hopes after reading some reviews and it went above and beyond my expectations. Everything is great about this place - from the food, service, the fact that it's BYOB, the atmosphere / vibe, Mitch giving fist pounds from behind the bar - i could go on and on. Very reasonably priced too - i would be happy to spend money at an establishment like this any time. Therefore as Tim Tebow once said, "I'M COMING BACK!!!"

    (5)

  • Katie S.

    Toro has some of the best sushi I've had in Chicago. I go here every time I'm visiting Chicago, and have brought friends that have loved it too. I was impressed by the array of creative rolls with fun names (I think the Arizona roll was my favorite - with sunflower seeds and jalapenos!). Only downside is that the sashimi is sometimes frozen, but the quality of the fish is still always amazing. I suggest going a bit early to beat the lunch rush, as Toro is pretty tiny inside. It's also BYOB, although I've never done that. Overall, highly recommended!

    (5)

  • E H.

    I'm here right now!!!! I'm giving away $100 to the first Yelper who approaches me and says "daddy, would you like some sausages". I'm wearing a light blue polo shirt. Come claim yo money, suckas!!!!

    (5)

  • Maura G.

    I LOVE THIS PLACE. The food is always amazing, the staff is wonderfully friendly, and the fact that its BYOB lets you spend your money on the amazing sushi instead of overpriced wine. There's often a wait during dinner, but you can give them your cell phone number and they'll call you when your table is ready. Worth it every time.

    (5)

  • Kaitlin M.

    I love this little joint! My favorite place to sit is at the bar because unlike some sushi places you can actually see through the glass and watch them make your food! The owner is also there most of the time and is really friendly and spunky. That type of person put similar people around him so the whole place has a great up-beat vibe! And the BYOB just makes that vibe even more fun! Now the fish is amazing... always fresh! Whoever they get their fish from will make special delivers to them on some of the most fresh out of the ordinary fish so try their seasonal special anytime your there! Serving sizes of the appetizers and the rolls pretty standard... along with the cost. They don't load down your rolls with rice which is always a plus in my book! Grab a bottle of saki and prepare to take a shot with the owner and have some amazing rolls and fresh sushi!

    (5)

  • Ryan P.

    This is the go-to sushi spot in Chicago! Mitch is the shit! Great atmosphere and the freshest fish you can find in Chitown. Favorites: Oh My God Roll, Hiroshima, Spicy Crazy Horse, Ninja, Tipsy Trixie FYI... It's BYOB too so plan ahead to get your drink on!

    (5)

  • Britney R.

    Came here last week with a friend. She's new to the sushi world so I wanted her to experience at a place I heard was the best. I was really nervous about getting seated as I've heard there's always a line. We got there around 630pm on a Thursday and got the last open table available. We ordered the tempura shrimp and edamame as an appetizer. Both were a bit underwhelming and under seasoned. I ordered the tipsy trixie roll which was pretty good. It's a very large roll and has a lot going on. She ordered the dragon roll and we got the omg roll to split. I think the omg was my favorite. Overall, the sushi was pretty good. You get a lot for your money and it's Byob. Can't really beat that!

    (4)

  • Kris L.

    Definitely one of my favorite sushi places in all of Chicago. Quality of the fish is fresh, but the real gem lies in their rolls. They are creative and unique, but the flavors actually make sense in your mouth (as opposed to those random places that put cream cheese *shudder* in every roll). The one with mango is really good. And the one w/jalepeno too! This place is small, get here by 5:30 on weekdays for no wait. Also, BYOB *high five!*

    (5)

  • Miller S.

    Toro Sushi was fantastic, and I really enjoyed the rolls and chirashi I got. The fish was really fresh, and the rolls were really creative and different. The only problem is that if you don't get there early than 5:45, you wont eat until 6:30 at the earliest, which is tough to justify when Sushi-Mon is just down the street and almost always has a table open.

    (4)

  • Sara S.

    I've been meaning to write a review for Toro Sushi since March 2010, when my one and only visit to Toro changed my life. My boyfriend and I took a road trip to Chicago from NY for our last college spring break. I am proud to say that we ate our way through Chicago during the 4 days we were there. Because I am the anal and organized type, I wanted to make sure we had a set plan for each day (which helped us do so much in so little time). Toro, however, was a last minute find on yelp and to this day, I am thankful. We were starving after our 14 hour drive and luckily found Toro on yelp. For a weeknight around 8 pm, the restaurant was packed! I think we had a 30 minute wait so we walked around the block - poked around a coffee shop, walked by a bike shop, and tried an empanada next door. So why did Toro change my life? This is where I took my first bite of sushi at age 21. My family was always big on sushi (ordered those huge sushi boats from Korean sushi restaurants) but I always sat at the edge of the table away from the stench of fish, eating my bowl of udon. We got seats at the bar and met Mitch, the owner and sushi master of Toro. You can tell right away tell that Mitch has a special relationship with his regulars. I saw him exchange a special handshake/bump with a few customers who stopped by to greet him. Right after my boyfriend told Mitch that I was a sushi virgin, Mitch cut up two generous slices of super white fish, yellowtail, and salmon (complimentary). He told me to eat them in that order. After a few minutes of hesitation, I finally had the balls to take that first bite of the super white. It was cold and just melted in my mouth like butter. There was no fishy taste because it was so fresh. It didn't take me long to move on to the yellow tail and then to the salmon. Mitch is the wonderful genius of a man who took away my sushi virginity. He said he's converted a handful of others (so if you've never tried sushi, I recommend you to Mitch who will cure your disease). I think my boyfriend was relieved to see that I liked the sushi because that meant we could go ahead and order our meal. I don't remember which rolls we ordered but I'll post photos. We DEVOURED each plate, including the bed of salad one of the rolls was sitting on. Mitch also gave us a free plate of the tempura green tea icecream. Very good but a bit too heavy for me. I probably slurped up all the ice cream though. We got the check and was shocked and happy to see our bill was no more than fifty or sixtyy bucks (including a generous tip). We left Toro happy and full. We took a picture with the sign outside that says "Sushi Makes Better Lovers" (which originally said "Sushi Make Better Lover" - I assume the grammatical error of a Korean was corrected by a customer. I think sushi did make us better lovers hahaha how cheesy but I believe that. Thank you, Mitch, for giving me this life changing experience.

    (5)

  • Rashawn S.

    I had to jump on the 5 star bandwagon. This place is amazing. I've tried so many sushi spots around the city but none of them have this perfect combination of freshness, flavor, variety, and pricing that makes Toro number 1. Of course Toro has your basic california, dragon rolls etc but their long list of specialty rolls are amazing. Ive never tasted anything like the southern galz roll...you really cant go wrong with any roll here. Thats just how I feel. However, I wish they would expand. The space is so small and bustling. Which makes for a lot of weird eye contact with your neighbors. Also, the wait can be really long on busy nights and they dont accept reservations.

    (5)

  • Stephanie H.

    This place serves sushi- that is true, but I don't think this lives up to the hype. We ordered 4 rolls and only a few of them were really good. I ordered the Big Ten (good) and the Kamikaze. The Kamikaze basically looked like vomit on a plate. If I had known that it would be 5 maki rolls with the filling layered on top of them I wouldn't have ordered it. It was unappetizing looking. The waitress explained that they are pre-made- which doesn't explain why this came out after my friend's order. He ordered the MJ which I thought was pretty good. Our second batch was fine, the Big Ten made up for a portion of my Kamikaze mistake but I thought all in all it was kind of bland. Service was fine, not great. Fortunately we only waited 20 minutes for a table, but I can't say I would wait that long again.

    (3)

  • Kara H.

    This is the best sushi I've had in Chicago. Hands down. Their rolls are unique and all provide a good blend of flavors. Plus of course everything is extremely fresh. If I had to choose a favorite, it would probably be the Oh My God roll. Logistically, it's tough to get in here - because it's a pretty popular spot, it's relatively small, and they don't take reservations...but it's worth the wait. Better yet, if you live anywhere nearby, I would recommend calling ahead and getting carry-out. I also would note - they aren't open mid-day during the week, only at dinner-time. So try to curb your mid-afternoon cravings if you can.

    (5)

  • Galina M.

    FRESHEST sushi I've ever had! This place is super small and never takes reservations. I highly recommend getting sashimi here - their salmon rocks my boat every time I go there. Be prepared to wait though. It's also BYOB so that's even better!!

    (5)

  • Daisy B.

    Going here today and I'm excited (hence the review). It is yummy, fresh sushi. Everything I've ordered has been delicious (i love the ones with mango in them). BYOB makes it even better!! The only thing i would change is to make the place bigger, but if you get there early in the evening (especially during the week), you shouldn't have a problem. If it is full, there is another sushi place down a couple blocks that is pretty yummy too.

    (5)

  • Whitney K.

    Known as a neighborhood gem, but hardly a secret with so many obvious fans. There's really only two words you need to know... Take. Out. Came at 6 on a Friday hoping to beat some crowds and snag a seat in this tiny, popular joint. No such luck. With a 1.5 hour wait, we bolted out of there and went somewhere down the street. However, we did make it out with a menu in hand, armed and ready with a phone number to take us directly to sushi goodness. Gave it a go the following weekend, calling ahead to order and sending the man to pick up. I'm not gonna lie, though. I was a little worried about sushi takeout, as I really didnt want to sacrifice freshness. I was proved wrong. Yay. Everything we ordered was delicious, and there's about 20 more things that sounded good to order if only I had more room in my belly. And the price...right on the mark. Not overpriced and definitely not as high as you would expect for the quality. One day, Toro, one day we will meet and I will get a coveted seat in your sushi mecca.

    (4)

  • Jackie L.

    When I lived on the coast in California, I was able to find the best sushi hands down and thought I would never find a place comparable. Yet, as luck would have it... I did. What sets Torro apart from most other places is its flavor pallet and combinations. Instead of the common spicy tuna or California roll that any restaurant can do, they put their own unique spin on the rolls. Adding mushrooms, sunflower seeds, and more in combination with great sauces that make the flavors come together. We ordered 4 rolls to share between the two of us and were completely satisfied with them all. Cost was affordable, service was excellent and we did not have a problem finding a table on Saturday for lunch. If you are in the area and are a fan of sushi, this is a must!

    (5)

  • Kennen M.

    I don't get the hype. The place is decent but not 5 star good. Actually the rolls were small for the price. The fish was fine, but not blow-your-mind-fresh. The BYOB is nice and the place is tiny. There are only 3 4-top tables and the rest is 2-top tables, hence the long-arse wait to get in. This place is only for dainty eaters. Gawd, I miss Tampopo.

    (3)

  • John D.

    The trouble with places like Toro is that once they establish a reputation, they're no longer inclined to provide the level of service that got them their rating. This is pretty much the status quo at Toro. They have lots of great reviews and whatever they did to merit your bad review doesn't matter... unless people who experience this lack of service begin to report it. Toro is good sushi, but not amazing sushi. Save yourself the headache and go spend your money somewhere that isn't so smug.

    (1)

  • Michael M.

    Eh.

    (2)

  • Lindsay D.

    I don't understand why every roll has to have cream cheese or mango or mayonnaise inside of it. The fish is good quality but is smothered in these heavy flavors that take away from the sushi and make everything taste the same... American. Not worth the wait, there is much better sushi in Lincoln Park in my opinion.

    (2)

  • Caroline T.

    Best sushi in town. I have been coming here since it opened and Mitch is an innovator of flavors. To the reviewer from 2/17/14, Christina from NYC, take your "traditional" sushi back to your city. Here in Chicago, we like to experiment with our food and challenge the establishment. There are places where they charge you $10 to cut up an itsy bitsy piece of fish. No imagination or creativity served. Here at toro, you can get that itsy bitsy piece of fish cut up, or you can choose to order from the many fantastic and flavorful rolls Mitch has to offer. The service is great, though they are always super busy. And for close to ten yrs, Mitch has had a smile on his face for everyone who walks through the door. My favorite rolls are the tiger (with sunflower seeds), the one with the coconut, and the chicken one that has the Tiffany sauce (sorry! Forgot the names!). Try the oysters in the Tiffany sauce too! Yummmmmy!

    (5)

  • Abby Z.

    I'd say this is a solid 3 star joint. You can get out of here for under $50 and that's largely helped by the fact that it is BYOB. They always chill your drinks for you (especially nice when there is a long wait, they'll stick your stuff in the fridge) and they are very friendly. My main problem is I feel that the quality has gone down in the last year. We ordered our usual favorites and just found them to be really inconsistent on recent trips. Other main problem is some of the rolls start tasting really similar due to heavy saucing. However, that being said, we still find ourselves here if we are in the area craving sushi and I second the people who say to get the super white crunch roll, its tasty.

    (3)

  • Ryan S.

    Great sushi, make sure you get there early if you don't want to wait. It is worth the wait if you can't get there before 6:30 though. It is also BYOB which is great. The only negative was being rushed out toward the end of the dinner, but this is pretty typical at sushi spots like this.

    (4)

  • Tommy H.

    Its hard to give a sushi place a really review without making it sound too fishy. But This place Is different. It's a great Sushi Restaraunt (with great sushi dishes). I believe this place uses only organic recipes and the ingredients are mostly organic. It would be difficult to give this place less than five stars so I won't endevor to. There should be no Mercury concerns here or any other similar problems. 5/5

    (5)

  • Lauren K.

    Every roll. Yes, literally every roll I tried was amazing, and our group of 8 went through a lot of them. My favorite was the Dragon and the "O" but they were all delicious combinations of flavors. The place is also byob which is nice. It is tiny and busy on a Saturday night, but well worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Darlene J.

    My boyfriend took me to this place for my birthday. I loved it. The place was REALLY small and we had to wait in the tiny doorway while they found us a seat, but the food was really good. The service was great the and the feel of the place was very inviting and warm. The only thing that I didn't like much about the place was the fact that it was really small and somewhat crammed during the dinner rush. They are a BYOB so be sure to grab a nice bottle of wine and bring a few friends and enjoy the night.

    (4)

  • Lynn K.

    Decent sushi for the quality. Certainly, much tastier places in Chicago. Good luck dining in, and better luck placing a to-go order. 40 minutes for a 3 roll pick up order is insane! I feel they are so busy and time mgmt. is something they have zero clue on!

    (3)

  • Pete V.

    In the heart of Lincoln Park, Toro is an above average spot for sushi. I've been there a number of times and have always found the fish to be fresh and the prices reasonable. Now, the single drawback to Toro is their seating policy. Not taking reservations and instead relying on a first come, first served list is troublesome. They do offer to take your cell phone number and call you when you name comes up, but on several occasions their time estimates were COMPLETE NONSENSE. In fact, one time they told me the wait would be an hour and half, and they ended up calling me 20 minutes later. This is super annoying if you and some friends have just settled into a drink at Duke's down the street when you get a call from Toro telling you that they are going to give away your table if you don't march your ass over there immediately and claim you table. Other than that the food is good, prices are reasonable, and the BYO element rocks! If you're willing to put up with a little hassle, you're in for some good sushi.

    (3)

  • Luke S.

    After reading all of your great reviews I finally gave this place a try. You guys weren't lying. The food was delicious!!! The "Oh My God Roll" was amazing! The fish was very fresh and the servers were courteous. The one downside was the wait. We didn't get there until 7:30pm and didn't get a seat until about an hour later. You have to try this place! *I have one side note. There are only about 10 tables in the whole restaurant. There was a group of two girls at the front of the restaurant who finished their meal at about 7:45 and sat there chatting until at least 9:30. There were loads of people outside waiting for a table while these two just carelessly sat there. Don't be that inconsiderate ever!

    (5)

  • Lexie H.

    Best sushi place in Chicago so far. My favorite sushi roll is Red Dragon. ;-) will come back whenever I crave for sushi

    (5)

  • Kelli P.

    BEST SUSHI IN THE CITY!!! I eat a lot of sushi, and make it a point to try different sushi places all over the city to find my new favorite. I HAVE FOUND MY NEW FAVORITE!!! I can't say enough about the food at Toro. They have a huge menu and pretty much everything I have ever had here was really good. Extremely fresh, so tasty and great service. Prices were comparable to other local sushi places.. We went on a Sunday night at an odd time, so there was no wait!!! Yay, because I'm impatient when I'm hungry! That evening or server noted that they were short one chef, so food may come out a little slower. To be honest, I still felt that the food came out in a reasonable amount of time... So yes, its a tiny place. Be prepared to wait, but the quality of the food is worth it. I would love to see them expand, but until then, I will try and outsmart the crowd and go at odd times. Give them a try!!! P.S. Stop by Molly's Cupcakes (a few storefronts south) afterward for dessert - BEST CUPCAKES EVER! My review to come soon!

    (5)

  • Xander T.

    Very good. Best sushi I have ever had. There is a very friendly guy there name Mitch. :)

    (5)

  • Marisa S.

    Ok ok, this place is good but I must be missing something... Every time I walk past this place they always have a line out the door, it doesn't matter what the weather is like outside, rain, sleet, snow... ALWAYS A LINE. I've ordered in and I've had take out and their sushi is good but I can't say it's better than any of the other sushi places I've had in the city for the same price. Someone please tell me what I'm missing about Toro because I just don't get the hype... sorry! But I have to say they have a wide variety of sushi and it all looks good, so I don't think you could go wrong. The place is small so don't come with a lot of people, maybe just go by yourself... then you'll miss the crowd!

    (3)

  • Char Y.

    we came on a saturday and didn't wait at all for our table. ordered sashimi, maki, and sushi. i have to say that the rolls are very small but well made with fresh fish. i like the size of the sashimi & the sushi. will come back!

    (4)

  • Gin Y.

    I really like the quality and affordability of the sushi here. The laid back atmosphere was great as well. I had the Miami rolls, which were yummy! Will definitely come back and try their dinner menu, which is a little bit pricier than lunch. Overall, enjoyed great food with great friends here!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    Quaint, small and local joint. I went with my 12 yr. old daughter on a visit with a young 24 year hipster friend. We really loved the Southern sisters roll, and the phat Mike. Excellent quality and extremely reasonably priced especially with BYOB. I will definitely go back. Dinner rush at 6 so try and go before 6 or after 7 to avoid a wait of 1/2 hr. Go with no more than 4 people in your party to enjoy the food and your conversation. Not fancy

    (4)

  • Mary T.

    Service 5+ stars Sushi 3.5 stars I have an addictive personality. Fortunately, all of my addictions (sushi, Jamba Juice, etc.) are pretty harmless, unless you count the effect they have on my wallet. So tonight, after a hard day of hitting the books my sushi jones was going into overdrive; enter Toro... I called in my order from the bus, but I was told it wouldn't be ready for over 45 minutes. Since I'd planned on picking it up on my way home this threw a wrench into my plan, so sadly I decided to cancel my order. The woman on the phone was fantastic and told me they'd get it out ASAP, not to worry. Sure enough, when I got there 15 minutes later it was ready and waiting. My sushi was good, but not the greatest I've ever had. I got 3 rolls: spicy tuna, spicy salmon and negi hamachi. The fish was fresh and they didn't skimp on it. The negi hamachi was light on the scallions and the spicy tuna was almost too spicy for me; I had to take a break and come back to it because my mouth was burning. Bottom line: The food was solid and the service I got stellar. I will probably back when I'm in the neighborhood. TIP: If you plan on dining in it's BYOB, but be forewarned that this place is TINY!

    (4)

  • Jennifer G.

    Sweetest Day, 5:30 and sushi toro is nearly empty.....Score. Tried their new spicy gyoza, which was very good. We were disappointed in one roll (Hiroshima) that came in a broth...this is not a great idea. The menu describes it as sauce, it is not sauce...it is broth and within 20 seconds you are saddled with a soggy roll. The other rolls, the spicy tuna crunch, the salmon crunch with mango and the red dragon were fantastic.

    (4)

  • Heather D.

    Sushi Make Better Lover. This is the sign that hands outside the window of this tiny little sushi bar. The wait was insane. It was about 45min to an hour on a Wednesday night! That would be the only thing that would keep me from going back. Sometimes you just want to eat and don't want to wait. Now the sushi was some of the best I've had. We tried 5 rolls and the only dissapoining one was the Park West (no fault of the chef - just don't like 'cooked' sushi). The service was fast and friendly and the chef had a smile on his face the whole time. It seems that he's pretty friendly with his regulars and I like that. I'm going to come back here, but I will prepare myself for the wait and maybe ask to sit at the bar so I can see the master at work.

    (4)

  • Kate B.

    I eat sushi multiple times a week, love it more than any other food, and this is honestly my favorite sushi place I've ever been to, period. I love this place so much that I have a serious moral dilemma about telling people how good it is or recommending it at all because I'm worried it will just get more crowded even though I want to sing its praises. So: - Don't sit through the totally worth it wait by getting cupcakes nextdoor and eating dessert first. - Don't sit at the bar because I wanna sit there and watch them make magic. - Don't offer Mitch some of your BOYB selection because I want him to feed me the tidbits of awesome he often offers in return. - Don't try his special rolls because they're roll your eyes in to the back of your head and groan good and I wanna eat them all. - Don't go there because waiting outside in the cold while watching everyone inside finish their incredible meal makes me wanna chew off my own hand. But really if you must, this is one of the best places in terms of quality and value I've ever been, and the rolls are incredibly creative and consistently amazing. It's so good it turns me in to That Annoying Person who wishes their favorite spot wouldn't become so popular, even though Toro completely deserves all of its success and rave reviews; so hopefully this review will assuage some of my selfish guilt.

    (5)

  • Alex S.

    My girlfriend and I went here on one of our earlier dates and we loved it. The specialty rolls are huge -- like, 12 pieces huge. Everything was extremely fresh and pleasantly aromatic. The service was fast and we weren't rushed. Though, I've developed a love for sushi, I'm not a tuna fan, and there was plenty on the menu for me to love. The fish and veggies are as fresh as it gets and the sushi rice was perfectly flavored without being a too-filling distraction. I'm looking forward to having more of their specialties and I hear that if you sit at the bar, you'll have plenty of unique sample concoctions. It's BYOB, but the place is small and the nights will have you waiting for a table, so their limits on how much alcohol you can bring in are reasonable. You can't make a reservation, but waiting a half-hour or 45 minutes shouldn't be a big deal. (It's Lincoln F'N Park. You can grab a drink down the street while you wait for them to call you, go to the liquor store, and be at your table.) The only difference is instead of grabbing a drink before the restaurant, you give them your name/number, grab the drink or take a walk through the beautiful neighborhood, and then eat. The place is loud, but not enough to inhibit conversation. The more people you have, the longer you'll wait, bit again, if you can't find something to do to kill 30-45 minutes in LP, you're no fun and won't be pleased with anything. "Moderate" isn't completely accurate for the price range, when you factor in the high volume of food you receive for the price and that it's BYOB. Our tab was about $25 before tip for two specialty rolls and a maki; and we were in a tad of a euphoric food coma. Considering the volume you receive and the quality of the food, I'd call it "cheap", in that you get more than you pay for. I'd go here once a week, to be honest.

    (5)

  • Erin L.

    I have lived in San Francisco and Los Angeles, two impressive sushi towns, and I have to say that Toro has the. best. sushi. ever. Seriously.

    (5)

  • Kristi D.

    I was told when I moved here that Toro was the best sushi in town. I was not lied to. It's always a good sign when the place is packed during the week... Which reminds me, if you want a table, get there early. Like, before 6 on a weekday, or right when they open at 5 on weekends. If you don't want to wait or take the risk of not getting in, their takeout is just as good, and much quicker. Now, on to the food... Mitch, the owner, doesn't even open unless the fish is fresh. And he is a genius with fish. My personal favorite is the Southern Gals roll, which is a little spicy and deep fried. The thing that stands out about Toro is the complex blend of flavors that I've never really tasted in other sushi. Even their basic rolls have a little something extra. Oh, and make sure you say "Hi" to Mitch, he's usually making sushi right at the end of the bar, and will sometimes send over some fresh sashimi.

    (5)

  • Sean P.

    I had Torro for the first time last weekend. I have heard so many great things. I don't wanna say I was disappointed, but I didn't feel like this place was that much better then many of the other sushi joints I frequent. Maybe I need to try some different rolls next time. There will be an hour+ wait on the weekends. With all that said, its really good. Makes a great date spot.

    (4)

  • May L.

    I heard so much hype about Toro from a co-worker and read great reviews on yelp so I finally decided that thursaday will be Toro night! My friend and I arrived there at around 7 and there was a 1 hour wait, so we gave them our info and waited them to call our phone for our table (which is an awesome idea btw). We finally got called and ended up being seated next to the door on a nice cold chicago day which made our experience extra nice. I liked the idea that it was byob but disliked the idea that you are limited to 1 bottle for 2 people (they were even nice enough to post the amount of ml's that it shouldn't exceed. We ended up ordering the O-M-G roll, volcano roll, sunny rolls, and the spicy salmon rolls. The volcano roll came out with a sparkler in the middle which made the presentation nice but unfortunately the rolls itself were ok, nothing special just ok. The sunny rolls sounded interesting but the seeds they used gave it a weird taste and the mango didn't compliment the salmon. The O-M-G rolls were opposite of what it was, again it was just O-K. I must say I did really enjoy the spicy salmon, it was creamy and delicious and the only thing I have no complaints about. Maybe we just didn't order the right thing, but considering the location, the wait and what I have eaten so far I don't think that I will be coming back.

    (2)

  • John H.

    Favorite sushi spot in the city by far! Pretty much everything I've had here has been top notch. Do yourself a favor and put this little gem into your restaurant rotation. Great casual date spot. BYO a huge plus.

    (5)

  • Julie V.

    Try to sit at the bar. Mitch is the nicest guy you could ever meet. He makes you feel right at home. All the rolls are amazing works of art and the prices are good. Had the ahi salad, "O", crispy California roll, and tempura shrimp. My only regret is that I did not order the kamikaze.

    (5)

  • Sonal S.

    Yummy sushi! I gave this place 3 stars vs. 4 because although the sushi was really good, I prefer simple sushi. A lot of the special rolls had a too many ingredients, and I started to confuse myself. Some of the rolls looked the same, and I had a hard time deciding if some combinations of mango with kani salad with tuna with cream cheese was going to taste good or not. The only other complaint I had is that they limit the amount of wine or beer you can bring. I think this is because the restaurant is small, and tends to get packed, nevertheless, my date and I probably would've stayed longer and ordered more food had we been able to open our second bottle of wine. Regardless, it's a cute local sushi spot. I'll definitely check it out again!

    (3)

  • Matt T.

    Uh, what am I missing. My fiancee and I eat a lot of sushi and have frequented many establishments in the city so we have high expectations. We've heard a lot about Toro and the Yelp reviews are consistently outstanding. We had a tasting set up at Molly's next door for our wedding so we stopped in for dinner before. We got a table on a Tuesday night right away and our sushi came out quickly. Suffice it to say, the sushi was some of the worst I've had and incredibly disappointing. The rolls were bland (we got the "O", Negi Hama, and the Rock and Roll), they fell apart right away (rice was not sticky at all) and each roll seemed watery. The fish did not taste very fresh as well. Despite being hungry we opted to get our check and pig out on the free tasting at Molly's (we booked Molly's for cupcakes for our wedding). I honestly can not figure out how this place has over 450 reviews and averaging 4.5 starts. Perhaps we came on an off night but the sushi really shouldn't be this bad on any night. The service was quick and pleasant and the sushi chef gave us a pound as we walked out. He seemed like a cool dude and I appreciated the music in the background (hip hop, reggae, etc) but if you want better sushi (and not something that tastes like you'd get as Sushi Para II), go across the street to Sushi Mon (or take ur ass to the far North Side and go to Tampopo!).

    (2)

  • Jessica S.

    Best sushi in the city hands down, and I have yet to bring someone here who disagrees by the end of the meal. I have been here many times and never had a roll I didn't like. Some of the best are Southern Galz, Arizona, Salmon Crunch, and the MJ. Everything is super fresh, creative, and the price is great for the quality. And it's BYOB, what more could you want?

    (5)

  • Alexa T.

    This is a great little treasure in Lincoln Park. There usually is a wait since the place is so little, but it goes quickly when you hang out next door at Molly's Cupcakes or grab an appetizer taco from Del Seoul. Toro has great quality of sushi for the price - we usually leave very well fed for between $20-$30 a person. The salmon is very tasty with a healthy marbling of fat through the pieces making it just delicious. The scallop sashimi is also great - creamy and flavorful. I also fell in love with escolar here. It's smooth, fatty, and mild. Yum. Mitch, the sushi chef, is also always fun to visit with. Sit at the bar, marvel at his knife skills, and talk with him - when you leave he'll give you a fist bump if you're a dude, and a fist bump with a finger wiggle if you're a lady. It seals in the smiles of the meal.

    (4)

  • Joanna K.

    Awesome food and great service!!!

    (5)

  • Thomas I.

    Wow the sushi here is great. I am a fan of sashimi but would reccomend ordering the handrolls here as toro sushi does a great job of making their rolls special. Sure the sashimi is great tasting but what makes this restaurant special is how they can make their handrolls different than all the other restaurants

    (5)

  • Annie W.

    Sashimi was amazing, Sushi was great. Waited a bit for a table, but didn't mind, however the service was really bad. Several times we had to flag the waitress down, and once even had to go into the kitchen to get her attention.

    (3)

  • iddells E.

    No wonder so many people wait over an hour to eat at this tiny restaurant....the sushi is AMAZING!! After years of wanting to go here, I finally get the chance and I can't wait to go back! Toro is definitely worth the hour wait. The sushi is so mouthwateringly delicious and so fresh! The combinations were quite interesting and the prices were very reasonable for what you get. Even though the tiny place was packed, service was friendly and attentive. Also, I love the bowl of free edamame!

    (5)

  • Linda L.

    Definitely a "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" rating ;) Me and the bf went based on the great reviews and the fact that we didn't have to eat immediately. Well, guess I didn't read enough reviews b/c the wait for 2 on a Friday night around 8:30pm was 1 1/2 hours (they close at 10pm). So since we had a pretty chill day and planning for a chilled evening, we said ok we'll wait. Luckily there are plenty of places nearby to hang out & wait, like Molly's cupcakes next door (that's its own review!) Must say....definitely worth the wait. Since me and the bf filled up on cupcakes (when we were waiting....) we didn't order as much as planned. Here's the order: Edamame (make just perfect, not too soggy as some places; great for appetizer and wanting something to munch on) Super white sashimi (3 small pieces) (absolutely delicious!! they were very small pieces but it was only 5.50 so just get another order!) Oh my God roll (picked this due to the hype it received on the reviews. it was good, but i'm not a huge eel and tempura fan, i prefer just sashami all day, everday if i could. but my bf whose a huge eel fan LOVED it!) Catepillar (generic but tasty and make perfectly, the caviar and avocado pairing was a great combo for my taste buds) El Feugo (my absolute favorite! tuna, superwhite, fresh jalepeno, scallions all in one?? sign me up! this was a fluke order too b/c originally i wanted the spicy tako but they were out. but i'm glad i got to try this one b/c it was my favorite of the night!) So thumbs up to a successful dinner despite the looonng wait. its definitely worth it and i will be back b/c i never got my spicy tako roll!!

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    I do not understand how I have not written a review of Toro and Mitch... In case you didn't already know everything here is beyond outstanding. I am craving Toro right now. Craving it really bad. I imagine my addiction and love of Toro similar to that of a drug addict you would find on the corner of Hollywood and Sheridan. Alas I am in New York and have to settle for sushi that comes nowhere near to the greatness of Toro. Hopefully I will be giving my friend Mitch a "pound" soon! Have a quail egg and a piece of super white on me friends.

    (5)

  • Borbine K.

    Toro Sushi is your neighborhood BYOB sushi joint that always hits it on the mark! It's consistently good, has an enormous menu, and has great attentive service. I do not recommend this place for large groups, ideal for 2-3max. It seats about 30 at one time, so it's tight, no waiting area, and again, it's BYOB! There is a liquor store across the street to get wine. Don't worry about corks, restaurant has wine openers. They have over 40+ variations of maki monos, and serve traditional nigiri/sashimi selection. I like some of their specialty appetizers, like the Dynamite--mussels baked with spicy mayo Kamikaze--spicy crab with sunflower seeds!!! So yummy. This place is great to satisfy your sushi fix. Not recommended for dates, or romantic interludes. To all the haters: What else are you expecting from a BYOB???

    (4)

  • Hoang L.

    I would have to say this is my 2nd favorite sushi place. It's great to have a small restaurant that's nice and cozy. Put your name down and take a walk around the neighborhood until they call you (when your table is ready). The sushi was fresh, reasonably priced and I love it when it's BYOB! Although I must say that sometimes it's tough to find parking on the street. Toro, we will meet again soon! Last time I wanted to stop by, you were out of business or under construction?

    (4)

  • Laura W.

    After reading all the reviews about how tiny Toro Sushi is and there is usually a long wait I got there right on the dot at 5pm to ensure we got a table, and we did. I was ready to dive right in and try this place after all these great reviews. For the appetizer we had the Hot Finger Roll and I am pretty sure they used canned salmon instead of fresh. This was a bit of a shock because I was not expecting that but I tried to not let that overshadow the rest of the meal. I also ordered the unagi nigiri and it was really good, better than I have had at other sushi places on Clark. Based on the recommendation of other reviews we ordered the Awesome roll and another roll that the name escapes me. The rolls were definitely fresh and totally made up for the appetizer. Getting there at 5pm was worth it because by 6pm when we left it was getting crowded. I also noticed that people were coming in to pick up carry out, and I think I might try that in the future.

    (3)

  • Meredith P.

    The food definitely deserves 4, even maybe 5 stars but I was just very unimpressed with the service. The place is tiny so we had to wait, but once we got seated it took forever to first get water, then get menus and then finally get our order taken. There seemed to be one server wandering around doing nothing! Also, we ordered edamame and it didn't come out until with our sushi. They apologized but come on, making edamame is pretty basic!

    (3)

  • Rosie S.

    I have been coming here since it first open and I will not stop coming anytime soon! Back in the day, you used to be able to walk in and get a table...now, not so much. But they will take your number and call you when your table is ready, which is great. Doc's wine bar is right down the street or you can go to Franks for a drink while you wait. It IS WORTH IT!!! I have recommended this place to many, many friends who have now named this their number 1 sushi spot. And it's BYOB!!! As far as recommendations go--everything is fab--I am a roll girl, so I recommend the sunny, oh my god, volcano, and red dragon. But really, you can't go wrong with any of them. I promise!!

    (5)

  • Terrence C.

    I so rarely feel the urge to leave 5 stars for an establishment, but Toro really is as good as it gets. I decided to make 2 trips to Toro before reviewing just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. i have had about 6 rolls now of their specialty menu and they were all AWESOME. Some where not to my taste, but the passion behind the sushi is evident in every roll i've tried. There is an obvious premeditated composition of flavors that compliment each other perfectly. Every roll is original. OMG, "O", and 3 amigos are among my favorites. My most recent visit, I sat at the sushi bar. This was a great experience and the sushi chef was very interactive with the bar patrons. After our meal the sushi chef (who i suspect is the owner) gave me a fresh plate of super white sashimi for the hell of it. He also gave me a "dap" and a "dap with a finger tickle" to my girlfriend. These little things engage a person, and make the dining experience all the more enjoyable. There are some inevitable downsides in regards to the space and wait times. All great things are worth waiting for though. I do like how they will take your name and give you a call when your table is ready. This at least allows you to go have a drink somewhere instead of waiting patiently outside. I think all "no reservation" restaurants should take note. The space is a bit cramped, but the food is worth it. love me some BYOB also =) Toro of late has replaced my former favorite sushi joint.

    (5)

  • Jimmy D.

    My girlfriend and I really enjoyed this place. We split 4 rolls which we always do at sushi spots. I recommend the Spicy Tuna Crunch roll.

    (4)

  • Marta P.

    Unfortunately I can not rate the food because the restaurant is set up for 2 people dining. We (3 people) waited for 40 minutes on a Tuesday night just to get irritated enough to leave. There are multiple signs saying 1 bottle per 2 people and 2 for 3. I basically had a stare down with these jack a$$es (3) who were s...l...o..w..l..y working on the third bottle while we waited... and waited and waited. I typically hate when people review restaurants with out having eaten the food, but this says the wait staff doesn't care about those waiting for a table.

    (1)

  • KuangYou C.

    If you come here over the weekend, long wait is a must!!! Don't expect you can have a big portion plate here! However, their sashimi is fresh and tender, much better than some buffet Japanese restaurant. I've been here twice. If you sit at the bar, you can also have some interesting interaction with the chef, of course if he is not busy. BYOB so don't expect good sake there!

    (4)

  • Nick C.

    Not a lot of seating, so be prepared to wait. Overall good sushi and good service.

    (4)

  • Brady H.

    Still 5 stars! Don't expect haute cusine, don't exepect authenticity, don't expect a variety of fish, just accept this place for what it is, a very competent and generous owner/chef personality driven place. The fish is better than it needs to be for a place packed with clueless maki eating trixies. Make friends with Mitch and this will be your favorite place to eat.

    (5)

  • Marissa J.

    Don't believe the hype. My bf and I both think this restaurant is overrated. Maybe our expectations were too high due to the great reviews. We were so excited to go that we showed up at 5:30 on a Friday evening, bottle of saki in-hand. I love that Toro is BYOB. We were seated right away and ordered 4 rolls. When the first plate came out there was a hair on our spicy tuna roll. Eew. I sent it back and received a replacement, but we were still charged. The rolls were just okay (spicy tuna and philadelphia). The Monster Midway roll was good, and probably the best we had, but the $17 Holla Holapeno was not good and not worth the price. I love sushi and I've had sushi all over the country and this place was really not worth the money. I doubt we'll be going back. We recently tried Hatsu Hana and I thought their food was better and much more reasonably priced.

    (2)

  • Sunil D.

    Best Sushi in Chicago....hands down. The ingenuity of the owner, Mitch, really comes through in his creations. He can be seen weilding a blow torch to sear a roll in one hand, while fist pumping a patron with the other on a regular basis. My favorite roll is the Southern Galz. Spicy tuna, mozarella, battered and deep fried then topped with Siracha. Every newbie cringes at this, until they try a piece of mine, then undoubtedly we end up ordering another to share with the group. They raised prices a few months ago, which was welcomed by me because it trimmed down the enomormous lines that would pop up every day of the week. Service can be dicey at times and you might have to hang out at DOC for a drink til your table is ready (they'll call you), but its all worth it. If Mich expanded this place to meet all the pent up demand it would lose some of its character and quality/attention to detail.

    (5)

  • Julie Z.

    Best sushi in the city! I've never had anything disappointing...Arizona roll is my fave. Just be aware of the wait. It's always long but fortunately there are bars close by to grab a cocktail.

    (5)

  • Mandy P.

    I don't think I can say anything different from the other 600+ reviews. Toro is some of the best sushi I've had. I am a novice with sushi however, but I would and will go back. My experience here was fantastic. The service was excellent. Since we got here at 5:03p on a Saturday there were no longer tables for 4, so we sat at the bar and got to banter with Mitch, which was a highlight for sure. My group tried Sunny, Arizona, That's How We Roll, a few others, and the special of the night: Oysters. I'm not a fan of oysters, so I was afraid but they were delicious, and topped with gold flakes! Nothing lasted on the table for very long, so everyone was satisfied. To top off the BYOB night; fried ice cream with a sparkler and a round of Happy Birthday from the crowd in honor of yours truly. It felt like home!

    (5)

  • Jessica J.

    I love this place. It is small but comfortable. It's also BYOB, which is always nice. While it is more expensive than all-you-can-eat places, the higher prices are justified by the quality.

    (5)

  • Christy Q.

    This place has me torn on how many stars to give it. On one hand it's not necessairly their fault that so many people enoy the food and are willing to wait a very long time for a table. On the other hand, they didn't show a lick of appreciation for our business, thus I won't be returning. It was an unseasonably warm Friday night in April. Two couples decided to try to snag a table at Toro Sushi, which we'd heard only great things about. We got there at 6:30pm and were told it would be a 2 hour wait, at least. Since the place is tiny and BYOB we couldn't sit inside and have a few drinks, so we went elsewhere to wait. A little OVER 2 hours later it was FINALLY our turn to be seated! Now it's approaching 9pm- we are a bit tipsy and a LOT bit hungry. The place was still packed. We had BYOB'ed a bottle of wine and the guys each had a 6 pack of beer for the table. Little did we know when we had purchased our beverages (in the 6 o'clock hour) that they have a limit. For 2 people it's EITHER one bottle of wine OR one 6 pack of beer OR one sake bottle. Well no one told us that and we had two 6 packs of beer and one bottle of wine. I've actually never been to a BYOB restaurant with computer print-outs on the wall with an alcohol limit policy. It was a tad tacky. That probably should have been our first clue. The waitress made a point of telling us she was making an exception for us as far as the alcohol allowance. I wanted to say I waited more than 2 hours for a stinkin table in your shoebox of a restaurant, I'll drink what I want. But I thanked her for her generousity and whispered to my friends that that would be coming out of her tip. The food itself was really good. Not great (I still rank Coast Sushi as my all time fave- plus I've NEVER EVER waited as long for a table at Coast, and I've never EVER been told I'm limited to one bottle of wine there). I liked the sashimi sample platter the most and my next favorite was the volcano roll (it comes complete with sparklers!!) Very cool presentation. We were seated about 1 hour- maybe just under an hour- when we were winding down our eating. We had just paid a $100 bill (and gave our waitress a very generous tip). My friends and I were eyeing the dessert at the next table and deciding if we wanted to order it or not. That's about the time our WONDERFUL, TACTFUL waitress came by ans asked us to leave. Yes, SHE ASKED US TO LEAVE! She said she was nice enough to look the other way as far as the alcohol allowance but that she had other people needing a table and we need to leave. We told her we were not yet done with our drinks (and had been thinking about spending more money as well). She came back a few minutes later again asking us to leave. We waited over 2 hours for a table and once we hit 1 hour it's time to boot us! I was enraged. One of the people at our table actually went as far as to threaten her with a poor yelp review. She didn't seem to care. I was SO angry I was wishing we hadn't paid her at all yet. I'd have not tipped her. But she was smart enough to wait for the signed bill (tip and all) before trying to boot us. The third time she asked us to leave we were all livid I think. At that point I was sitting there just despite her. There were other tables around us that had been seated at the same time we had been, some even before us and I didn't see anyone asking them to leave. Additionally, I am ALWAYS sensitive to eating and leaving. I understand these people are in business to make money and that I'm not supposed to sit and hog a table for hours on end. I always get pissed off at places like Panera and Julius Meinl when people camp out for hours during peak times, oblivious or maybe just that ignorant that they don't care about others who are suffering through a long wait to be seated. I'm VERY tuned in to that. HOWEVER I don't think it's unreasonable for 4 people on a Friday night who waited over 2 hours for a stinking table and who spend $100 on a meal to be seated for more than 1 hour. I truely don't think that's unreasonable. At All. All in all I felt the waitress was so off her rocker and SO over the top rude. I have only had one other similar experience. At Chaise Lounge in Bucktown. (check my review of those clowns). And we spent $500 that night! The service was above and beyond insulting and awful. And look where they are now- OUT OF BUSINESS!!! So Toro Sushi- let that be a lesson. Good food alone won't keep you in business. Right now your popularity is a fad. If you don't step it up- you will be a fad that fizzles out. There are a million sushi reatsurants in this city. If the service is as terrible as what we experienced (and the wait time as absurd) you too will find yourselves OUT OF BUSINESS! I will not be returning! You can find me at COAST!

    (2)

  • Sarah S.

    Still amazingly good sushi for a great price. New favorites include That's How We Roll and Miami. Can I move in?

    (5)

  • Colleen M.

    This place probably doesn't need anymore good reviews, but I feel a little obligated to put in my two cents considering I come here about once a week. For the price, you really can't beat the quality of sushi here. Yes - there are a lot of weird fried/cream cheese/jalapeno concoctions on the menu, but the simple rolls are really the best in my opinion. The salmon nigiri here is my favorite, closely followed by the Alaskan roll, ahi salad roll, yellow tail and scallion roll, and crunch spicy tuna roll. Everything is incredibly fresh. Sit at the sushi bar if you can; Mitch usually gives out samples to everyone. I won't dock any stars for the long wait here because that's just the price you have to pay sometimes for a phenomenal meal. When I go (especially on the weekends), I usually stop in between 6 and 7 to put my name in and then go wait down the street at Dunlays or D.O.C. No big deal. This place is really a must-try. Oh, and the fact that it's BYOB is a HUGE plus in my book.

    (4)

  • Glen W.

    Some of the best sushi in the city at bargain basement prices.

    (4)

  • Zachary J.

    I will never be able to eat Sushi at any other place after eating here. Phenomenal sushi, and a very creative menu. Mitch is great and the special rolls are always good. It's fun to branch out and try any of the special rolls, you wont be disappointed. The Miso Soup is great and I'm not a fan of Miso Soup either. The wait is long sometimes, but it's worth it. If you have to wait, walk down Clark and go to DOC Wine Bar, get a glass of wine and wait till Toro calls you. They'll call you when your table is ready and it's something refreshing for a restaurant. Wanna beat the line? Go 10 minutes before they open and wait, you'll sit at the bar, chat with the Chef and maybe get some free sashimi. Best Sushi in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Kimberly K.

    Not that the 501st great review of this place will make a difference. I just want to get my opinion out there. :o) This place is great. The sushi is fresh and really tasty. It's a little pricey, but so worth it. In my opinion it's the best sushi in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Flannery B.

    The prices are great, there are so many rolls to choose from and all of them sound and probably are delicious. This will definitely be my go to sushi place from now on.

    (5)

  • Angel P.

    I've been looking forward to toro for some time. Every time I've been they have an hour plus wait and I've been starving. I made it on a week night and didn't have to wait. They have a huge selection and everything tasted good. I was disappointed at the small amount of fish I actually got in my rolls though. All of the other ingredients in the roll overpowered the small amount of fish to the point you probably didnt need the fish. I've found other sushi places I love and I'll frequent them before I go back to toro.

    (3)

  • Hallie L.

    This is a great place to go for maki rolls! There are dozens upon dozens of these type of trendy yuppie-targeted sushi joints in Chicago, all serving the same Godzilla and Caterpillar rolls with lots of tempura and spicy mayo and all that, but Toro does stand out as one of the better ones. Their rolls are actually very unique and quite tasty, with fun yuppie-friendly names to go along with them like "Oh My God" and "Awesome" and "Kamikaze" among others. This is the sushi place to go when you've just graduated college and finally have enough money to spend more than $10 on a meal. Oh, and it's BYOB! Fantastic! A couple of warnings, though... The place is small and pretty popular. If you're trying to go with a group of more than two people, you should probably show up an hour before you actually want to eat to put your name on the waiting list and get some drinks elsewhere. Also, I'm sorry to say the nigiri isn't that spectacular. The amaebi was pretty good, the uni was alright, but the hamachi was extremely mediocre and disappointing. Lesson learned: come to Toro for the rolls, not the nigiri. Overall, this place is much better than the trendy fusion sushi places I've been to in the Loop area and very unpretentious, which is greatly appreciated. Have a try!

    (4)

  • Sarah P.

    I walked into Toro at 6:20 p.m. on a Thursday night. When I walked in there were at least 3 to 4 tables open. Told the server that I was waiting for two people, and she said that we had to wait for our entire party to be seated. Totally understand this policy. Ironically though, the lady seated to the right of where I was standing was sitting by herself for at least 10 minutes before her guest even walked in the door. If it's a policy, it needs to apply to ALL clients. So in the meantime, my friend whose birthday it was comes in (5 minutes later), they still won't seat us and her friend is driving around trying to find parking. If you know that area, it's sometimes impossible. Again tell the server about the third person parking, they won't seat us and when we mention the lady who was sitting alone, the excuse was......."oh her date was just parking." Um....yeah....so is our friend! And then they seat every other table so they are all completely full, and we walk out. She (and I) will never go to Toro again. Did I mention she was a regular and this server was always her waitress and knew her? I absolutely don't mean to disrespect policies. They are in place for a reason and absolutely should be enforced. But I think more than anything the inconsistency of enforcing them at Toro was the tipping point.

    (1)

  • Matt R.

    Sweet day in the morning, this place is delicious. This might be the best sushi establishment in all of Chicago. The prices are completely reasonable compared to the imagination and high quality of the rolls. You can find a million flavors and textures in the choices here. And the sashimi is as fresh as the morning dew...which doesn't quite makes sense, but still will conjure up fresh meadows in your mind. Small space but cozy and a good tempo once you are seated. BYOB and good waitstaff. Just know that if you show up after 6, it will be a long wait. This is a great place to go if you can put in your name and stroll the shops on Clark for an hour while waiting, or can come at an off time. Dinner at 4pm? Don't mind if I do!

    (5)

  • Adam K.

    I give Toro an 88 out of 100. Minus 4 points for the setting because it felt like I was in an undersized Asian cafeteria or an oversized Asian person's kitchen. One of the two. Minus 4 points for the ridiculous signs all over that limited us to one bottle of booze OR one six pack but not both. Even though we got no hassle for drinking both. Minus 2 points for the green tea ice cream ruined by chocolate sauce. Minus 2 points for that first sushi roll that came with a plate of lettuce. Positive points for ridiculously good sushi. Positive points for byob Positive points for lcoation Positive points for good service Positive points for decent prices (2 Hearty Eaters; $65) Positive points for a decent crowd and people atmosphere (a couple lookers in attendance on a Thursday night) Positive points for the guy next to us who couldn't open a bottle of wine properly. Other: When some guy walked in and pointed at our sushi roll I thought he was going to touch it. I would not go there in the winter because I would freak out on someone who left the door open and stood there like a moron (cold drafts). I would hesitate to go on a weekend because there is no place to wait. Unless there's a bar nearby? Then it'd be fine. I'd go again...weeknight, fall or spring. Brother's Response to this review: Yah, I agree, that guy trying to open that bottle of wine was completely ridiculous, I thought he was going to pull out a rabbit or something.

    (4)

  • Ruth S.

    it's just a-ok. I just think there are so many other good sushi restaurants out there. The sushi is ok. i would like to see some more places with authentic japanese dishes instead of white people sushi.

    (2)

  • Cassie L.

    Great small little sushi joint with a multitude of inventive and delectable specialty rolls. Some of my faves are the Monster roll, which is a spicy tuna lover's dream, the spicy tako, which is piled high with marinated tako salad. The rolls are large, the sushi is fresh, and the sushi chefs are fun. It's byob, so paired with some sparkling sake from the liquor place across the street, it's sure to be a good time. Two things that bum me out are the lengthy wait (let's face it, this place is in demand) and the fact that it is closed Mondays.

    (5)

  • Jason P.

    I think the stars were aligned when we came here for lunch. We parked right in front of the restaurant as a lady in a Mercedes S class pulled out of her spot. To top it off she got out of her car to give us her pay to park stub that still had time left on it. We walked in on a Saturday afternoon and were apparently right before the rush. We got seated immediately and proceeded to feast. I think I ordered one of every vegetarian roll on the menu. They had some with spinach in them which I had never had before, but were good. I left stuffed and happy, but was hungry again in about 2 hours. Damn that vegetarian sushi and its inability to keep me full!

    (4)

  • Gabe L.

    It's crowded for a reason (hint: it's good), so instead of reviewing the amazing sushi and saying how awesome Mitch is, I will teach you how to properly wait for a table. 1) Walk into Toro, leave your number 2) Walk out, hang a left, go to Duke's (the one with the wood), grab a beer 3) Walk out, hang a left, go to Best Buy (the one with the blue and yellow), play guitar hero 4) When they're about to call you (use your telepathic powers), start walking back and stop by the liquor store to pick up a bottle of wine if you forgot it 5) Sit down, and enjoy, because it's going to be LEGEN ... wait for it ...

    (5)

  • Ryan H.

    Rather than restate what countless others have already raved about Toro Sushi, I will offer some bullets based on my first visit. - Small place + popular = long wait times so plan accordingly - The sushi chef, Mitch, is extremely friendly and talented - Fish quality is stellar - Lots of interesting rolls to choose - BYO so come prepared - Good price point, especially considering the food caliber 4/5 stars, highly recommended

    (4)

  • Wei H.

    I live literally 3 minutes from this place and every time I walked past, I felt conflicted - it's always packed, there's always a line, even when the whether is in the 30s, and it just like many other things in life - you want them because it seems like everybody else does. So boyfriend and I finally went here. The wait was 40 minutes on a Saturday night. Not too bad. I am not going to be lengthy about the review but the sushi was really good. We got the obligatory omg rolls and liked it alot. But we loved the 3 musketeers - the fish was just so fresh and sweet. Prices are really not that bad. Will definitely return for sashimi!

    (4)

  • Meg H.

    I tried this place because of hearing so many great reviews. The sushi was good, however the service was absolutely terrible. We were rushed through our meal, & within 5 minutes of being done, asked to leave because people were waiting. My friends & I were very offended, and will not be going back again. I've never been told to leave a restaurant before I can finish my glass of wine. I get that it's crowded, but if they want to accommodate more people, get more tables.

    (1)

  • Dayna J.

    For over 2 years I had wanted to try this place because I had heard many good reviews. So finally, last Friday my husband and I waited it out. We went there around 7pm and was told that it would be about an hour wait and they would call when our table was ready. I liked this system - we went and grabbed some drinks, got a bottle of wine (Toro is BYOB) and then returned when our table was ready. The hour approximation was pretty dead on. For service I would give a 5 they are very friendly and helpful at Toro. As soon as we walked in they brought over a wine opener and greeted us promptly. For price I would also give a 5. They are very affordable and much cheaper than most other sushi places in the city. But the food was just okay.....we ordered the Chirashi assorted sashimi over rice served with soup, the Holla Holapeno, and the Spicy tuna maki. While I did not think that the food was bad by any means I was just not as wowed as I thought I would have been after all of the rave. Two factors could have played a part in my thoughts: 1. I had been long anticipating such an amazing sushi place and/or 2. We had just gotten back from Maui and their sushi is TO DIE FOR delicious. I would definitely like to try this place again after we've had some more Chicago sushi - but until then....it is not my favorite place in the city.

    (4)

  • Sharon G.

    I was skeptical at first because with over 700 reviews Toro Sushi still maintains a 4.5 star average. However, after eating there.. I am a firm believer. The sushi is amazing--the best I've had in the city so far. You MUST TRY the tipsy trixy roll.. it is to die for. The sushi is amazing but the place is very small so average wait time is 30 minutes if you are lucky and probably around an hour. It's definitely worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Anthony P.

    This tiny place gets packed! Went in for lunch around 1:30 one weekend and had to wait a good 10 minutes for a table for 2. The lunch rush continues late here. All of the makimono we chose was delicious. The servers were friendly and attentive, constantly topping off our waters. Definitely want to return, but it would have to be a weekday/weeknight, off hours, or get it to go.

    (4)

  • Darren S.

    Coming up to this place I saw five sushi places. This density and diversity of sushi and other ethnic eateries along Clark Street reminded me of districts in many college towns that I've been to around the country. This vibe is strengthened by the presence of a limited ethnic diversity of the patrons enjoying the restaurants. If anything, for tourists this means that you'll be safe on Clark Street and you'll be able to catch a cab very easily. When we got into Toro it was right about 5pm and the place was empty. Strangely, I enjoyed how the reggae music that they play went with the sushi to create a really relaxed atmosphere. We ordered a Rainbow Roll, Yum Yum Yummy Roll, White Crunch Roll (can't recall the proper name) and we got a complimentary bowl of the tofu miso soup. The flavor was fine, but coming from California I am accustomed to having larger portioned rolls. Perhaps fresh fish is more affordable and available, but our rolls here were exactly half the CA size. While I was full after the meal, my companion was still famished. Toro's sushi was delicious, nicely composed, visually pleasing and had a super atmosphere to go along with it. Unfortunately, their portion sizes left us seeking out more food down the street. Actually, maybe it isn't such a bad thing... you'll have room for dessert. Get some cupcakes three doors down.

    (3)

  • Garrett S.

    BEST SUSHI IN CHICAGO! I go twice a month! I've been to 90% of all sushi places in downtown Chicago and this is hands down the best sushi and its CHEAP! Wait is 1-2 hours so don't let that discourage you!

    (5)

  • Mira V.

    Arrived right at 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday. Two people were already waiting with us. Tried the volcano, "O", Southern Gals and California Special. By far the Southern Gals was the best with the "O" in a close second and a nice California special. Was not impressed with the Volcano although it looked nice with sparkler flaming out of it. Portions were great. It was definitely crowded within 20 minutes of arriving. Did notice there is a sign posted for their BYOB stating one bottle of wine, sake or a 6 pack could be enjoyed by a couple. I think this is due to turnover to get everyone in and out. Service was good but the originality of their rolls will keep me coming back.

    (4)

  • Joe N.

    When I moved to Chicago I knew the food was supposed to be good but I never expected to find good sushi....a colleague recommended this place, while still skeptical, I decided to give it a try and now this hard turned into one of the places that sets the bar for all other sushi restaurants. Make sure you try the "O" roll and the Sunny roll...two of my personal favorites, although they're all pretty amazing. Mitch is awesome...he always welcomes you with a smile and leaves you with a fist bump..at least after he gets to know you....the appetizers and desserts aren't much to speak for but this afterall is a sushi restaurant so it's easy to overlook those. It's a very small hole in the wall type of place so there will be a wait so make sure you get there early and get your name on the list. Then go to one of the local bars down the road have a couple drinks and come back ready for a great meal.

    (5)

  • Temi C.

    Toro is my favorite dinner spot whether it be with friends or the bf. This place never fails to provide a great meal and Mitch always treats everyone so well. As for the wait....think of this place as the Hot Doug's or Kumas of sushi. Except, they actually take your number and call you when your table is ready! They have a new liquor policy that limits the tables to a bottle of wine or 6-pack per 2 people which should help lessen the wait. It's a mom and pop business trying to do their thing, so please understand. One time there was a couple who sat at their table an hour after they had paid out. They're lucky I was already in the restaurant eating and not on the wait list. Their salmon sashimi or nigiri is to die for! It's like butter in your mouth. I would recommend sitting at the bar because it's first come first serve. I normally prefer tables and it took me about 5 visits until a friend convinced me to try it out. It's whole new experience because Mitch really takes the time to chat with his patrons despite the chaos of trying to whip out a gazillion rolls. He'll usually throw in some free pieces of fish too!

    (5)

  • Eli S.

    Oh My God roll and Trixie Roll are incredible. Not tooth rice, and plenty of filling in the rolls. Mitch the head chef is super friendly and laid back along with the rest of the staff. While the flavor blasted rolls aren't the most authentic, it's really an art form totally different dr traditional sashimi Mitch does this well an crafts each role with plenty of meat and flavor. Great joint, plus BYOB!

    (4)

  • Kong C.

    Should have read the reviews before ordering take-out, because everyone seems to love their fancy rolls. (I'm amused with all the reviews that rave about the freshness of their rolls. I love rolls too, but there's only so much "freshness of the fish" you can taste if its coated with sauce or fried lol) We ordered the chirashi and a spider roll for take-out and it was alright. The fish on the chirashi were decent cuts and fresh, but wasn't quite 100% satisfying for the $23 it cost me. Take out process was efficient- order was ready in 20 minutes. I'd like to try their rolls next time, but I don't think I would wait for 2 hours to dine in.

    (3)

  • Brian B.

    This place is great and I am a very big sushi snob. Great fish, good price. Come early to get a seat. Right when they open at 5 or you will be waiting for an hour. And you can't beat BYOB.

    (5)

  • Nichole M.

    Now, I am no sushi expert. I have only had it twice before and didn't really care if I ever had it again. But I went here and it's a sushi place, so I really had no choice. There are things I just do not like, so of course I did not like them here either. However, the "oh my god" rolls were soooo good. I like my food hot, i like my food cooked, but still, these were delicious. Everything else, was sushi to me, but again, I am no expert. I like that they were kind enough to call us when there was a table available. It is byob and there was no cork fee. So, all in all it was a nice experience. If you like sushi, then this is the place to be.

    (4)

  • Adam S.

    Best sushi in Chicago. The owner is great and its always a great experience when we come in. Its also BYOB. What else is there to say?

    (5)

  • Erinn D.

    I have been eating here for 6 years and it's my favorite sushi restaurant in the city. Expect to wait if you come after 6pm. The staff is super nice and accommodating. They take your name and number and call you when your table is ready. The sushi is inventive, fresh and delicious. It's also BYOB!

    (5)

  • Diana C.

    This place is phenomenal. I eat here often. The wait is always long, so you know it's good! The staff is friendly, the sushi is the best I have ever had. It is SO fresh and tasty. I really suggest anything on the menu. BYOB and order a few plates. I wish I could eat here everyday!

    (5)

  • Valerie J.

    We have been to Toro sushi twice, and while we enjoyed it both times, the first trumped the second. Being BYOB, you definitely save on wine prices. Cutting to the chase: The "O Roll" was a-ma-zing the first time we went. We could have eaten 10 of them. We ordered other rolls, but this one eclipsed them by far. A couple months later we went again, and sat at the sushi bar. We excitedly ordered the "O Roll" again, as well as a few other things. Everything, however, this night tasted less fresh, less fantastic, just... less. Including the O Roll. So though I have only been 2 times, I have to say I suppose the sushi here is hit-or-miss depending on the night. My boyfriend wants to give the O another go, so let's hope for the best. Yes I have tons of photos, alas, they're not on this PC.

    (4)

  • Gabby G.

    Love, love, love! Very fresh sushi with a great variety of rolls. I love the BYOB policy. I got great recommendations from the waitresses on what to order. I highly recommend this place and plan on eating here once a week!

    (5)

  • Hanah V.

    Yes. It really is that good. Yes. You do have to wait a long time. Is it worth it? I guess if you BYOB'd then probably. No but really -- very tasty -- and the staff was very nice.

    (5)

  • Dianne D.

    A couple of girlfriends wanted to go to toro, so we went. little did i know that they dont take reservations and there are only about 15 tables. so we decided to walk around the neighborhood to pass the 2 hour wait. i thought to myself after 2 hours the sushi better be frickin amazing. well it was good, but not worth 2 hours. or even maybe writing this review but i just wanted to warn people about the wait. the sushi was average, service was pleasant, ambience was small, quaint and borderline clausterphobic, but must say price was right- 4 ladies =$60, pretty reasonable, but still dont think ill be back. the highlight of the evening was going next door to mollys.

    (3)

  • Cheryl B.

    This place is as good as it gets! They are ALWAYS packed and there's always a wait - should probably knock them down to 4 stars for not upgrading to a larger space yet, but oh well! The staff is very accommodating - I love that we can walk over, put our name on the list, and they'll call us later when our table is ready. They have tons of sushi options to choose from and offer lots of unique creative rolls. Another plus - they serve super white tuna! :) Mitch, the sushi chef, is a blast to chat with and seems to know everyone who comes in! Whenever we have the patience to wait 2 hours and there's only 2-4 of us, this is definitely our sushi spot of choice!

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    At long last I was able to try Toro Sushi and see what the fuss is all about.. Went with my roomies after a nice long morning of moving stuff and sat down at the bar.. As we sat down Mitch (owner/chef) asked if we've been there before and names. He also, gave each of us fist bumps and even blew up his last fist bump with the last roomie.. Really cool guy!! Mitch gave us plenty of suggestions for sushi and cracked a ton of jokes.. Being a good sushi chef isn't all about the knifework although he does a fine job with that.. It's about how they can interact with the customers.. Mitch did that brilliantly even giving my roommate advice for his upcoming marriage.. The waitresses themselves were very much like ninja serving us the tofu and refilling our waters without us realizing what was happening.. Then again, Mitch was quite entertaining! As for the food.. well, you can't just get 5 stars on service alone! Here's what we got: AgeDashi Tofu - A gift to us from Mitch.. Really good broth. It was the second time I've had this and this was just phenomenal. The tofu had a almost gelatinous coating to it.. Soo delicious.. Kamikaze Roll - Jeebus.. All of us thought this was by far the standout item.. Really good spicy mayo with all the fish.. What made it so special though was the sunflower seeds.. The crunch and flavor of the sunflower seeds matched perfectly.. Genius I say! Oh My God and 'O' Roll - Two customer favorites per Mitch.. These were really good as well. They weren't standouts however. Saba/Superwhite Tuna/Salmon/Yellowtail Sashimi - This was where we could really see the freshness and quality of his fish. He has fish delivered 2-3 times a week and you can readily see that this is really premium stuff! What stood out for us was the saba. It was by far the best saba I've had and I get this everywhere! Even a roommate said this was excellent and he usually doesn't like mackeral! Really, all the pieces of fish were really good though! Hopefully, I'll be able to make it over again sometime soon.. As Derrick T. said in his review, Mitch made 3 customers for life.. Soooo good!!!

    (5)

  • James K.

    The premier sushi place in LP. If you don't believe me look at the other reviews. How can 100s of other reviewers be wrong?

    (5)

  • Rachel W.

    I have several friends that swear by Toro and had hyped it up so much that I was expecting perfection. I left thinking...really don't get what the big deal is. I'm all for authentic, tiny places to eat, but this was just too crammed. Especially after a 2 hr wait. The sushi was fine, but I'd liken it to most sushi places in the city. Won't be back.

    (3)

  • Dave Y.

    I feel great sushi is harder to come by in the midwest than somewhere like LA or SF. This is a pretty great sushi place. It's appropriately small, and I was delighted at how interactive the sushi chefs are with people sitting at the bar. I hear in Japan you're almost expected to chat with your sushi chef if you sit at a sushi bar. Like many other good places around here, the wait can be a bit long; it's worth it, and it's not like there's nothing else to go do in the neighborhood in the mean time. It's a bit expensive, but for any sushi lover (or really anyone), do you really want cheap fish? The hand rolls are also excellent.

    (5)

  • Sabrina C.

    This is by far the best sushi i have ever had.... in fact if i venture off and try other sushi I'm usually disappointed and I feel as though I got scammed, then for hours I sit and beat myself over the head for not spending my money at toro. Ill wait 2 hours at Molly's cupcakes until the nice little Japanese woman calls me telling me there is finally a table open. In which ill some how transform into an african olympic runner and I'm there in 3 seconds flat. I wait 2 hours for sushi and between me and my friend the 4 plates of sushi rolls end in less then 2 minutes....but its well worth it. The only complaint I have about toro is all you goddamn inconsiderate bastards who have finished your sushi yet linger around for hours sitting there with your douchebag friends and drinking your byob shitty wine...while the poor misfortunate people after you have to stare through the window pondering when assholes like you are gonna get up so that way the waitresses can clean the table and another group of people can enjoy such orgasmic sushi. If anyone who is reading this review is one of those inconsiderate bastards here is a tip of advice.... toro sushi is tiny very tiny they are open a limited amount of hours each day, waitresses and restaurants want to get in as much people as possible so they can make money, people who drive and have planned on going to toro don't usually want to wait hours to eat, people sometimes are denied toro because there is such a long wait list, toro is meant to enjoy the food not to sit there for hours NOT EATING and socializing about your lame life no one cares about. Clark street is FULL of bars if you want to chit chat and drink get your ass up and go elsewhere instead of making everyone suffer. I hope all of you one day get stoned to death! anywayssss....now that im done ranting toro is the shit hands down if anyone says otherwise they should be institutionalized because they are psychotic.

    (5)

  • Keiko S.

    I was hoping to fall in love with this place, but it didn't really happen...not yet, at least. *FOOD* Sashimi is kept well and fresh. The white tuna melts in your mouth. The itamae/chef does a nice job slicing the fat slabs of fish. The kamikaze roll is covered with tasty mayo-sauce that has chunks of white tuna, tobiko, pepper flakes and sunflower seeds. The combination is a little bizarre, but yummy. The bento box isn't all that impressive, though. Chirashi (lunch version) is alright. Presentation wise, they're both not appetizing. My point? Better to stick with the rolls! Like many Japanese restaurants, they first serve the salad and the miso soup w/spoon...which is fine, I guess. But $2 for a cup of green tea? Not cool...and it tasted old, like they'd reused the leaves. And $3 for the "real" wasabi...I might try this next time just to see if it's worth it. *SERVICE* A bit frustrating. The girls are seemingly working hard, and most are sweet and polite...but perhaps this place is under-staffed? Btw, the space is limited and they don't take reservations, so you need to either go early or be ready to wait - sometimes up to an hour. *PRICE* You'll smile when you see the tab. Can't beat the BYOB prices. *SUM* 4 stars for the sashimi, but over all - 3.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Vanessa P.

    YES YES YES! More! Don't stop! Keep it coming! OH MY FRICKEN GOD! this place is an orgasm in your mouth. 'nuff said.

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    I'll never forget leaving out on a cold Saturday evening in February of 2009, intently looking to satisfy my sushi craving. By sheer chance, I happened into Toro Sushi, and was pleasantly surprised by the friendly waitstaff, as well as Mitch working behind the counter. 2 1/2 years later, I make it a point to visit Toro Sushi on a weekly basis. Mitch's commitment to 'quality vs quantity' is what makes me a returning customer. He is always concerned about providing the best experience and foodstuffs that he can. Plus, his specialty rolls are works of art. If you sit at the counter, watching him and his staff prepare them is almost a show in itself. For first-time visitors, I strongly recommend Mitch's special roll called The Kamikaze. It made a fan out of me, and I'm sure it'll make a fan out of alot of curious newcomers.

    (5)

  • Coleen K.

    FAVORITE sushi spot in Chicago. Everything is so fresh and delicious. My favorite roll is the Kamakaze. Other notable rolls include the Big O and the Tipsy Trixie. I always get some salmon nigiri because it is so fresh here and just melts in your mouth. Make sure to arrive early, as the place gets very long waits. I came in on a Saturday night at 5:30 without a problem. By 6pm, the wait was 1.5 hours! Also a plus that its BYOB.

    (5)

  • Pascal M.

    Fresh, excellent quality, signs of imagination, and well trained execution. You'll wait, you'll pay, but you'll likely leave happy. The product and experience backs up the reviews on here. Go for yourself to find out. Dont be pissed there's no Torro, despite being called "Toro." I guess they only have it 1-2 times a year. Must be a real treat when they get it.

    (5)

  • Emily J.

    The OMG roll is really good. Miso soup is too salty.

    (4)

  • Ryan G.

    It's about time that I add my 5 stars to Toro's pile. I've been here at least 10 times, and never been disappointed. My wife and I were making an effort to try as many sushi places as we could until we found Toro, and we have not tried another one since. The food is top notch for both inventive rolls and fresh fish. I always get the Hiroshima roll, which is a tempura spider roll with spicy mayo served sliced in a pool of dashi broth. You can't get it anywhere but here (not that I go anywhere else for sushi). I also really love the escolar and sake sashimi. The real reason that Toro stands out is the owner & chef, Mitch. I'm willing to bet that no person who gave this place less than 4 stars sat at the bar and chatted with Mitch while they were at Toro. He really makes you feel valued as a customer, whether through a fist bump when you sit down, a recommendation on which fish is the best today, or maybe even a free piece or two with your order. If you're going for the first time, go at an odd hour (before 5:30 on a weekday or around 5 on a weekend) so you can get a seat at the bar.

    (5)

  • Crystal N.

    This place has damn good fish! So good that it irks me that I rarely get a chance to come here. Not because of time constraints, but the fact that it's always so damn crowded and wait times can go as high as an hour. Sorry, I'm not waiting an hour to eat. However, if you have the patience, I would suggest the Midway Monster and the Tipsy Trixie. Both full of HUGE salmon/tuna yummy fishy goodness. The place is small (hence the obnoxious wait times) but it's cute and the service is good. BYOB is always a plus and you will definitely leave happy and stuffed for less than $50 for 2 people. If you can, get there before 6, sit back and enjoy. Note to the owner: Seriously, consider delivery. Your patrons will be forever grateful.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    Ok a) have I mentioned that I L O V E this place? I mean seriously hands down the best sushi around b) I was SO happy to come in here while visiting from out of town, I miss walking over from my apartment to put our name on the list Friday nights then going home and getting ready for the night c) I love that the staff is just as awesome and friendly as ever, that Mitch was there tonight and that my sushi was just as delicious as I remembered it. I highly recommend the Super White Crunch, Dragon (had it tonight for the first time and it kicked ass) and the Cherry Blossom-with that being said I don't think you can order in correctly here everything I have ever had is delicious. The sashimi appetizer platter is always a good way to start the night as well as the house salad with the ginger dressing. I'm so glad I got dinner here tonight!! I look forward to coming back to Chicago and finding myself here for sushi once again, hopefully sooner rather than later.

    (5)

  • Andrew A.

    Best sushi in Chicago. Nothing beats a Southern Galz roll and a fist bump from Mitch. The seafood is the freshest I've had in the Midwest.

    (5)

  • Spank W.

    Gonna try to piece this together although I'm still in a food coma..... I've been really really scared to go out for sushi since my diagnosis/gluten intolerance. Like, really really terrified. I went once, and wasn't too prepared. I then got emotional (cause when you love food, and suddenly can't have a lot of the food you really love, cause it will literally kill you, you get upset), and I then got sick. So, I've stayed away from sushi and really anything too adventurous. Lately I've gotten really bored of eating the same things, so I've been trying to branch out to gluten free friendly places, and trying out different gluten free menus. Toro doesn't have a dedicated gluten free menu. They do have really informed waitstaff, with great suggestions for gluten free dining. Which is awesome! I ate with my two non-GF friends and they were able to share their rolls and mine. We ordered a few different rolls, and I think my favorite was the El Fuego without tempura and the Boston roll. I was also informed by my waitress that Sriracha is not gluten free. Although I've eaten it and have never had a reaction before. I decided to eat it anyway, because of my history. I just Googled it and it's been confirmed by the company that it is, in fact, gluten free. The vinegar they use is gluten free. They also didn't look at me funny for bringing in my own gluten free soy sauce. I do really appreciate that. I already feel like I'm waving a big freak flag when I pull out my own bottles of Liquid Aminos and GF Tamarind sauce. Toro is really intimate, but not in a creepy way. I will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • aldrich b.

    I would give the food and service 4 stars, but my overall experience was only a 3 since they stuck our party of five by the door and it was freezing. I kept my coat and scarf on the entire meal and I still couldn't get warm....the miso soup helped a little, but getting bumped by the people waiting at the door added to a subpar experience. The food itself was good, we oredered the OMG roll, super-white crunch, and a specialty roll that I can't remember. My favorite was the super-white crunch, the mango matched really well with the super white tuna, and the tampura crunch gave it a nice contrast in texture. The service was fine, it was busy so there was some waiting to ask for more water and the low-sodium soy....but expected. I would go back again, but not with more than 4 people to our group. The place is definitely more suited for 2-4 people, any more and you're party will feel cramped. I would also avoid getting seated next to the door, it's uncomfortable literally having people over your shoulder and getting bumped....it's also a popular restaurant so there's a lot of door traffic Hope my next experience here is more enjoyable.

    (3)

  • Ramya P.

    Designer sushi! Even though Toro has a good number of basics, most of the other combos are not what you find commonly in other sushi places and this is the feature, in my opinion, that distinguishes Toro from the others. And this probably explains the insane wait time.

    (4)

  • Jamie B.

    Yes, this place is as good as the reviews state. This is my other favorite sushi spot. GREAT fish....just go!

    (4)

  • Ahz I.

    This sushi is soooo good, and Mitch is soooo cool!!!! Try the Southern Gals!

    (5)

  • Ellen L.

    I see that I am not the only one who had such a horrible experience here. The sushi by no means blew me away, and was not worth the headache of being there. We ordered plenty of food over the course of being there, but multiple times were told we had to leave soon because we had the table for too long, or we weren't eating quick enough and so forth. Also, I could tell we were not the only people with this experience - the table next to us had a woman waiting at it and she was told she had to leave after only about 5 minutes holding the table AND NO ONE ELSE WAS EVEN WAITING! They missed something along the line about how to run a business, because they just lost 4 good customers in their future. All in all: SKIP!

    (1)

  • Alex R.

    Consistently awesome. Had dinner at Toro last night after not having been there for a while and was impressed as usual. Friendly service, cozy atmosphere, and fresh and delicious fish! I love that they don't overload the rolls with sauces like some other places. Be prepared to wait, but they will take your number and you can hang out at a nearby bar while you wait to be called. Frank's which is a few blocks down the street will even refrigerate your wine for you while you wait :)

    (4)

  • L. F.

    My absolute, favorite sushi spot in Chicago! Small, hole in the wall but the sushi is fantastic and it's BYOB. Almost always a wait anytime after 7pm on weekends (no reservations) but totally worth it. Every roll is delicious!

    (5)

  • CJ B.

    I've walked by this place countless times and it never really caught my eye, but since a friend said it was so good, I gave it a shot. Honestly, it's a solid 3, it's nothing spectacular, but it's not completely gross either. I mean there was a roll we tried that was just a giant mess it had octopus, seaweed salad, nuts and I can't even remember what else....here's the problem, it's so hard find purest form of sushi, and I mean real sushi. It's all this random things rolled up in rice and now it's sushi....can't stand that. Lets face it, spicy salmon roll is pretty darn basic and something you can for sure find at any sushi places. They were out....it was early lunch time and they didn't have SALMON!? REALLY!? Come on! They had ikura so that's a plus and their uni was ok, not the freshest. You can tell that this place has many many regulars and good for them, maybe I just happened to come in on their off day. I mean their service was less than mediocre; unorganized, slow, not at all attentive, not friendly. Oh and I CANNOT stand the fact that their website still doesn't have a menu.... Maybe I will give them another chance, maybe not. Who knows.

    (3)

  • Derrick T.

    Things to look for when sitting at the sushi counter: Friendly sushi chef who banters, jokes, and tells stories. Check. Sushi chef who makes suggestions and gets to know you as a customer. Check. Excellent quality nigiri sushi/sashimi pieces. Check. Innovative rolls that awaken the palate from all you've had before. Check. Mitch does a phenomenal job of making Toro Sushi by far one of the best places I've had sushi, not only in quality of the fish, but also in quality of the experience. The excellent wait staff move like ninja's and take care of your every need while Mitch entertains you as you eat. We had a variety of items including AgeDashi Tofu, O Roll, Oh My God Roll, Kamikaze Roll, Hamachi, Maguro, Saba, Sake, and Escolar. Standouts were: AgeDashi Tofu - Superbly flavorful broth, with a nice coating to the tofu. Delish appetizer. Kamikaze Roll - The spicy mayo was mixed expertly, but what really stood out was addition of sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds you say? The additional texture tied to the well managed flavor of the roll creates an eye opening experience you'll unlikely forget. Saba - I'm not a huge fan of mackerel overall (reminds me a bit of the fishoil supplements I took as a kid) however it seems I just haven't had good saba until now. This was the best saba I've ever had. Period. Verdict: We were lucky enough to walk right in and have seats, so I can't comment on those who had to wait significantly to get access to star treatment and high quality food. My experience was wonderful through and through. And while the rolls are about evenly priced with most other places, the nigiri and sashimi are priced in 2's and 3's (as in $5 for two pieces of nigiri salmon or three pieces of sashimi salmon, your choice) so keep it in mind when placing your orders. It's a much better deal than I had originally imagined. Keep up the phenomenal work Chef Mitch, and thank you for the excellent experience. You've made three customers for life. Have a great Thanksgiving on the west coast! Extra note: Chef Mitch prepares a non-raw fun version of sushi for kids, as there is no kids menu. It's pretty neat!

    (5)

  • Raph V.

    Best Sushi spot in Chicago. Love Mitch and the entire staff!

    (5)

  • Brooke G.

    I've been going to Toro for years, as it is my all-time favorite sushi in Chicago. Just finally getting around to giving them the Yelp praise that they derserve. Great rolls, fresh fish (clearly necessary when dealing with raw fish, and believe me, not all places are this fresh) and friendly staff. Mitch is amazing at what he does. I don't stray much from my favorites there: toro sashimi, sake sushi, Kamikaze Roll and Sunny Roll. I repeat, Sunny Roll. I can't say enough about it- crunchy, not too heavy, great flavor, just perfect. Only bummer can be the long wait- but totally worth it once you get a table. They do take your cell phone number and will call you when your table is ready, so I recommend walking up to Dunlay's for a drink while you wait.

    (5)

  • Nona Gayle D.

    Delicious....fresh.....innovative... what else can I say about this sushi at toro? The sushi here is hands down the best I've had in chicago, but the negatives about the place are that its a tiny restaurant so be prepared to wait for 45 minutes for a table for 2. But I honestly think its worth the wait. I would try the kamikaze, O, omg, and their super white sashimi. Go do it!

    (5)

  • Julie F.

    This place is worth the hype. Best sushi I have had in the LP/LV area! Gosh I just wish the place was a bit bigger inside so the wait times would go down!

    (5)

  • Jen B.

    It finally happened: Coast has been unseated from the enviable position of best sushi bar in Chicago. After a serious gorgefest, I am a full-on Toro convert. The nigiri comes in literal hunks as big as a toddler's fist (yes, now that I'm an aunt, all things will be compared to and measured in terms of the Golden Child). And it's super fresh and buttery. And the ROLLS. Oh my god, the rolls. No, seriously, the Oh My God roll is obscenely good. You can't come here and not order it. The Dragon is also great. And the one that comes with a sparkler (the Volcano, I think) is just awesomely presented and tastes amazing (though salt haters should steer clear). There was a bit of a wait on the fish, which we were told about up front so were prepared for, though no wait for a two top on a Thursday night. Only issue is that we were FREEZING the entire meal. The thin curtain between the door and the dining room is way insufficient, so maybe get takeout in the colder months or show up with a serious buzz so you won't feel it. This is on par with what you will spend at other sushi restos in the city so be aware. It's also not superclassy looking like Coast so keep that in mind if you're trying to impress a date. Although, if they are not completely blown away by the sushi, you need to UPGRADE.

    (5)

  • Christoph Y.

    So here I am in Chicago for work and I am craving nigiri-zushi and sashimi. Everyone I ask tells me to go Toro for "the best" sushi. Meh...i don't think so. I'm a stickler for freshness and I am sorry...this ain't fresh and it is not creative. The great Uesegi of Sendai once told me to never eat sushi in a city that is more than 1 hr away from the sea by train. I now believe him.

    (2)

  • Dave L.

    I am not sure what all the raves are about when it comes to Toro Sushi. It is ordinary with nothing catchy. Bleh....

    (3)

  • Elizabeth L.

    Toro has quickly become a "once a month - minimum" sort of destination. The best sushi of any place that I've yet been to. The "Three Amigos" roll is the b-o-m-b; coaster-sized pieces containing, oh, about 30 ingredients (only slightly exaggerating) served with a trio of sauces including guacamole. Guacamole and sushi - who knew? The baked mussels appetizer is equally delicious - four half shells broiled with a garlicky/spicy/buttery sauce. Some sushi restaurants will charge a hefty premium for such creativity...not so Toro. Reasonable prices and BYOB can make for an economically friendly meal. You just have to stop yourself from ordering EVERYTHING :-) As some reviewers have mentioned - the only drawback is the minuscule size of the space. I've seen bigger closets. Get there early (especially on a weekend) if you don't want to have to endure waits of up to an hour.

    (4)

  • Tina T.

    I've previously had takeout from Toro and thought it was some of the best sushi I've had in Chicago. Recently we were in the area and decided to eat in. Now I know that the waits here are legendary - friends have rolled their eyes before when I've suggested going here, citing whole evenings spent waiting for a table. But I also heard this about Kuma's and always managed to get seated after an hour or so. However, I did not seriously expect a 2 hour and 15 minute wait on a Tuesday night! We ended up drinking at Wine DOC for a while, and stopped back at our prescribed time, even though she had our cell phone number. We were then told that their original estimate was wrong and it would be another 45 minutes. And of course, it was too late by this time to order take-out from them, according to the hostess. So we left. Toro, I am sticking to my favorite sushi places and giving you up because honestly, although your food is delicious, it's not that great. And your space is pretty grungy too.

    (3)

  • John C.

    Wanna know when this place is empty? Easter Sunday for dinner. Not a classic Easter locale, I know, but why not? My son and I went last night. Guys night out. I don't think Toro Sushi has ever seen a fifteen year old each that much sushi. Unfortunately, the famous Mitch had the night off, but his stand-in prepped some awesome dinner for us. I can't speak to the crowd situation, but this place is NOT to be missed. These specific rolls were amazing and worth trying: Hiroshima Three Musketeers Oh My God Dragon Roll Kamikaze

    (5)

  • Angela P.

    Oh my love for Toro. Definitely my favorite sushi place in Chicago. I've eaten at Toro many many times (I used to live in the neighborhood) and have always been very satisfied. The fish is super fresh - if you like nigiri or sashimi, you can't miss Toro. There are also many great options if you like rolls - try the "O" -- its worth your time. Also, Mitch is super nice and often gives samples of fish or new rolls he is developing if you sit at the bar. And you can't beat Byob with no corkage fee... its nice that there is a liquor store across the street too. So... Pros: -Really fresh fish -Creative rolls -Byob with no corkage fee Cons: -Small restaurant which can have a long wait - but you can leave your phone number and they will call you So I have to give Toro 5 stars... the food is too good for any less. And now I'm hungry.

    (5)

  • Chad C.

    This place has great sushi, and the wait is better than at most places with ridiculous waits because of their take-your-cell-number-and-call-you-when-the-table'­s-ready system. So you can pretty much just walk around the neighborhood (which has a lot of shops and bars) until they're ready for you. Once you get inside, it's a pretty cozy atmosphere, not great for huge groups but fine for 3 or 4. Sitting at the bar is great, because you get to watch the chef prepare everything, and he'll probably even offer you a couple pieces free just to taste. He's also very cheerful and friendly. As for the rest of the service, they're friendly enough but oh-so slow. The sushi here is great, definitely the best I've ever had, but I have to warn you that I don't get out much for sushi. So it could be sub par, or Americanized, or whatever, but either way it tastes really good to me. I had the Oh My God, which a lot of people loved but wasn't my favorite. I really liked the Chad and the Tiffany, and also just the simple salmon and avocado (called the Alaskan maybe?). All in all a great place with a good atmosphere, and worth the wait if you have the time. But there will be waiting.

    (4)

  • Lesley S.

    Hands down one of my favorite sushi places in the city. Everything on the menu is so unique! It sucks you usually have to wait about an hour or longer but it's worth it every time! If you have a party over 4 people, just DON'T go here. It's rude and obnoxious... the place isn't built for large parties! BYOB-- heaven! Be aware you can only have one bottle of wine per couple or one 6 back per couple. This is a new rule they are enforcing to get people in and out... event hough I can clearly handle more than 2 glasses of wine, it's a great idea to keep things moving! Get creative and order something out of your element; you'll probably surprise yourself! It's a great place for sushi starters as well.

    (5)

  • Allison B.

    Hands down, best sushi I've ever had. Everything is very fresh and very delicious. The salmon crunch is my favorite roll, the hamachi hand roll is a must, and the salmon sashimi is amazing. Definitely worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Janna V.

    Yes Toro is small and crowded but it was totally worth it! This BYOB spot is my new fav for cheap sushi. The wait was 40min on a wednesday-- but we gave the hostess our number and hopped on over to D.O.C to have a cocktail while we waited. We got the call 30 min later and were promptly seated. All my rolls were good and there was one that i remember we ordered 2x because it was so good-- it was a veggie eggplant roll...It was soooooo good! its cramped and the service isnt the best-- but its about what you expect at this price point.

    (4)

  • Ashley B.

    Well I guess I can't say too much more than what has been said already. I went here on a Saturday night with a newbie sushi eater. The place is usually crowded, but they luckily will take your phone number and let you leave while you wait. That's basically key for this restaurant since they place is so tiny. There are quite a few good bars around the area, so it's easy to grab a drink while you wait for them to call. As with the other reviews, the sushi was extremely good and fresh. Before our rolls came, we were given a piece of very good salmon to nibble on. The place has a very good variety of rolls. I will definitely be back here to try more of the unique rolls.

    (5)

  • J D.

    There's not much more I can add to this except if you're craving your Toro fix, go for lunch on a Friday. It's really easy to get a seat and Mitch is still there to create your amazing sushi creations! No 2 hour wait for delicious fish. While most people rave about the rolls, i'm all about the simple stuff and the fish here is just perfect. The nigiri are fat and generous, sashimi fresh and perfectly cut. I also love the agedashi tofu, it always hits the spot. my faves: salmon, ika, ama-ebi, unagi nigiri, and the spicy scallop handroll. Extra points for a handroll section! And the price is so right.

    (5)

  • Cindy C.

    My husband and I truly enjoyed our night out and Torro's. It was phenomenal and would never consider going anywhere else.

    (5)

  • Kara G.

    The ONLY reason this place gets 4 stars is because it's too damn hard to get a table for four people for dinner- even on a Tuesday night! But let me tell you, it's worth the wait (and while you're waiting you can head down t he street to Frank's and grab a beer or two, or five)! The rolls are incredible, and the sushi chef is hilarious! The staff are really great as well. But obviously, the best part is the food! They have a roll called "Oh My God", and it really will make you say OH MY GOD out loud! This is my new favorite place, and I have to thank Beth and Eric for sharing their favorite Tuesday night sushi place with me and Steve!

    (4)

  • Marlon E.

    It's the best Sushi in Chicago, hands down. I grew up in Chicago and have since lived in Miami & now NYC. For freshness, Toro makes me forget that I'm eating seafood in the Midwest. I went with two friends, and we're all very picky about our Sushi. Toro won us over; we were debating fave Sushi spots nationwide with Toro in the mix in no time. Truth be told, it was a more of a maki night: Dragon, Volcano, 3 Musketeers, 3 Amigos, Tiffany, among others. Nothing disappointed. Large portions for rolls. Remove all the frills and names that try too hard (Big Ten roll? ughs), and y're still left with fresh fish that's well prepared & well executed. If y're as picky about yr Sushi as we were, Toro is worth the wait--2 hours & 20 minutes in our case to be exact. But it was our first time there. We'll plan better next time (if not just do take out), but there's plenty of time of go to Borders/B&N, pick up some spirits, or have dessert first at Molly's. They call you on yr cell when a table is ready. The space is tiiiiny and I can't imagine it being wheelchair friendly with all the folks in yr grill--whether seated next to you, standing & waiting, or trying to get around you. Even with the wait times and space issues, Toro earns 5 stars. It's that good.

    (5)

  • Nhu N.

    Omg, drooling great sushi. Definitely would like to revisit to try the southern girls roll. My first time I didn't even have to wait for a table. I guess I just got lucky. Would love to come back and soon!

    (5)

  • Tara T.

    Best .maki. rolls. ever. Creative, fresh, unique...I LOVE it. This is a destination every time I visit Chi-town.

    (5)

  • Jess R.

    Not much to say that hasn't already been said...but be prepared to wait - you put your name in and they'll call you when your table is ready, usually about an hour or so later. It's BYOB and doesn't have a corkage fee. I don't eat sushi (my boyfriend raves about it though), but I had the beef teriyaki and it was delicious. The dinners come with soup (w/tofu), rice and salad, enough to fill me up! And the price is just right. I'll definitely be back sometime soon.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    My favorite sushi place. Sushi rolls are big and delicious.

    (5)

  • Amy R.

    Amazing, fresh sushi, long waits, cramped (but it can be fun in the "hey, that looks good, what is it?" kind of way), have I mentioned amazing? Make sure to try: Dynamite roll (especially if you like spicy rolls) Southern gals. It's fried and topped with BBQ sauce. Sounds like blasphemy? It is... and hell tastes AWESOME. Rock n roll The plain sushi/sashimi dinners: The other chefs do the rolls, but Mitch is solely responsible for the sushi and sashimi. Want to see his mastery? Choose one of the samples and throw Mitch a smile. He will make you see the God that you had offended when you ordered sushi covered in BBQ sauce.

    (5)

  • David W.

    Seeing that we have tried and failed 3 times to eat at Toro Sushi for dinner, we decided to try our luck at lunch on Saturday. We arrived with crossed fingers at 1:45." What no wait, are you sure?" We were seated immediately at the sushi bar, sitting eye to eye with the fabled Mitch. We started off with the lunch Sashimi Platter which came with 3 pieces each of Hamachi, Escolar, Maguro, a Salad w/ Miso Dressing, and a bowl of Miso Soup. All of the fish was fresh and yummy! We also ordered the Three Musketeers Roll which consisted of crab salad, eel, a bit of spicy mayo. I enjoyed this roll because it wasn't all about the eel. I'm not a huge eel fan, but in small amounts I am fine with it. Our final roll was the Spring Blossom which consisted of salmon, sunflowers seeds, mango, and was rolled in tempura crunchies. This roll was delicious! The sunflowers seeds added a nice earthy flavor and a crunchy texture to the roll. We had a bit of roll envy as we saw all of these monster rolls shuttled out to the servers. I did feel that the menu was heavy with rolls with spicy mayo and eel sauce, but if all the rolls are delicious who cares? The space is tiny! With such good sushi and so few tables I completely understand why the waits are regularly an hour and a half every night of the week. I was tempted to ask Mitch if he would take me on as an investor to help finance the expansion of his itsy bitsy sushi spot. At least that way I'd be guaranteed a table! The service was friendly, knowledgeable and fast. Our rolls were explained well by Mitch, our water was constantly full, and we felt like we have been coming to Toro Sushi for years. I hate to say it, but I'm hooked. I have never had a favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago, but I think I just found one. Great rolls, great fish, and great fun! 1 Sashimi Platter 2 Rolls ------------------------------- $40.00

    (4)

  • Kyung P.

    I just found my new favorite sushi spot! The rolls are amazing! The have some interesting concoctions, but the standard rolls are equally delicious! You can always tell the quality of a sushi joint by the fish (obviously), but there is also a lot to be said about the rice...how sticky it is, how vinegary it is...and Toro's rice was absolutely perfect! I can't wait to go back over and over and over again! The california special roll is a MUST if you like unagi!

    (5)

  • B C.

    The guys working behind the counter here are a cheerful bunch and they enjoy giving out sushi samples. I'd never had sushi before, so I don't have much sushi experience to compare to Toro, but the food here was fresh and really full of flavor. The setup is kind of tight, but if you go on a Sunday afternoon, as we did, it's very comfortable. It was great just sitting up at the counter and seeing them do their thing with all the ingredients. Tons of choices that look amazing, almost like culinary artwork on the plate. I can see why this has a reputation of being Chicago's best sushi spot.

    (5)

  • Cathy L.

    I would give this place 2 stars except the uni is quite yummy and fresh! Otherwise, the sushi doesn't compare to that you can find in LA. It's still mostly rolls with too much random stuff like spicy mayo or whatever people are adding to sushi these days. Sashimi was a bit on the cold side (flash frozen?), cut poorly, and sashimi selection was small. This is definitely one of those fusion maki places for people who care more about the sauce than the fish.

    (3)

  • David M.

    If you like your sushi covered in mayonaise and other crazy sauces then this is the place for you. Never in my life have I seen a sushi place use this much mayo. We ordered 4 rolls that did not have mayo listed as an ingredient on the menu and yet when they came out every single one was COVERED in mayonaise. One of them basically had "seafood salad" from subway (imitation crabmeat and mayo) dumped on top of one of the rolls. Disgusting. I understand some people actually like these culinary abominations, but my big gripe is they didn't accurately describe the rolls on the menu. You got mayo no matter what.

    (2)

  • Neil R.

    Price - GREAT on par with most places but we got 10 rolls per order vs. the 6 or 8 at most places. Rolls - Outstanding, fresh, and some unique takes/variety. I love the people who are flaming Toro. Just means it's easier for the rest of us to get in and enjoy! Had heard about this place for years but had not had the chance to stop in. Yes we had to wait about 45 mins for a table but man was it worth it!!

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    This is by far the best sushi in Lincoln Park. Always fresh sashimi, creative rolls and a friendly staff make for a great experience. The main sushi chef, Mitch, is known by all the regulars. Sit at the sushi bar and you may be lucky enough to get a free sample!

    (5)

  • Meredith H.

    toro sushi is completely fantastic. super friendly service, byob policy, affordable prices, DELISH rolls and sashimi. the sushi chef definitely knows what he's doing and now the entire city know it, hence the 2 hour wait on a friday night! i second amanda s.'s request for a 2nd location...but only if the incredibly friendly, kind chef comes with!

    (5)

  • Dantee A.

    Hand down the best hidden sushi spot in Chicago. It is very small and quaint, but the ambience grounds you in the best sushi experience you will ever have. After about 2 -3 rolls ( I was very hungry), I ended it with a fried green tea ice cream...AMAZING. I never had anything like it before. I would go back just for the ice cream! Make friends with the Chef...he might give you a few perks here and there.

    (5)

  • Angela W.

    It's a simple, affordable sushi restaurant with no fancy decor. It is a small restaurant, so the wait can be long. 3 of us waited 45 min on a Friday night, which isn't too bad. We had the Sashimi and Sushi dinner, the O and MJ rolls. The fish was fresh, and the rolls were good. I am a fish lover, so the Sashimi and Sushi dinners were very satisfying.

    (4)

  • marc r.

    (Wait is long , 45 min - 2hrs) This place has some of the best sushi and by far the best presentation I have seen yet. Its been a while since I have been here so I cannot recommend any individual rolls. Just make sure you try something new while you are visiting - that means no California rolls people. A Must Try.

    (5)

  • Philippe F.

    Our local favorite was closed the night our sushi craving ferociously hit our estomagos. So plan B was to head over here, which I was dying to try out ever since my lady had told me wonderful stories about this place. We order a few if our favorites, negi hamachi, mackerel & salmon sashimi.....and then ventured out into the world of special rolls, which I rarely do. I personally don't like too many flavors interfering with the flavors of the fish. Anywho, the salmon crunch was pretty tasty. But the other specialty rolls were just too mash! The service was great, they even hooked us up with a little taster of their fried tofu soup, which was pretty sweet (both lit and fig). It's hard to compare when you already have your favorite spot. But if you don't already have a spot, or LOVE specialty rolls, then try it out. Good ISH, good fish....

    (3)

  • Jennifer M.

    I used to love going to Toro. I went there on my birthday for a nice dinner with my boyfriend and I was really excited to go. It's BYOB, I got a bottle of wine and my boyfriend got a 22oz beer. We were made to feel completely unwelcome upon sitting down at the bar and were told that we couldn't have two bottles of alcohol, even though I drink wine and he drinks beer... Mitch had happily greeted us with a fist bump upon our arrival but then once our drinks were placed in front of us on the bar he wouldn't even look in our direction and ignored us as we walked out - in fact the entire staff pretty much ignored us, apparently waiting for us to make one of our bottles disappear. I feel completely rejected by my favorite place to eat in the city and will not be back - EVER. I went to another BYOB sushi down the street, and shockingly, didn't finish my bottle of wine and had an awful birthday. I suggest you go somewhere in the city where you'll be treated with respect and common decency. F#*@ you Mitch.

    (1)

  • Betty S.

    Sushi toro I heart you. I just wish everyone in the LP didn't know how awesome you are so everytime I got a craving I wouldn't have to wait two hours for a table if we have more than 2 people. Word to the wise- if there is seating at the bar TAKE IT!!! all the special rolls are awesome! BYOB which is double awesome!! And to Candice K- I don't know what you ordered cause most of teh roles are huge and I always leave here stuffed!!

    (5)

  • Andrea R.

    I was so excited to check out Toro last night since I'm a sushi fanatic and I've read so many great reviews about it on Yelp. It lived up to expectations- such a cute atmosphere (although the entire restaurant only sits about 20 people so call ahead for reservations), fresh sushi, cheap prices, and BYOB! We got the O roll (a special for last night), the three musketeers, and the kame kazi. Not sure if I'd get the kame kazi again, but the other 2 were fantastic (and very big as well). They also had yummy seaweed salad! I'm very excited about finding a new sushi place in Lincoln Park! Edit 1/10: Now that I've been to Toro at least 50 times I should probably share more of my favorite rolls. Like everyone says the service here is absolutely awful, but the amazing sushi keeps me coming back week after week! I still love the O Roll and the Three Musketeers, but other musts include the Volcano and the Oh my god. And skip the Park West roll (ick!)...but can't go wrong with anything else. They also have an incredible SPICY seaweed salad. They don't always have the spicy sauce available, but if they do you have to try it! Now if only they'd expand the restaurant and get some decent waitresses....

    (4)

  • Puja D.

    I've been there twice, and been absolutely amazed at how fresh the fish is. The sashami is excellent - perfectly seasoned rice with fresh fish. The rolls are presented in a very creative fashion, and are so good that you don't even need any soy sauce. Definetly my new favorite sushi spot in Chicago. On a downside - the wait can be almost 1 -2 hrs depending on when you go - but you can always go hang out at Molly's cupcake next door =)

    (4)

  • My D.

    Absolutely delicious. Can't wait to come back. Be ready to come early for dinner because it is a small restaurant and you will have to wait. The rolls are so meticulously made. The sushi chef takes his time completing each roll, but I definitely don't mind waiting. There were roll creations I had never seen or thought of that were featured. The multiple layers of texture and flavor that seamlessly burst with each bite make you take as much time eating each piece as it took for the chef to create it. The other great thing: I am a sucker for spicy foods. I asked him to make it as spicy as he could without destroying the flavor. He did so gladly. Also, I'm not sure why the sashimi here is fresher than any other sushi place in town. It just is. And you can certainly tell the difference. The best thing about it all: it's cheaper than most of the high end sushi places in town AND tastes better!

    (5)

  • Sam Y.

    Go here several times a year. Probably would go more often if it wasn't for the 13mo old. Food is always awesome!

    (5)

  • Kista W.

    Best Sushi in Chicago. Hands down. Tried tons of places and Toro is always the winner. All of my friends agree. And that says a lot because we love sushi and trying new places, but no matter what we have tried, our hearts remain true to Toro and Mitch. The oh my god roll is perfect. You can't easily fit your mouth around it, but once you do... Oh. My. God. Every roll is amazing. Trust me.

    (5)

  • Allison R.

    It is worth the wait... My goal is to try every single item on the menu. The food doesn't go above $15 per roll... but the portions are great and the flavors are amazing. The ambiance is lacking, but Mitch is phenomenal to watch behind the sushi bar. It is a very good date place because they leave a lot of time from when you get seated to when you get your food; a lot of talking... and it is very obvious with the hustle and bustle of the place. Make sure you BYOB because it's quite a wait. Must try: Eggplant Vegetable Roll, Asparagus Vegetable Roll, Oh My God, Tiger Eye, Yum Yum Yummy... TRY EVERYTHING!!!

    (4)

  • Martha D.

    I did it. I finally got seated at Toro and it was well worth my efforts. I ate here right after they opened and have attempted to go back multiple times since, but I've never wanted to wait 60mins+ for a table. Super White Tuna Crunch - love you. MJ Roll - love you more. Go early and if you can't handle awkwardly waiting in the doorway, Oodles of Noodles is not a bad back up plan (it's BYOB too).

    (5)

  • Jeff K.

    One of the best sushi spots in the city hands down. The only down part is that there are no reservations, and the wait can be rough (although well worth it). Pretty much if you have a taste for sushi, this is the first place I try....always. I hope you dont mind sitting on top of one another though, the place is relatively small with slow turnover.

    (5)

  • John C.

    This place is great, though you should plan for an extended wait. Put in your name, go get an appetizer elsewhere, and they'll call you when a table is ready. I didn't think I could find a sushi place to replace my favorite from Michigan, but this place does the trick. Great prices, delicious and artistic sushi, BYOB. An easy 5 star rating.

    (5)

  • Heather B.

    So far Toro is my only sushi experience in Chicago, and it was great. I must say that I've never seen such a long and detailed sushi menu and I was drooling. It's been a week since I dined there for a late lunch, but I can recall the "Oh My God" roll--and omg it was delicious! Obviously glutunous as well with the mayo and fried stuff tucked inside, but nonetheless amazing. Service was fast and friendly. Having lived in Japan I was delighted when the sushi chef greeted us in Japanese upon entering. It was a good vibe all around and next time I'll be sure to order the rolls that are cooked to order.

    (4)

  • Scott D.

    This place has all the elements of the perfect neighborhood sushi bar: fresh fish, interactive chefs, BYOB, and a great location. The wait-list on a weekend night can be extremely long (+2hrs), but you can rely on it for a great night out any other day of the week.

    (5)

  • David M.

    [Updated 2011.09.29] - Love Toro sushi. Mitch is awesome and very friendly. Lots of custom sushi rolls which showcase creativity and flavors. Be prepared to wait 1-2 hours if you get here after 6pm. Put your name in and then walk down the street to DOC's wine bar and enjoy a glass or bottle of wine or Duke's Chicago bar. Party's of 4 are ideal as the place is small. My favorite rolls: Oh My God, Sunny, & spicy tuna roll. This is my favorite sushi place in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Cari B.

    A positive review of Toro seems trite at this point, but it's definitely one of the best sushi places I've ever been to. The rolls are great. I haven't had one that I don't like, but my favorites include the Krispy, the Dragon and the Three Musketeers. The staff (Mitch especially) are really friendly and accommodating, and do their best to offer good and quick service, especially in light of the fact that this place is always completely PACKED -- as in, there's a line to get into the restaurant to get in the line to put your name in. The place only seats a few dozen people and even on weeknights and usually by 6 p.m., there's a wait for tables. Conveniently, they take your cell number and call you when your table is ready, so you can shop in the area or get drinks at a nearby bar while you wait. The sometimes obscenely long waits can get annoying, but the food makes it worth it. If you sit at the bar and become a familiar face, Mitch occasionally slips you some free sushi. The sushi and rolls are pretty much as inexpensive as they come, and the BYOB feature definitely helps to keep it cheap. After Toro, most other sushi places pale a little in comparison.

    (5)

  • Taehee K.

    Chicago's best sushi restaurant, period. I have dined here twice and both times were worth average of 1.5 hrs wait. The service can be little slow despite 3 or 4 waitresses working in this tiny hole in Lincoln Park. But they try their best with warm, nice smiles so no complains on that. Instead of ordering usual toro, try their white tuna. It melts in your mouth almost like that fat piece of belly of its cousin with the price that will make your sushi night just a bit more enjoyable. I forgot the name of this roll (think it had a word "sunny") I tried last time but it was really good with crushed sunflower seeds mixed in with the filling. Totally new experience. Get here by 6 if you don't want to wait.

    (5)

  • Neil A.

    GREAT. Okay, so I went here on a Saturday at 5:30 for a date and the place was not packed, which shocked me based on all the reviews I had read. So we had our table immediately. The food was great. I tried the Yellow Submarine. Plentiful! Everything was just perfectly made and served. The place REALLY got packed around 6 and there was definitely a long wait for those folks. My recommendation would be to get there before 5:30 to avoid the rush.

    (5)

  • Jonathan R.

    This place is honestly the best Sushi in the city of Chicago! Mitch makes me feel like a long time customer every time I walk into the room. The flavors are explosive! AMAZING! I can't go anywhere else knowing that there is a better place in chicago. It's like going to see fireworks at Disney and then going to a backyard firework show. You cant compare. I LOVE YOU SUSHI TORO!

    (5)

  • Jen W.

    If you are looking for fresh, delicious fish, prepared by amazing people who know their shit, look No further. I won't eat sushi anywhere else in the city. Prepare for a wait and grab a drink at Dukes up the block....you won't regret it. BYOB with no corkage fee...enjoy your beer/wine/sake and then politely leave when you are done, people wait up to 2 hours to get in here. Mitch and all the lovely wait staff are awesome! Anyone will wait on you. Hands down, best sushi in the city, state, Northern America!!!

    (5)

  • Kelly C.

    Fantastic Sushi - very inexpensive. They have all the creative and crazy rolls like some of my other favorite spots like Coast - but without the inflated prices. However, the atmosphere sucks! It's really bad. It's so small and no matter where you are sitting - you are in the way. I've been there at least 4x and every single time I'm at a different table and they are all bad. The service is very slow too.....maybe it just seems slow because the atmosphere is so bad.....and you don't feel relaxed. The sushi is good though - really good and for the price you really can't beat it! I've never had a roll I didn't like so I go for the sushi and not for the experience. Certainly not a date night type place....and I wouldn't suggest going with more than 1 other person....but I do recommend going and bringing a bottle of wine!

    (4)

  • Bo J.

    Awesome tasty and reasonably priced. The main sushi chef Mitch had a fantastic character and insisted on fist bumping me and my wife :D

    (5)

  • Linds R.

    Wow, there is a lot of Toro Sushi hype around here. I went with friends on a Friday night, and despite arriving 15 minutes after they open, there was a two hour wait. Sucks. When we FINALLY sat down in the tiny crammed little place, with other people who were waiting breathing down our necks, we ordered a ton of different rolls. Of the ten or so that we ordered, I was impressed by the plain whitefish and one of the crunchy shrimp something rolls. But otherwise, ALL of the rolls had mayo, and at the end of the meal, I couldn't really differentiate any of them from any others. With so many ingredients in each roll, they are a little overwhelming and ultimately all end up kind of tasting the same. One of the rolls supposedly had papaya in it? It was bigger than a coaster, so..who knows for sure. And based on the whitefish, it was good quality fish mashed up in there. Wish I could have tasted it more. It may just come down to your food philosophy, because I like simple foods prepared with a few quality ingredients, not a mash up of a billion things. And I don't think I should leave a sushi restaurant feeling ten pounds heavier. Next time I want to drop a pretty penny, I'll hit up Mirai.

    (3)

  • Benjamin D.

    My love affair with sushi started in Bloomington, IN, as a freshman at IU. From that point on, I have been on a crusade to find the holy grail of sushi rolls. My quest has made stops across the Midwest (where it all began), East Coast (NYC and Jersey), and Europe (Seville, Spain). That said, I am by no means a sushi expert or snob; I simply like the stuff. I celebrate most big events with some sushi and sake. When looking for a sushi joint too break in my 27th year, a friend recommended Toro. To cut to the chase, I have to say, Toro's rolls were amongst the best I've ever consumed. You must try the "O." The atmosphere is perfect: no frills decor and tight seating. A genuine mom-and-pop feel. No bells and whistles, the emphasis is on the food. The only drawback is the limited seating. I went on a Tuesday at 6:30pm and waited until after 8:00pm for a 4-top table. Go expecting at least an hour and half wait. Also, you will be seated much faster if you are rolling two or less. Enjoy.

    (5)

  • Julie H.

    The first time I went to Toro was about a year and a half ago on a hot summer night. On that particularl night, the AC at Toro was broken and the only thing keeping the place semi-comfortable was a small oscillating fan on the host stand. Gross. Not exactly a desirable place to eat raw fish, so we walked out. But at the persuasion of a friend, I recently gave Toro another shot and it was like whoa, that is some good sushi! The overall quality is something you would expect from a much nicer restaurant; I almost forgot I was sitting in a cramped storefront on North Clark Street. The rolls are creative and tasty. The portions are generous and very reasonably priced. And its BYOB! Show up early, about an hour before you'd like to sit down, because you're going to have to wait for a table - the place is small and it gets packed.

    (5)

  • Raytus C.

    I went to Toro because Green Tea was closed for the holidays. Its really nice inside and I was enthusiastic given the crowd at 11:30 was already large. Watching others order, I quickly figured out most were ordering one roll as their entire meal. The roll menu is gigantic. If you've eaten at sushi in Chicago, you know there are only so many traditional ingredients one can use to make rolls. Toro's rolls feature cute names for permutations of your standard Americanized rolls, Dragon being a key focus. Personally, I knew I was in a yuppie restaurant when I discovered an "Oh My God" roll which has to be one of the most irritating expressions of the North Side bimbo. I ordered sushi and it wasn't up to Green Tea standards. Not bad by any means, but certainly not worth the wait. By the time we left, the place was a madhouse. So if you are looking for a roll restaurant, you have died and gone to heaven at Toro. If its sushi you want, there are far better alternative. A lot of the mob is also driven by the BYOB.

    (3)

  • Chelle L.

    This is hands down the best sushi in Chicago, but best of all is their lunch. For $7 you get miso soup, edamame, a house salad, a california roll, and another maki roll. Then I roll out the door because it's so much food. Mitch is awesome, and will always answer any questions or offer samples of something you are iffy about. The wait gets really long the later you go, so go early if you want some delicious eats. Also, order the Arizona roll and thank me later.

    (5)

  • Rahshonda K.

    This place is so small but the taste of the Sushi is ENORMOUS in size! I am a huge fan and cant stop raving about how wonderful this place is. The waitresses are friendly and they work really really hard to make sure everyone is happy!!! Honestly don't know the names of all the sushi rolls we tried but I can tell you the Crunchy Spicy Tuna with Spicy Mayo is the bomb! Hell I think anything with Spicy Mayo is awesome! Sake Sashimi was so damn fresh OMG! If you are a true sushi person you have to make your way to Toro.

    (5)

  • Suana W.

    having reflected on my experience in comparison to other sushi restaurants in chicago, i think i'm going to have to downgrade this a star...i'm definitely more a traditionalist/purist, and this place is decent, but not four-star decent. so three it is.

    (3)

  • Debbie W.

    FANTASTIC sushi!!!! This place is always packed, and you always have a wait (i just go sit at Mollys next door and have some coffee while i wait). Cretative rolls, beautiful presented, and everything is always fresh. I also love the staff. I only wish the place was a little bit bigger. Last time i was in town for a week i went here at least 3 times. Fantastic.

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    The sushi is fantastic - especially everything under "Mitch's Special Rolls" - that one that mitch is blowtorching in the pictures is the "Awesome" roll. Two of us split the veggie tempura appetizer, the "Awesome," and the "Stars in the sky." We sat at the bar, so Mitch's direct over the counter delivery lapped the waitresses by a longshot. Everything was delicious, so we didn't really notice or care that no one picked up our dishes as we finished. Mitch is a super guy, he remembers his regulars, and is extremely friendly, even for a sushi chef.

    (4)

  • April S.

    Probably the restaurant I miss most in Chicago... I have dreams about: the super white tuna, Oh My God roll and the Spicy Scallop roll. Say "Hi" to Mitch for me!

    (5)

  • Johanna J.

    I decided to try the place because every time I would walk up and down Clark it was always FULL. There must be something good in there, and I expected to find out. Now, I'm a vegetarian so this review might not help a lot of people out there. The vegetable rolls that I get are always good, and they have a lot to pick from. They even have an inari (tofu skin) roll that is awesome. My friends get sushi, though, and they love it too. They have excellent combos for lunch, and for $6 I get a box that has salad, edamame, and two sets of rolls. And it comes with miso, too. They were nice enough to warn me that it has fish oil. They're not too fast but I never thought they were overly slow, either. What we like to do is bring a Sapporo, since they're BYOB, while we wait for the entrees, and drink with the appetizers. They bring glasses for the drinks we bring from elsewhere, at no extra charge.

    (5)

  • Mike R.

    The attention paid by the owner to the quality of the food (fish) served makes this place special. In addition, the creativity and quality of the ingredients in their specials rolls is superb. The only complaint I have is their carry-out process, which, in my opinion, can be improved upon. Hands down one of the best sushi restaurants in Chicago, if not the entire Midwest.

    (5)

  • Jerry M.

    I really don't know what to make of this place. I will admit upfront that I know nearly nothing about sushi, so that probably makes my review a little more worthless than others. They were super friendly when we got there - was that the famous Mitch behind the counter with a great big hello and goodbye at the appropriate times? They have specials for lunch, which was when I went, and it was busy, but not terribly so, so we were seated immediately. No wait for a table! The food seemed subpar. I don't get what was so great about it except for the miso soup was YUMMY. But everything else was "eh." Which makes me wonder exactly what is great sushi? I don't think it's here.

    (3)

  • Lauren C.

    I came here with 2 friends last night, and we were told it would be an hour wait for a table. We considered going somewhere else, but after about 45 minutes we were seated at the bar. The bar is THE place to be! Mitch greeted us and we ordered some rolls - the salmon lover, Tiffany, kamikaze, and a salad roll. One of my friends ordered the sashimi dinner, which is a special Mitch creation. Everything was ordered tasted absolutley delicious and looked gorgeous! After we were done with our sushi, Mitch made us a couple of hand rolls, just because! It was a really great dining experience, for just around $20 a person! I'm thinking I'm going to have to make Toro my weekly sushi spot! EDIT: 2 stars off of my review. A month ago, I called to make an order for carryout. I was told it would be a 2 hour wait! I called at 6 p.m. on a Thursday night - that's a little outrageous. Tonight I called at 6 again to make a carryout order, and I was informed they aren't taking carryout orders this week. Sorry Toro, I love your sushi but I'm taking my business elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Emily K.

    Went here after reading Yelp reviews. It was pretty good, but by all the raves you'd think it was the second coming of Christ. We came around 7:15 on a Sunday and were told an hour wait, which we expected. It ended up being a little less than 45 minutes, which was a nice surprise. Brought our own booze, which always gets points in my book. The seaweed salad appetizer was delicious and really large (for being an appetizer), though my vegan girlfriend and I both suspected that the vegetable goyoza had chicken in it. Rolls were huge and really delicious. I'll come back because it was inexpensive, BYOB, and really, really good. I'd only hesitate because of the wait and the plethora of other good sushi places around the city.

    (4)

  • Amy R.

    This place is SO worth the wait! One of my girlfriends and I decided to go here after she had been raving about the food, so we put our names down, gave our phone number, and headed up the street for a glass of wine while we waited for our table. Sure enough, just as we were finishing our wine, we were called to be seated, and headed back to the restaurant. How convenient! The BYOB is also a definite plus. They could use some better chairs, but they did give fair warning that my seat was a bit wobbly, and I didn't even really notice. Yes, the quarters are crowded, but that adds to the ambiance, in my opinion. Even though I was seated back to back with a rather large fella, it wasn't so bad. I'm going to have to ask my friend what roll we ordered, but it is officially my favorite (yes, I realize that's no help to you folks out there who are now curious - I'll make an update once I remember). :) No rolls were too big (see my review on Rise), and everything tasted spectacular. Not too much cream cheese in the Philly roll, and nothing fell apart either. Just as I expected from a place that was kicking it to the walls so early in the evening.

    (5)

  • Matt S.

    I have been almost a dozen different sushi places in Chicago, and this is my favorite by far. You get a lot of sushi at a great price, but expect a wait if you go past 6pm. The nice thing is, they will take down your phone number and call you when your table is ready. So you can walk to any of the bars along Clark, grab a drink or two, then head back for some sushi. There is a huge variety in rolls, but I feel there are a lot of tempura-type rolls. As simple as they are, the spicy tuna and philly rolls are amazing. The yum-yum-yummy, the volcano and the kamikaze rolls are among my favorites. I have never gotten a bad piece of fish or anything remotely to bad sushi here. If you are lucky to come on a night when Mitch has the Toro, TRY IT! It is absolutely the best sushi you will ever have. The prices are my favorite. Since I tend to eat a lot when going out, this helps quite a bit, and I have rarely run up a tab of more than $50 for 2. Service is typically great. On occasion you can run into issues, since the place does get quite busy, but the servers do a great job of keeping this place in order.

    (5)

  • Stephanie M.

    Most delicious and creative sushi around. There are so many rolls to choose from, I never have the same thing twice. The only downside is if you don't get there early enough, you'll never get a seat.

    (4)

  • Gareth D.

    Thank you, Mitch. You're loved, and you can tell from the demand.

    (5)

  • James Michael S.

    It just doesn't get any better than Toro Sushi. I'm not even going to waste my time writing a review...just do it.

    (5)

  • Andrew L.

    I have eaten at at least 100 sushi places in my life all over the country- and none of them compare to Toro. The atmosphere is like you are eating with friends- whether it's a random Wednesday night, a Friday afternoon lunch, or a Saturday night with a bottle of wine, Toro always hits the spot! The rolls are amazing and innovative- and unlike most other sushi places, you don't leave hungry.

    (5)

  • Phillip G.

    I want to tell everyone not to go, so I can get a table. I have been going here for years and it is truly my favorite place in Chicago. I have been to Tsuki, Shine, Rise, Mirai, Coast, Ai, etc... and while they all are great, Toro is simply awesome. I once went here the night after coming back from Hawaii and was blown away. What to expect: Expect to wait. The service is slow but the sushi is awesome. Do not go with a large group. The tables are two toppers with only a couple of fours. The place is small as a whole. Great for a date. Its BYOB too. Mitch is the owner and almost always behind the sushi bar. Say hi to him. My recommendation: Put your name on the list. They will call you when your table is ready and head down the street to D.O.C. wine bar for a flight of wine.

    (5)

  • Alison B.

    I am a sushi nut...eat all over the City...and I have to say that this place is freaking amazing! I love the hole in the wall sushi places because of the prices but also prefer not to go to a mini-night club just because I want sushi like many of the places. Anyway, I went a week ago and cannot say enough about it. The fish was SO fresh and the rolls were fantastic. The Cherry Blossom roll was amazing. The Dragon roll (always a favorite) was the best one I have ever had. If only they had delivery!

    (5)

  • Jenn L.

    The wait for a table at Toro made me violent. Somehow 30 minutes turned into an hour and forty minutes. The insipid, empty-headed post-college trixies who sat next to us made me murderous. "Ewww raw fish! I just can't eat raw fish! Can I get a vegetarian California roll? Oh my god! I chipped my nail on the chopsticks! How do you use these things anyways?" But Toro gets 5 stars for the following reasons: 1. Mitch. Mitch is the head sushi chef. We had the honor of perching right in front of him at the bar, which meant that we had an amazing conversation and culinary artistic experience watching him prepare some of the freshest fish I've ever seen or tasted. 2. Really good, thick, hot miso 3. Extremely fresh ikura 4. Great prices For $39 we had: - Miso - Maguro sashimi - Ikura - Escolar ("Super White Tuna" - But did you know Super White Tuna isn't really tuna and consuming too much leads to "Oily Diarrhea and Anal Leakage"? Don't believe me? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wh… I don't care though. It's just too good to turn down...take that, stupid girl who doesn't eat raw fish.) - Three Musketeers roll - Kamikaze roll (One order of nigiri equals two pieces.) I enjoyed the rolls, but honestly, I'd go again just to get sashimi and nigiri. I think that my affinity for maki stemmed from my inability to find fresh fish in the midwest. Now that I know Toro has the grade of fresh fish I've been craving, all filler cream cheeses and spicy tuna sauces just don't seem as appealing. Advice: Please, if you don't care about watching sushi prepared, look at me funny because I'm really excited about salmon roe, or would rather talk about your nails and some dumb cute boy, please don't sit at the bar. I will kill you. Thank you. If you want good, fresh fish and don't mind braving a long wait, slow waitresses, and people who are along for the "trendy sushi" ride, then just go here already.

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    I like to eat simple when I go for sushi and the nigiri and sashimi are normally pretty good. Would highly recommend the salmon nigiri. On top of the food, the service, and Mitch are excellent as well!

    (4)

  • Laura H.

    Best sushi in the city! El fuego roll is a fav. The owner Mitch is a genius! Be prepared for a wait, it's best to put your name in and grab a drink elsewhere til they are ready. And BYOB factor helps to reduce your bill, making this spot do-able frequently.

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    "Dear Mitch, Thank you for being in Chicago. My sushi meals are now in your hands and your hands only. Love always, Amy" Seriously, though, we had wonderful sushi and Mitch was such a gracious host. I had the ikura, the amaebi, the super white tuna and the hamachi nigiri. I also ordered the kami kazi which was so good I got a little dizzy. Everything was fresh and perfectly prepared. Mitch was so sweet, he gave me a free salmon sashimi 'dessert'. I usually have nigiri but after seeing Mitch's wonderful maki creations, I will probably try more maki. This place is BYOB!!!! Please note that the wait will be horredous and take out will be 1 to 1.5 hours but it will be well worth it!

    (5)

  • zamboni z.

    2 things you can't NOT get without regretting it for the rest of time: 1. Sunny 2. Ahi salad yummy!! I crave this when I leave chicago and smile when I return!

    (5)

  • N C.

    STILL my favorite sushi spot in Chicago - BUT now that the word is out it is ALWAYS an hour wait and parking in that area is impossible. Even when Itry and order in they tell me it's going to be an hour before I can even pick it up! Really?! Great find if you live walking distance and you can get there when they open. My question is when is Mitch going to move to a larger location that has more options of parking because THEN I will make a point to go back! Until then, while I heart the Tiffany roll and think about it often, I don't get excited to stand in the cold and/or wait to eat for an hour. Seating for 50 ppl just isn't enough anymore - Move on up!

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    I was excited to check out Toro yesterday because it's the nearest sushi spot to my apartment. Okay, before I continue with my review, let me make this very clear. On any other day, I would have given three stars to Toro, but I had to change my standards a bit. Why? The price, the quality, and the city. The price is decent, the quality is pretty good for Chicago...and it's fish in Chicago. Now on with the review. I had the spicy scallops and sake (salmon) maki. The sake and scallops were just the ticket. I missed fresh fish, so it was great to have good quality fish at decent prices. I'll definitely be returning each time I'm craving a bit of the raw stuff.

    (4)

  • Jeremy B.

    after failed attempts at coming here on several weekend nights (the line is always too long and they dont take reservations), i decided to come during the week to see if it lives up to its 4.5 avg rating... and it does. we sat at the sushi bar, the chefs were very friendly, service was good, but the food was excellent. some of the freshest fish i've had in chicago. i cant wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Brutus B.

    There isn't much I could say that hasn't been said about Toro. Yes it's tough to get a table sometimes, but I've found some success with saturday and sunday afternoons. As for the food, my favorite Hamachi in Chicago is here. Actually my favorite sushi altogether is here. The White, the Salmon, & the Red Snapper are all great. If they got it in, you shouldn't pass up the Fatty Tuna. I tend to get nigiri more than maki, and you should do so here too. This is not to say their rolls aren't good, they're really good, you just can't miss out on the treasure that is their fish. Way to go Mitch. Please don't go there if you're just gonna order california rolls and shrimp tempura. I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I want the real sushi lovers that have missed out on this overly popular jem to experience the best sushi they can in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Lindsay O.

    5 stars you might ask? Even with a 2 hour wait?? My answer is a resounding YES!!! This is the best sushi you will ever have. OK, at least in Chicago. It's BYOB and it's awesome. Before coming to Toro, I couldn't stomach the idea of sashimi. Weird mealy cold meat? No thank you. After Mitch sent us a complimentary plate of super white tuna/escolar I was converted! He's got great quality fish and a huge selection of rolls to try. Don't let the wait deter you! Go to Duke's or Molly's to bide your time or stop by on a weeknight, but either way, you have to try Toro.

    (5)

  • Ashley B.

    Best sushi in Chicago!! The first time I went I was meeting friends. The restaurant itself only holds about 30 people and there was a 2-hour wait. My friends told me it was definitely worth the wait and they were so right! You can put your name in and sit at one of the bars in the area while you wait. We sat right up at the bar where Mitch makes his sushi. I have now been here twice, and hands down, Mitch makes the best sushi! I am a huge fan of his "That's How We Roll" sushi roll. The Volcano roll is also a big favorite. You can also bring your own wine which is a nice compliment. If you are a sushi lover, this is your place!

    (5)

  • Wayne P.

    If you are a broke ass college student that is in search for some good sushi, this is the place. The atmosphere is cool and they play the latest hits at the perfect tone. You cannot help but love the head sushi chef Mitch. He is one of the friendliest sushi chefs around and greets everyone with a fist pound! The sushi itself is extraordinarily amazing. I highly recommend the "Oh my god" which has a little spicy tuna that works well with the crab and special sauces. It will keep you coming back for more I guarantee it. Another favorite of mine is the Red Dragon (another spicy tuna combo but worth a try as well). If you are more into cooked sushi, I recommend the Southern Galz which is smoking goodness. Also, they make their own mango ice cream which is full of flavor and made of real mango. This place is so good and cozy that the best time to arrive here is once it opens because it gets packed pretty quickly. It is still worth a half hour wait though because it is that good. I recommend bringing some wine too (_8^(1)

    (5)

  • Joseph R.

    Not sure if it was an off night or just expectations set high based on glowing yelp reviews and suggestion from a friend that raves about this joint. The Arizona roll was delicious and is the only reason I grant Toro 2 stars along with not having to wait to be seated. I was in a group of 3 and we ordered 8 rolls. The supply on hand of wasabi and ginger must have been at a critical level. I was turned off that miso soup and ginger salad was not included with dinner at the very least. The size of the rolls was disappointing. I believe in second chances, but, with so many options in Chicago for great sushi I will not return to Toro.

    (2)

  • Lisa F.

    I am vegetarian so why, you may be asking, am I reviewing a sushi place? Well, let me tell you there is plenty to like about Toro for vegetarians. We sat at the counter and Mitch immediately greeted us. I asked him for recommendations and he said, "I will make you something special." Relief, since the thought of another miso soup and salad (despite how yummy) was not blowing my skirt up. He made me wonderful wonderful avocado & mushroom rolls. Fab! The salad and miso soup (yes, got them anyway) were very fresh and tasty. Oh, and my fish-eating friends enjoyed what they got too. I agree with other Yelpers that the wait can be a bit long and the seating is a little sporadic...had we said we didn't want the counter we would have gotten a table like 1 minute later. Oh well. The place is small, we showed up on a Saturday night unannounced, we got over it. We happily shared our BYOB with the folks next to us since we're a neighborly bunch. Prices are reasonable at Toro and cabs are plentiful outside. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Em D.

    Crazy Horse Roll. Get involved.

    (4)

  • Rita W.

    I live pretty close to Toro and everytime I walk by at night, this place is ALWAYS packed to the max! Luckily, since I do live pretty close, I found out that lunch time is the perfect place to go. There is usually no line and they have great lunch specials! My brother and I went together and ordered each a sushi combo. The lunch combo gives you a pretty decent amount of food! It includes three pieces of nigiri, 6 small pieces of sashimi, and a california roll. The lunch combo also comes with soup and a salad. Toro's fish is always fresh, I loved the tuna sashimi, it was fatty and juicy, just the way I like my sashimi tuna! I am not usually a big fan of the california rolls with fake crab meat but Toro manages to pull it off. They add a pankocrust to the roll, and also drizzles some of that yummy bbq sauce on it so it gives it a bit of a different spin on california rolls. We also ordered the soft cell crab appetizer which came hot and crispy and was delightful! It was drizzled with the bbq eel sauce so it was a little sweet, which worked to offset the crispy fried taste of the battered soft shell crab. It was a little too sweet for my brother's liking but I thought it was yummy :) Lunch at Toro is a great deal and is fast becoming one of my favorite lunch places! Now..if only I can get it to check out their menu at dinner without having to wait!

    (4)

  • Kristin M.

    Oh ... my ... Toro! Absolutely amazing!!! There are a few other sushi places in town that I still am dying to try (i.e. Kaze and Rise), but I am going to have a hard time tearing myself away from this place. Every single roll we tried was unique and wonderfully fresh. The Caterpillar roll may be my favorite, but it was really hard to tell, they were all so good! I highly recommend (if its in season) the toro, of course you have to try the namesake of the place right? Thank god that our good friend dining with us recommended it because otherwise we probably wouldn't have thought to try it. Delicious and completely worth the somewhat high price tag. Speaking of prices, the toro is probably the only thing on the menu that seems at all pricey. Everything else is incredibly reasonable and no corkage fee! (Nearly unheard of at any Chicago BYOB!) A few other people I see did not have the best service, however I was actually really impressed with the service! Maybe we got lucky and had a good waitress, but everything was spaced out accordingly. The edamame we ordered came out right away for us to nibble on, then was followed by 2 rolls we had ordered and then in perfect timing when we had finished those rolls, 2 more came out. The wait can seem some what intimidating, but it is well worth it. If you go early enough, get your name on the list and ask them to call you when the table is ready and head to one of the many bars nearby for a drink to kill time. I seriously cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jamie K.

    It's between 4 and 5. I would say this is one of the best sushi places in the city. The fish is fresh and the rolls are spicy and tasty. There are only like 10 tables in the whole restaurant, making for a problem if you go later on in the night. If you get there around 5:30 or 6, you should be ok. If you go any later than that, you might be in trouble. Overall, Toro Sushi comes highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Tiff B.

    Update: Ok, so now I need to eat my words and change the one star rating I gave to a five star rating. I steered clear of this place due to my terrible experiences detailed below when they first opened. A friend loves this place and tricked me into going. And I'm so glad I gave Toro a second chance because the food was delicious. We ordered both maki and nigiri and all of it was great! Fresh fish and creative rolls. We went early on a Friday night and got a table with no problem. The service was attentive and this is one of the few places that makes miso soup correctly. Mitch even sent over some free sashimi for us to try. Overall it was a really great meal and dining experience. I'll have to go back. It seems that they've definitely worked through the kinks they had in their food and service when they first opened. __________________ To put it mildly, this place just sucks all around. After hearing good things about it, I attempted to eat here 3 times before I actually ate their crappy sushi. They claimed to deliver, so the first time I tried to call in an order for delivery-only to be told that the delivery driver wasn't working that night. The second time, a friend and I tried to dine in and when we walked in we were told they were closed to the public and only open for a private party. The third time, they were closed, despite having a sign on the door with their hours that said they should have been open. When I finally got to eat here, I should have taken all of the previous failed attempts as a sign and kept it moving. It was seriously some of the worst sushi I've ever eaten. None of the fish was fresh and all of it had a weird aftertaste.

    (5)

  • Doug B.

    Although a bit pricy, the rolls are deicious. There are lunch specials, but only on the weekends. Try the OMG Roll, so good!

    (4)

  • Jennimai N.

    Seriously, toro is really something! Their sushi is really yum, and combine with the prices, it makes it the best sushi i can get!!! Small place soo go early if you can, place fills up quickly!

    (5)

  • Agnes F.

    really creative and tasty rolls! we had the omg, whatchamacallit, big tex and big ten the flavors just popped in your mouth we got some complimentary green mussels (the waitress accidentally knocked over my water which was really no big deal but she was very apologetic about it) and they were fantastic did not have a problem with getting a table (granted we were there at 5:30 on friday), and they did not rush us to finish the food (we were there till 6:45) all in all, a great sushi place!

    (4)

  • Amy D.

    Probably my second favorite place for sushi in the city. Second only to Japonais, which I can barely go to since it's so damn expensive. I found my second favorite roll in Chicago. The HIROSHIMA is awesome. I loved it. The OMG is a crowd pleaseer with it's eel and shrimp tempura. I liked Three Musketeers but it paled compared to OMG and Hiroshima. Their peices looked good, but we didn't eat any. I unfortunately have to say it was a good experience, but don't know how often I'll go since it's an hour wait typically.

    (4)

  • Jim J.

    We've been here a few times, and the sushi is always fantastic. Some of the most unique rolls I've ever had and the prices are actually very reasonable. Mitch is fantastic, and can always be depended on to introduce you to something new. Its definitely worth sitting at the bar just for that. The one downfall is the service. I've been on multiple Friday nights, and they take your phone number so you can go somewhere else and come back. Last time we were there, what we were told would be a 45 minute wait turned into an hour 15 because people wouldn't come back when they were called. The wait is worth it though, you just have to be prepared for a long one.

    (4)

  • C. B.

    I'm a bit baffled by this high rating... I ordered takeout from Toro and I asked the staff what their best/most popular rolls were and I ordered them. Kinda good....for sure not great. I was also shocked at how the restaurant itself was set up, super small, people on top of each other, and no atmosphere to speak of. I also had to wait an extra 15 min. for my takeout. I'll stick to my go-to joint of Kyoto any day over this.

    (3)

  • Melissa T.

    LOL! Shout out to Annie T- I've had my exact same thoughts about if there was a fire in Toro...you're toast. (only slight pun intended). Just like everyone has said, Toro's seating area is about the size of my 1BD apartment and if you're going to have an intimate conversation be prepare to have about half a dozen people able to listen in. Needless to say, Toro is worth the hour+ wait everyone mentioned. I've been going there for about 2.5 years it's been open and since their doors opened, it's been a massive wait. The food is GREAT! Every thing is uber fresh, tasty and looks fantastic. Presentation is worth it for the price. Their staff is friendly but no smiles, they all look like they either just ran a marathon or are over worked. If you get a chance to sit at the bar, do it. It's fun to watch the artists at work and on more than one occasion they're make something fun for you on the house. If you're willing to wait it out, Toro is a staple BYOB for those great "cheap sushi" nights you crave. P.S. Molly's Cupcakes opened up a few months ago and it's a great waiting place. I chill out there with coffee and Connect Four.

    (4)

  • Ashley P.

    Everything about this place is great. It is my second favorite (only to Green Tea at Clark/Webster) for the sushi, but has a much better atmosphere. They'll usually call me when my table is ready (45 mins to an hour is an average wait) so you can wander around the neighborhood. It's BYOB with no corkage fee which makes it nice as well. Don't take a large group (4+) here. Bring your best friend or boyfriend and enjoy!

    (5)

  • Lindsay D.

    I mean...not much more to say about Toro other than MITCH ROCKS and so does his delicious, innovative, flavorful rolls. Even the sometimes long wait and small space doesnt make me want to take away a star. One of my fave sushi rolls (the ahi tuna salad roll) and places in the city!

    (5)

  • Deirdre L.

    Confession: I love their sushi. The place is small and clean - nothing fancy but the atmosphere is good. The sushi chef is outrageously friendly and says hello to everyone and seems to know a lot of his customers. This place is generally casual and with a local feel. The downsides to this place: Theres almost always a wait, unless you go very early evening. Its trixie and chad hell in here. If you don't have blonde highligts and a designer bag, you'll stick out like a sore thumb. (However, it is in the heart of Lincoln Park, so what was I expecting?) Parking generally stinks. Also, because its usually just the one guy making the sushi, the food can be slow once it gets busy - especially because they do a ton of take-out as well. Its a good atmosphere and service is really nice, so being the odd brunette and being willing to hang out for a while for my sushi is ok. Its worth it. Yum. So good. Seriously. And totally reasonable pricing. 9/18/07 Update 11/7/07 Went here again with friends (one of whom is a very particular sushi eater) and it didn't disappoint. There is still only one chef, so food is still very slow to come out, but its delisch. Totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    I had read a bit about Sushi Toro before trying for the first time - I knew fellow yelpers raved about the place and I also learned that Chicago Magazine ranked it as the best sushi in 2007. But, oh my, is this place phenomenal. Wow! Wow!! Wow!!! The fish is fresh and served in healthy quantities. The service is great, very genuine. Ask for suggestions, there're rolls not on the menu. The only drawback, the place is tiny and a bit cramped. Expect a bit of a wait, and don't go with a group. But, do go!

    (5)

  • Samik D.

    This place is the best sushi place in the city. I have gone to other places and I just get let down every time. The only negative is the wait. But thats because they have a huge following. DO NOT get lured into Red Bambuu next door. They are like scavengers! Toro! Toro! Toro! Toro!

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    I absolutely love this place. Unfortunately I had to move our of the city a couple of years ago but still tell all of my friends about it. The owner is also the sushi chef and takes great pride in what he does! I can't wait to get back to the city and have the ' oh my god roll' because that is the first thing you will say when you try it. If you haven't been then what are you waiting for?

    (5)

  • Max P.

    The oh my god roll is exactly what it sounds like.

    (5)

  • Janet W.

    Great, inexpensive sushi. The wait is long on a weekend (or any other) night, but it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Amy N.

    What is all the fuss?! The sashimi is good, but not the best I've had. We pretty much ordered every fish on the sashimi list, uni is ok, both escolar and ame ebi were good so we doubled the order, tuna, salmon, hamachi and unagi is nothing special. We even order the kami kaze roll based on other reviews, but in truth, we liked the sunny roll better. Volcano roll was cute in its sparkly presentation. But what is the big fuss about?!?!

    (3)

  • Katie H.

    This place has some of the best sushi I have had (and I lived in Seattle for 2 years). The rolls are great and inventive and the maki and nigiri are super fresh. The escolar is so good it almost makes me cry! The BYO is great and the prices are very reasonable. The service can be slow, but I am willing to deal with it for the great sushi! Update - I have been back here several times and it just keep s getting better. The escolar and egg are great, the hot finger roll is so yummy and has just the right amount of spice, and the MJ roll is huge and just awesome. I always order to much food because I want to have my favorites but I always try one new thing. I also love that if they are running behind they send out a free appetizer. The food is worth the wait, but I think sending out something free even when you have not complained, is going above and beyond in service!

    (5)

  • Warren H.

    All I can say about this place is that it will ruin you for every other Sushi place in town. Mitch succeeds where countless others have failed. The aged tofu is an awesome way to start your meal out. It is a moral dilemma reviewing this place because you want to share it with the world and yet you don't want the wait to become longer than it already can be.

    (5)

  • Ryan K.

    I suppose this is as good a spot as any for my first review. Tips: 1 - Do not expect under an hour wait at any time. You can't get fast if you go for good and cheap as well. There are only 30 seats in the joint. 2 - Don't be a cheapass. D.O.C. Wine Bar is the best place to wait out your table and you know it. 3 - BYOB. Not many great wine bottles available in the area for a last minute purchase. 4 - The Escolar (sashimi) is the best thing on the menu. 5 - Remember the americanized names of the servers.

    (4)

  • Erin T.

    Mitch is the king of Chicago sushi. He makes amazing creative rolls, but the regular pieces of sashimi are some of the best fish I've ever tasted, as well. I love all the crunchy stuff - Oh My God roll, MJ roll, JJ roll. There is always a wait, but we just go down the street to the wine bar until Toro calls us. Service is friendly but slow. Lots of fun for a date or a big group (especially if you just order a whole bunch and share it).

    (5)

  • Nicole M.

    Yes Yes Yes get sushi here, or other food too I'm sure it's all great. I think the miso soup here is the best I've ever had. The sushi rolls are very creative and mix a lot of different things, I didn't even know what half of the ingredients were in the rolls. And then some rolls had sun flower seeds or mango as a component. WHAT!? Crazyness... And the selling point-- My girl and I got the volcano roll and it came out with a sparkler going off in the middle of the plate. Sold! Toro Sushi fa eva!

    (5)

  • nina c.

    Toro tonight reminded me yet again why this place will always and forever be my favorite. The sushi is amazing, yes. But having Mitch as your host behind the counter will always set Toro apart. He is an amazing host, incredibly generous and incredibly welcoming. Going to this little place is so much more than eating out.

    (5)

  • Jingwei M.

    This place is so packed, it is unbelievable how long you have to wait to get in. Fish is very fresh, very acurate cut, definitely good quality. Hubby ordered several rolls, the temp is bit off compare to my chirachi dinner. I kinda wish the menu was more simple and classic.

    (4)

  • Kim B.

    Best sushi in the city...especially for the price. Go early. Sit at the bar. Ask for "real wasabi"; Mitch will mix it up for you.

    (5)

  • Kelly F.

    Super white tuna! Meeee - Owww! Place is BYOB and you can't go wrong with most anything on their menu. Minus one star for their really close quarters - I suggest sitting at the bar and making friends with the chef =:^D

    (4)

  • Justin B.

    First off 2 things. Mitch is the man. and 2nd, Im so sad it took me so long to finally make the trip over here! Ive passed by Toro so many times whenever I make the trip to the area. Considering the fact that on that strip is Aloha, Mollys, Litos, and the newly founded Del Seoul! Im glad I finally got to sample the goodness that is Toro! First off, BYOB, and theres no cork fee! 2nd, come early or be prepared to wait. I went last night w my date, and I completely forgot they close at 9:30 PM. I walked in w my date at 9:20 and they were very kind enough to seat us since apparently a few other parties had just gotten seated not too long before us. We started off w miso soup, which you can never really go wrong with. Next up, the special rolls. Now usually Ill get some maki, but I strongly suggest you try the specialty rolls! We decided to go with "best of both worlds," "kamikaze," "southern gals," and "3 amigos." I should note as well, the servings here are on the generous side! While waiting for the rolls to come out, Mitch gave us an offering of super white tuna. and wow. Now Ive read reviews on here about the quality and freshness of the sushi here at Toro...and let me tell you, they definitely live up to the hype. I havent had sushi this fresh since my last trip to California. It literally tastes like they just caught it and served it up to you. The super white tuna was just a preview for things to come. The Kamikaze roll has a powerful punch of flavor, but not so much you feel like your nostrils are being cleared out. Best of both worlds features both salmon and super white tuna on half of the pieces respectively. The 3 amigos had me do a double take, since the rolls were pretty big and there was a side of guacamole! But it worked for me. By far the favorite of the night though, Southern Gals. I dont remember what was even in this, but it was battered and deep fried then adorned with a sauce that made this specialty roll out of this world. After finishing our meal (and polishing off a bottle of wine) we hadnt realized we were the 2nd to last party to leave the restaurant! Our server was very accomodating though and asked us to close out our tab and we were allowed to stay as long as we wanted. I will definitely be returning to Toro in the future, and telling Mitch how great the quality of food is here (sadly I didnt get to give him my compliments, he left early) If you are looking for the BEST tasting sushi in chicago, and are lucky enough to be seated at the sushi bar to chat w Mitch, check out Toro sushi!

    (5)

  • Olga J.

    I really LOVE this sushi spot. I usually get the Super White Tuna Crunch and a Miso soup. I think the fish is fresher here than many other sushi spots in Chicago. The staff is very pleasant and when I order to pickup, it usually only takes about 15 minutes for my food to be ready. My favorite BYOB sushi place in the entire city!

    (5)

  • Nancy H.

    Pretty tasty! I'm glad I got to try this place on a Sunday afternoon when it wasn't busy. We got to sit at the bar and mingle with MITCH the owner, a very nice Korean guy who gave us a sample of super white tuna (fabulous!). SPIDER ROLL, OH MY GOD, and KAMIKAZE were all delicious. Rice was soft and each piece was just a pleasure to eat. Seeing other yelpers complain about the wait, this place will become my new Sunday afternoon 4:30 pm snack place.

    (4)

  • Elisabeth C.

    I find it funny reading the negative reviews on here, as most of them are prefaced with: I don't know a lot about sushi... but the sushi wasn't good. Are you the same people who only order California rolls? I think you are. As Americans we're spoiled by vast amounts of space and large airy restaurants so that we can avoid other people as much as possible. If you've ever eaten anywhere in Japan, Toro is actually pretty comfortable. By American standards it can get a bit crowded and loud, but I feel that is simply part of the ambience. I went with a friend, we sat at the bar to chat with Mitch and watch the sushi being prepared. While service was on the slower side and the wait staff was quite busy, it wasn't rude at all. We weren't in any hurry, and it was quite nice chatting while we waited. We ordered a variety of items, from sashimi (the toro, the super white tuna, sake, and tako were all fantastic and beautifully presented) a couple of pieces of nigiri (I highly recommend their Uni, or sea urchin, which was buttery and flavorful). We also tried a couple of rolls which Mitch recommended- the kamikaze was notable for it's texture and flavor. I'm not usually one to eat maki, but it was very good. Even their gari (ginger- for cleansing the palate) was really moist and good- I wish I knew where they got it! Toro also offers real (or 'hon') wasabi (the green stuff is imitation- made with horseradish and food coloring), which you must try if you've never eaten it before. The sushi rice had a particularly good texture and flavor. This is vastly important for good sushi- and Toro definitely lived up to that expectation. Mitch is delightful, and despite not being a Nihonjin himself, both greeted and thanked us in Japanese. The tab was very reasonable- under fifty dollars for the both of us before tip. We got a lot of food and left very full. If you like your California rolls and don't know your anago from your unagi, go buy some sushi at Dominicks (which is both spacious and has little wait time)... Don't worry, your friends Chad and Trixie won't be able to tell the difference.

    (5)

  • Michael W.

    I love ordering bento boxes from here for take out because they give you tons of food and it doesn't break the bank. Entree, two sides (sushi and sashimi), salad, and soup for less than $20. The place is always packed and doesn't take reservations so feel that getting take out is the best way to go.

    (5)

  • Ramya G.

    This is a very average BYO sushi bar with OK rolls. I wonder why this is highly rated! Ordered four rolls and one of them passed the test. Would not be returning. There are other MUCH better sushi bars in the area/

    (2)

  • Eric L.

    Not sure why Toro has 2 listings on Yelp. Choosing the road less traveled to comment. An easy 5. Not perfect sushi, but easily in the freshest in the city. They break down whole fish in store right before the dinner service. They get 3 shipments a week (Tues, Thurs, Sat) and they're closed Mondays so its never been more than 36 hours since the fish was whole. All sashimi is cut to order, unlike some places that precut sashimi. The nigiri pieces are bigger than any place with a comparable price point. Basically, you get fresher, bigger, cuts of fish with a chef that actually pays attention to which cut he's giving you. Yes, you will probably end up waiting fro a table if you go any night of the week after 6:30pm. If you're in the market for a california roll, its probably not worth the wait. If you want good fish as fresh as we get it in Chicago, go here.

    (5)

  • Gabe K.

    Delicious food, courteous employees, over a fantastic experience. Just keep in mind that it is a smaller venue and so depending on what time you go, you may find a wait. I would recommend this place to anyone who is a sushi fan. They even have both freshwater and saltwater eel for those wanting to try something new.

    (5)

  • Nick M.

    Went here on a date with my girlfriend. Knew we'd have to wait and hour plus, but when you do you're expectations are pretty high as only a few things in life are worth waiting that long for. After the wait we sat down and ordered a few specialty rolls. The sushi was good (nothing special in my opinion) and reasonably priced. Plenty of other sushi places in the Lincoln park area where you don't have to wait an hr plus and the food is just as good.

    (3)

  • Lulu H.

    Try the Spicy Tako!!! Amazing!! Mitch, the chef/owner, is super friendly and so meticulous!! You can tell he loves his job and creating these beautiful delicious dishes! I have become a regular because the fish is FRESH and the service is great! You won't be disappointed!!

    (5)

  • Kareem S.

    Great sushi, the food is delicious, my wife and I go there all the time. If you're into funky rolls then I would suggest you try their specialty rolls, they have some good concoctions. The food is fresh and the quality of all the fish is solid compared to other places that I've been to. The service is impressive, waiters are very responsive and friendly. I like Mitch and the fact that he interacts with his customers. BYOB is also a plus! The only downside is that the wait can sometimes be long but you could always put your name down for a reservations and come back at the time of your reservations. For people living in the neighborhood that definitely makes the wait more bearable I find.

    (5)

  • Mable Y.

    Best. Rolls. Ever. Period. Although the location of the place is mediocre is totally worth the wait because inside those 4 walls lies a heavenly place of raw fish and delicious rolls. Side note: The place is small so expect to wait when you get there. We had Southern Galz, Miami, Trixie, and the Kamikazi. The kami and miami were sooo good. Best of all the portions are large so you don't really need to order much. The Southern Galz is a bit weird to be considered a roll because its fried and has cheese inside.. I dunnooo doesn't seem like the typical roll.. GREAT PLACE! Would definitely come again.. i think i could go for some right now. XD

    (5)

  • Julia L.

    Let me just say that I absolutely LOVE sushi !! So when it comes to sushi places I haven't tried before, I am real picky. However, Toro Sushi definitely suits my sushi eating needs. I found this place on Yelp and had read that this place was an all-you-can eat sushi place, but to my dismay, it turned out it wasn't ! I was completely disappointed at first, but when the rolls started piling out, they were soooo delicious that it didn't matter. When I got there, they had told us that there was a 30-45 minute wait, but they took our phone number, and surprisingly, I received a phone call from them just fifteen minutes later and ran back. My friend and I ordered the combination tempura, which wasn't anything too special. However, when our red dragon, catepillar, salmon crunch, and this crab roll came out, I knew I was in sushi heaven. Each roll had it's own uniqueness and special flavor. I promise you, I have had so many different kinds and gone to so many different places for sushi, and Toro Sushi has definitely gotten me hooked. It is definitely worth the wait. Besides, it is BYOB, how much better can this place get ?! Ohh yeah, it can. Because the fun wasn't over, we also ordered the tempura green tea ice cream drizzled in chocolate and powdered sugar. Mmmm..that was definitely the cherry on top to a fantastic dinner. I definitely recommend this place if you are an ultimate sushi lover like I am, and I plan on going back over and over again.

    (5)

  • Leticia M.

    OMG!! Toro sushi is one of my favorite spots in Chicago. Mitch is friendly with all who come to the sushi bar, and makes you feel right at home. He is the inventor of all of the creative rolls, which are not only delicious, but huge! I am talking 5-10 pieces per roll. If you get a roll with fewer pieces, each piece is twice as large as you'd expect, so it's still a bonus. He always gives us new things to try...all w/ amazing tasting, specially because the fish is so fresh! In all, Toro Sushi is a great experience. I never thought that I could eat sushi like that for such this price. And the BYOB was great because it helps keep the cost down. My favorite rolls: Arizona, salmon lovers and el fuego. The miso soup is always so good. Amazing tasting! Mitch: you rock!!!

    (5)

  • Ganya K.

    This is my go-to place in Chicago for sushi. I didn't think I'd find a place that would live up to my L.A. sushi snobbery, but Toro is all that and more. The prices are great and the fish is ALWAYS fresh. If you like uni, make sure you order it here. It's plump, buttery, and the freshest I've found amongst all the sushi places I've tried in the city. The only con about this place is that it gets crazy busy, so expect an hour wait or more during prime dinner time Thurs/Fri/Sat. But never fear, the hostess will take your phone number and call you when a table is ready, so you're free to mosey down to Molly's for a pre-dinner cupcake!

    (5)

  • S F.

    Wow! I'm by no means a sushi expert, but I have to say this is by far the best sushi I have ever tasted. The taste and the texture of each roll is so exquisite that it is a waste to mask it with soy sauce. I found myself exclaiming in delight with every bite. I highly recommend the sunny, el fuedo, trixy pixy, and arizona rolls in particular. Moreover, the service was good, and the ambiance is comfortable, and the prices are very reasonable. To summarize, I have forever been ruined for other sushi joints. I wish I lived in chicago so I can come here regularly.

    (5)

  • Patty S.

    Really small place, but the food is awesome! I'm amazed that I didn't discover this place earlier! Got there on a Friday night @ 6:30p and there was 2 tables left - good timing! It's a very small space, so you are quite close to your neighbors and other patrons. But it does give you a chance to see what other people are eating and salivate while you wait for yours. My dinner date eat gluten free and they are a very friendly gluten free restaurant. Their menu is very inventive, but you'll also find traditional items such as sushi and sashimi. I especially love the names that they gives their rolls. Since my dinner date eats gluten free, they were very open to customizing each roll for us as there are just certain items she can't eat. The best part is they are BYOB - with no corkage fees! You can't beat that. Now I know why there's always a crowd outside the door every time I drive by. This place is great! I can't wait for the next time I go back!

    (4)

  • Jacob N.

    Really great sushi bar. Friendly staff, clean restaurant, great food. Saturday lunch bento boxes are a sooooo cheap - I order lunch from here almost every Saturday! Although I don't care to wait a long time when it comes to getting seated, I prefer the smaller atmosphere - everything is a little more personal feeling here. BYOB? Yes, please.

    (5)

  • Aaron C.

    Waited for 1-2 hours to get in this place on the weekend. Cramped into a small table, and barely had enough room to eat. but.... Then dinned on the best sushi I have had in Chicago. Period. The food is worth it...it is worth the price, wait, and space.

    (5)

  • Ahmad N.

    The place is really tiny but the sushi is really good. They have all of the traditional rolls as well as some nontraditional rolls. I had the tigers eye roll and was not a big fan, but everything else was really good.

    (4)

  • Thomas A.

    Lots of other people have lots to say about this place, and I am not surprised. I embarrassed my date here on my first and only trip by asking everyone sitting around us what they had ordered- and I am glad I did. Our fellow diners claim to come to Toro once, sometimes twice a week, for a while now. While I am fairly confident most of the rolls here are delicious, I was happy to try other people's favourites (favorite with a "u", are you British or just a loser?). In any case, no one seemed to mind telling us about what they love here, so, if you want, don't be afraid on your first trip to ask your fellow diners what they are eating/what they really like, although like I said, I doubt you could go wrong... Because I think hundreds of reviews have already told you more than you need to know about the special rolls you will find at Toro and nowhere else, as well as the quality and freshness of the fish, let me just say this: At most sushi restaurants, I find myself soaking expensive rolls of sushi in wasabi and soy, and maybe even putting a ginger slice directly on top of the roll itself.- and in effect, making all of them taste almost the same. After one bite at Toro, I knew I would not be using any soy or wasabi. The taste of the sushi itself was that good. I found myself using the ginger as was intended- to clear your palate before trying another roll. Not cheap but not expensive either. The BYOB of course helps, although I wish I could get sake hear- I have no idea how to buy sake- anyone have any recommendations? I prefer warm... Best sushi I have ever eaten. No soy or wasabi necessary. Fives stars.

    (5)

  • Christine K.

    I think this might be the best sushi in Chicago. It's almost like a Hide on Sawtelle, but with rolls. Their scallops are soOOo good...but that's about it. Salmon, yellowtail, white tuna all was good. I hate it when restaurants have a 86 list, and this time it was their Green Tea Tempura Ice cream. Such an easy thing to have in stock. I would actually give this place 3.5, but since I can't it's a 3. This place is a couple doors down to Molly's Cupcakes!!! =D

    (3)

  • Heather R.

    I promise you Toro is worth the wait! When I first moved to Chicago, everyone raved about how spectacular the sushi scene here is and I would always respond with, "oh, that doesn't phase me I HATE sushi---blech!"... My friend Bree was insistent on me giving sushi one last try because this place was better than anything you could ever imagine. Naturally, I gave in and. O...M...G...!!! It is phenomenal. So for someone who down right hated sushi to be like OMG, you've gotta take my word for it. It is incredibly fresh, afford-ably priced, and extremely delicious. I frequent there often and now know Mitch, the owner, by name. A few of my all-time favorites include: the "OMG", the "Awesome", the 'KamiKaze" and the "Arizona". The sashimi salad is a delightful appetizer and the green tea and vanilla bean ice cream are a delectable finish. I know the wait seems outrageous, but put your name on the list, give them your phone number, and take a stroll around the neighborhood, or walk over to the Wine D.O.C for some wine...you have an ex-sushi hater here telling you it is a life-changing experience. The waitstaff is friendly, the ingredients are prepared in front of your eyes, and the purple walls and place IKEA furniture calm you. I highly suggest you pick up your favorite bottle of wine's) (it's BYOB), round up a group of friends, or your significant other and enjoy Toro! P.s. If you frequent there long enough, there's a surprise in store for you!

    (5)

  • Jonathan C.

    Tasty and cheap. Mitch is a fun guy to talk with. OMG roll is amazing. Tiger eye is great too My fiancee and I went there for my bday. We were mor than stuffed for less than $50 total

    (5)

  • HsiangFu C.

    My friends and I went there for dinner at Friday night and we were informed we would be waiting an hour for a table. I don't know if there is a party size limitation in Toro sushi, since there is not much space for many people. I am a big fan of japanese food, sushi is always one of my favorite food. After moving to Chicago,I haven't been to any Japanese restaurant that has impressed me. But I think I found a great place!! We got soft shell crab as a appetizer, generally, it tasted good, but the dish may be too small to share among four people. Also, I got teriyaki chicken ,along with rice and miso soup, the sauce on it is pretty descent, just wish there was more of it on my plate!! Combo Sashimi ( 5 types of sashimi ,15 pcs chefs choice, $25) was great as well!! I strongly recommend toro sashimi, it tasted just like an alive naughty tuna swam in you mouth and then just melted on your tongue. oh god, even I am working on this review, I cannot stop craving sashimi right now!!! Overall, the food is definitely delicious,the waitress are kind and friendly,and the atmosphere is good. The only downside is that you need to wait for a period of time before enjoying fabulous dishes. The price may be not affordable for college students. Anyway, I had a really good time and hopefully will come back soon. Besides, if you a big fan of cupcakes, there is a decent place called Molly's cupcake just few storefronts south from Toro sushi, go get some cupcakes after dinner!!

    (4)

  • Raul B.

    One thing I noticed, there are a lot of regulars that come here. Most people who sat at the bar knew the chef and were happily talking to him. We came early on a Saturday night so we could avoid a wait and it paid off, we only waited not even 10 minutes for a table. Once thing I noticed right away, the sushi was VERY fresh. We decided to get the Sushi dinner along with a couple other rolls. All very fresh all very delicious. Its a little bit on the pricey end but its definitely worth it. The restaurant itself is very small and probably would not be good for groups over 5 or 6 but for two its just perfect. After trying just about every other sushi place on Broadway and Clark this is definitely the best of the bunch so far.

    (5)

  • Erin V.

    Toro! Oh, how I wanted to love you. I really did. Maybe I put too much pressure on you. Maybe my expectations were just too high. Or maybe I am too much of a lush and the one bottle of wine per 2 people limit sucked the wind out of my sails. Whatever the reason, this will not be my go-to for sushi. Don't get me wrong. The service is great. Everyone is uber friendly. And the wait was not as long as I was prepared for. Granted, it was a Tuesday night after 8 pm, but I was honestly quite impressed. The let down (aside from my second bottle of vino that had to stay stowed away in my purse) was the sushi itself. As a veg I obviously am limited to a certain section of the menu, but can usually make it happen with what is offered. This was not the case. The veggies didn't taste too fresh, their Futo left something to be desired, and there was no tempura roll. Likewise, my boyfriend was under impressed by the ohmigod so i couldn't even chalk it up to my lack of food intake options. All that said, I still want to say this place is worth trying. It is Vince Vaughn's favorite (so I hear). And so many seem to go crazy over it. So my recommendation is go on a weeknight. Call ahead to gauge how long the wait is. Prepare yourself for the one-bottle-per-two-people rule. And try to stay grounded after reading most of these reviews. Maybe then you will leave happier than I did when I was not served God on a plate like I was expecting....

    (3)

  • Stephany P.

    This place is the Bomb!!!! Mitch (the sushi master) is very nice guy. All the food that I order, each one of them is awesome. I never disappoint. I refer all my clients from out of town and in town about this place. All the sashimi is fresh. I feel it melt into my mouth. Fridays nite is not good date nite to this place because it always pack...but it is worth the wait. the best is order out to home and sit with glass of wine and candles. P.S. I love sit at the bar...because i can see all the fresh fish and technique of sushi chef.

    (5)

  • Sean S.

    Well, my fiance and I decided to check out the place based on the reviews. And, we have a mixed view on the restaurant and here's why. He: I ordered a chirashi-don and I have to say that sashimi was fresh and all the pieces were flavorful. However, compared to other places that I've been to in the U.S. (S.F., Seattle, ATL, etc.) the serving size was extremely small and the variety of fish was rather disappointing. So, I would give a 3-star rating on my dish. She: She ordered a red dragon roll and she absolutely loved it. The combination of sashimi, rice and sauce was just right, accoring to her. She was so ecstatic with the dish that she told at least 3-5 people on the phone how awesome the roll was. So, she give a 5-star rating on her dish. In conclusion, I would not choose the restaurant for chirashi-don. However, I would be willing to give their "special" rolls a try andd see if they are worth the hype.

    (4)

  • Theresa T.

    Every trip I make to Chicago I try to seek out unique restaurants with upstanding food. Sometimes I am successful and others I am a bit disappointed. After four days of trying new restaurants around the city and being underwhelmed, I was seriously doubting Chicago's ability to serve up a delicious dinner. Thankfully, Toro changed my mind. Toro has an infamous wait due to their small space, but their food and friendly manner more than makes up for it! The menu is huge and there is a roll for everyone. Tons of appetizers, maki, nigiri and sashimi. The super white crunch roll looked delicious and I especially appreciated their more than ample vegetarian section. I tried the eggplant, broccoli and shiitake rolls. All were great. Great prices, good sushi and it's BYOB.

    (4)

  • Maria P.

    Meh. I have had excellent sushi, and this was OK. We ordered 2 different rolls and endamame. Maybe it's what we ordered, but I was expecting more. We went early as the line is always an hour plus wait. The staff was OK, the fabulous chef that I have heard about was out of town, so perhaps that is what was missing. The pricing wasn't bad and they definitely have an extensive list of different kinds of rolls to try. It's BYOB and it's small inside, so go with the intent to wait unless you get there by 5pm on a Friday or Saturday night!

    (3)

  • mildred v.

    This is my new favorite sushi spot (I've graduated from sushi buffets and into the big leagues). Very creative sushi and even the classics are done well. It's BYOB, no cork fee buuuuut they don't provide ice and they have a limit on how much you can bring. My and the bf asked to open a 2nd bottle of wine while already tipsy, got shot down by the waitress - womp womp. What happened after that was too embaressing to mention but it ended with the waitress saying "is that even legal?" Favorites: Three amigos, Ohmigod, That's how we roll, Salmon crunch Tips: 1. Go early or you'll have to wait an hour for a table (you leave your number and they'll call you) 2. Don't go very far because if you don't get there within 15 minutes of the call they will give up your table 3. It's a small place, I only come here in a party of 2 or else you'd wait longer for 3 people 4. Hop on over to Molly's Cupcakes to complete your meal!!

    (5)

  • Marie S.

    Best. Sushi. Period. The owner is working there every night, so make sure you get a fist-bump before leaving. Try it - you won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    I guess it's a bit redundant to say at this point, but Toro Sushi is one of the best sushi spots in the city. It's super fresh, inventive rolls, really really affordable for what you get, and BYOB! The only thing that sucks is now everybody knows about it and it's in Lincoln Park so the cozy environment is oftentimes compromised by the hoards of people waiting for a table... Would love to see another location in the South/West Loop!!!

    (5)

  • Chillie D.

    Chicago is one of the best cities for an exceptional variety of fab-u-licious restaurants and great culinary experiences, such as, Toro Sushi. Like a Mona Lisa painting, the sushi here is beautifully presented. When we finally tasted the sushi one person in our group said, "Wow, this is like a rare vintage bottle of wine that can be considered intoxication for my soul." This is the best way that we can describe our experience at the Toro Sushi restaurant. We went here to celebrate someone's Birthday several weeks ago when the weather in Chicago was still decent. We especially enjoyed the exceptional variety of their outstanding sushi as well as watching the Chef prepare his colorful artistic sushi creations with such craft, precision and delicacy. WARNING: We recommend you arrive early before it gets too crazy-crowded. The wait on Friday or Saturday evening can be over one hour. GET HERE EARLY and avoid the super long wait. What is the BIG plus about Toro Sushi? Affordability, fab-u-licious fresh sushi, great service, fun neighborhood, and a fun place to catch up with friends. OH YEAH, don't forget to bring a good bottle of wine to complement your sushi experience. I recommend any of the following wines: bold, spicy Gewürztraminer and Viognier, crisp, palate-cleansing Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and any other sparkling wines. Any of these wines can be considered a good marriage with your sushi. The Gewürztraminer stood up to the spicy fresh wasabi (this was a powerful yet balanced dry example, which worked well with virtually everything we tasted). A spicy tuna roll is terrific with a fruity Beaujolais from Julienas, with the wine's fruit complementing the spicy heat. The sesame-crusted shrimp roll with a curry sauce is a marriage made in heaven paired with a Pinot Noir, bringing out the smokiness and rich earthiness of the wine. The Pinot Noir definitely provided a more subtle complement. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Colleen C.

    Well, I guess it really Toro's t fault that they've become mega popular for all the Lincoln Parkers and their friends. They just can't handle the influx of people. I mean, their restaurant would seat about 12 people comfortably. SO double that on a very steamy night, and you have me pissed off and waiting for an hour :) In Lincoln Park. On A Tuesday. Not happy. So we finally get seated (not at a table, at the sushi bar, which I'm not a huge fan of), and there is glasses of water from the previous people and food stuck everywhere. I had to ask them to come and wipe it up! Then it took 15 minutes for water. No ice bucket, even though its BYOB. Yeah, the sushi was good, the chef was nice, blah, blah. But I just wasn't overly impressed. They need to expand or figure out a more efficient way to do things, or something. I won't be back. But the sushi was pretty decent...

    (3)

  • Marie G.

    I like Toro. It has fresh fish and creative rolls. It's got its share of misses (the izumi dai was a little chewy, the crab is fake, they don't carry red snapper), and the rolls definitely veer into "white people sushi" category, but overall it's solid. I tend to judge a sushi place by its sashimi - ahe sake, maguro, hamachi, and ono were some of the freshest I've had, although the temperature can be a little colder than it is supposed to be served at. This is a 3.5 star experience but I rounded up, because it's BYOB. (Be aware there is a limit of one bottle of wine/one six-pack per two people). My next mission is to find a place besides Mirai or Japonais that carries hard-to-find varieties of fish like Shima Aji.

    (4)

  • Nikki C.

    This place is not so much about the experience of fine dining and service, but more so about the food. At least this is the feeling i get, as yes the dining area is small and somewhat cramped, but for an off the street dining shack with quality sushi, Toro does the job well. Tempura was fresh and crispy, not so overwhelming in flavor, but mixed with the dipping sauce and the nice texture, made for a good appetizer. The chef's sushi plate was nicely presented, though I enjoy my california rolls much larger(its fake crabmeat anyways), but in the end my stomach was well on its way to being bloated and full as my eyes can never get enough for some reason. Come without expectations, and leave happy and full. *burp (excuse me;p)

    (4)

  • Amanda A.

    I've sorely missed living in close proximity to such splendid sushi goodness. I used to frequent Toro when I lived in River North, and credit Mitch with convincing my mom to release her raw fish fears. Convinced a friend to endure the hour+ wait with me on Saturday night, where our patience was rewarded with a happy l'il platter of ama ebi and sake sashimi, followed by the Oh My God (the _only_ roll good enough for me to drop my disdain of marriage between maki and cream cheese), White Tuna Crunch, and Kamikaze rolls. All were prepared quickly, super fresh, and disappeared within minutes of arrival. If only there were an Evanston outpost...

    (4)

  • Nick F.

    I recently took a trip to Chicago so I HAD to have the best sushi i could I find after doing a little yelp research I decided to go to Toro because of the stellar reviews and of course it was KICK ASS! The restaurant is in a small store front with 12 table and four seats at the bar. The service is good and prices are really good since again the sushi is freaking amazing.

    (4)

  • Seth M.

    Great food! This place doesn't have nearly 500 reviews for no reason. Try the special rolls I have never been disappointed!

    (5)

  • Kyle L.

    Toro ranks as my newly crowned King-of-Sushi. Up until somewhat recently, I'd been helplessly addicted to Joy-Yee's Shabu Shabu in Chinatown, but given their change in chef and subsequent lackluster meals, my friend and I tried Toro. Hello, love. Toro gets busy, and yes there isn't always much room, but I'm not the fussy type. When I bring friends to town, we typically aim to arrive towards the beginning of dinner service, so as to avoid lines. That said, the wait has never been absurd, and they gladly take a phone number to alert you that your table's ready (which means ample time to check out Molly's Cupcakes next door). Highly recommended: the "Oh my god" roll (you'll say it: you can try not to, but one bite and you'll be calling it by name), the Southern Gals (deep-fried with mozzarella; it's divine), and a host of others named after the customers that inspired them. Great service, great location, and it's byob!

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    Coworkers of mine RAVE about this place, so during Labor Day, I decided to take the plunge and check it out. First, this place is DEFINITELY popular on the weekends, so be prepared to leave your name and number and check out one of the local bars or Molly's a few storefront's down. For rolls, the choices are numerous and the price is pretty good considering how complex and elaborate they are. I got the Kamakazie and Sunny roll both of which were really fresh tasting and filling. And they had a kick of spice that I loved, especially because I normally load mine up with wasabi. The added benefit, it's BYOB and no corkage, which is a huge win! The bar is a great place to sit too because you can watch all the magic happen and it's fun to watch, for sure. Everything tasted so fresh and was really difficult to narrow down what I wanted. I would absolutely go back and bring my friend with me next time!

    (4)

  • Olivia L.

    I really wanted to like this place!! So many good reviews yet I was extremely disappointed. The octopus sashimi was really good but other than that, I really don't have anything good to say. They don't have real crab here!!! So if you are like me and you have an aversion to imitation crab DO NOT COME HERE! How can a sushi place not have real crab???? Also, pretty much everything is spicy. Don't get me wrong I love spicy food, but spicy sushi just seems like a way to mask the "less than fresh" fish you are serving.

    (2)

  • Matthew L.

    Freshest fish of any sushi place near by... Plus You fucked up a Spider Roll, it's the fucking toast of sushi, everyone can make it - minus You're a well known sushi restaurant and you have a "sticky table" - resand and refinish or refund my meal - serious minus. I'll go back when the line dies down... We'll see then.

    (3)

  • Jen D.

    This place lived up to the hype. The maki rolls were interesting and delicious. The fish was excellent. -1 star for waiting 20 mintes for a table at 5:45 on a Saturday and waiting 35 minutes for our first roll after ordering. Otherwise, the sushi chef and server were really nice.

    (4)

  • Sophie S.

    So amazing. The sushi is so fresh and absolutely reasonably priced. I got the sashimi appetizer -- 9 dollars for well-sized pieces of salmon, tuna, and white fish. Also got one of Mitch's specialty rolls which was the right amount of spicy and tempura crispness. It's really with the sashimi that you can tell the difference in quality of the sushi here. The wait is long. Thursday night at 6:30 my friend and I went and for a party of two, the table wait was 40 minutes. No worries! We went shopping at Akira.

    (5)

  • Fabian B.

    Def worth the 1 hour + wait - packed place but quick service, food just amazing , very fresh, very tasty. Creative Sushi at its best, even though I believe sometimes less is more - some items on the menu just sound too weird and created with too much creative input. But maybe I just need to go again. Although value for money in perfection. Suggestion: Kill the wait time in the wine bar 2 min north of there. Toro will call you 10 min prior to your table being ready. Top service. Did I just repeat what other people wrote ? Whatever. All true. Go. And you will go again.

    (5)

  • Jamie S.

    A solid effort for sushi! I don't know if I'll be back because I'd say the quality was about par with places like Gosu and Para Sushi. I don't typically order sushi though. I ordered teriyaki chicken and a shrimp tempura appetizer. The teriyaki chicken was an ample serving with rice, miso soup, and salad. The dressing on the salad was nutty and delicious. The shrimp tempura could have been crispier and lighter. I thought the batter was a little heavy. My counterpart ordered the chefs choice sushi platter which came with a California roll and a variety roll. The variety roll consisted of two tuna pieces, a shrimp piece, eel, and an Imitation crab piece (though there might have been a few more.) The atmosphere was cozy. I did not appreciate the draft coming in constantly (I sat near the front). Be aware this is BYOB and very trendy! So of you don't like trendy, go elsewhere. Wait staff was friendly and prompt. The serving time was average 15 minute wait for main dish approximately.

    (3)

  • Chelsea F.

    Sushi Toro - yes, you bring it! It's a little difficult to get a table but I'd say it's well worth it! I would suggest the super white tuna - delicious and it tasted very fresh. Service was good too - always a plus! BYOB! Hooray! Love. It. Here.

    (4)

  • Cristin M.

    Good stuff! I made an impromptu visit to Toro, and happened to be with a regular (she even has her own set of real chopsticks there!) who was able to phone ahead to get a table for us. I feel incredibly fortunate that I was with her, because it was packed when we walked in, with people at the door, but we were seated immediately. I'm sure this will NEVER happen to me again! People are right, the place is really small, I would hesitate going with more than 3 other people, there just aren't enough tables. On to the sushi - really tasty rolls! We shared four rolls between the four of us, plus the soft shell crab and tempura ice cream. The Chad was my favorite roll, with the Oh My God coming in a close second. The Sunny (I think that was the name of it, it had mango on top) and the "O" were also really good. Everything was so fresh, and there are so many choices!! I would love to go back and try some more, as well as order some of the same. Now only if I can figure out when they aren't slammed with customers...

    (4)

  • Bryant S.

    Mitch is great and I really recommend eating at the sushi bar if you can. The sushi is as innovative and as fresh as you can get in Chicago. The Kamikaze roll is to die for...but all of the special rolls are great. The only drawback is that it's really popular and there isn't much seating, so we can't go there as much as we might like. But I guess that's what you get when you're this good.

    (4)

  • katie g.

    BEST.SUSHI.PLACE.EVER! I'm not really into the snooty sushi scenes commonly found throughout the city which is one of the main reasons TORO is incredible. We got to Toro last night at 7pm and waited an hour for a seat at the bar. It was our first time, and it was magical. We forgot to bring some beer so Mitch pointed us in the direction of the liquor store and held our seats while we went to get some beer. We have the Siberian Tiger, Trixe, Kamakazie, and Hirashimia... OH.MY.GOD were they amazing! the specialty rolls are about 12-15$ each but you pay for what you get. They are BIG rolls, at least 10 large pieces and jam packed full of flavor. It's worth the wait. trust me. We will be back. again. and again and again.

    (5)

  • Bethany L.

    Oh my dear, sweet Toro. I am so conflicted. Everyone is right. This place has uh-mazing sushi. Extraordinarily fresh and creative, and you can't beat sitting at the sushi bar and having Mitch give you one of his signature fist bumps. The MJ and spicy tuna rolls are delicious, and the yellowtail piece that Mitch has given us both times we've gone.. heavenly. My concerns with Toro are around its general atmosphere and operations. We went on a Friday night and the wait was over an hour. Fine, I get it. So they took our cell number and we went down the street to grab a beer. By the time they called, the final member of our party still was not at the restaurant. So they put up a big stink about how they couldn't seat us without her, but eventually relented as long as we promised she was coming in 5-10 minutes. We figured once we sat, that whole question would be behind us, but the same hostess asked about her when she came over with our water: "Is your friend coming soon?" Dude, I told you, yes. I kindly ask you to deal with the fact that we live in a city with terrible public transportation. The wine/beer limit was new since I had last been here, and yes, it's terrifically tacky. I've never seen a BYOB joint impose limits on booze, and I wonder why they did so. I can imagine that they're gonna get some backlash on that. And the service is usually pretty slow and kind of testy. They have some smirky waitresses running around these parts, and don't plan on getting a check until your food has been finished for at least 15 minutes. All that said.. I will put up with it all for an MJ roll.

    (4)

  • Jim W.

    Finally made it to Toro..and without a wait! I finally got to see what the hubbub was about. For starters, the nigiri sushi is Grrrrrrrrrrreat. The nigiri pieces were sliced almost as large as Sushi Bistro (think, iPhone commercial) in SF, but I dare say they were tastier. They were served chilled, not at room temperature (critical on my list). And they were cheap...mostly $5 for two pieces (I think their menu pricing needs some updating) - I had the hamachi, salmon, and escolar. $6 for amaebi, but (again, critical) served with fried shrimp head. Not sure why unagi was priced a bit more though. Uni is reasonable at $8/2 pcs though I did not sample. Only complaint is that fish was not served with wasabi already on the rice, though the rice was nicely sized as well. The rolls menu was long (in alphabetical order!) and really offered something for everyone...from those odd people who like cream cheese with their fish, to lots of jalapeno (ew) options, tempura-based, and spicy options. We had the red dragon, kamikaze, super white crunch, and spicy scallop rolls. The spicy scallop was pretty underwhelming, but the rest were excellent. I particularly like the fine tempura flakes on the super white crunch, which were done delicately and not clumsy and huge. I must have mixed up too many spicy choices though b/c by the end my mouth was semi on fire and I wasn't getting the full flavor of fish. So all these good things, but why no 5 star? I think our waitress was busy on her iPhone at times and forgot to refill our tea after being asked. And when we finished, there was a sense of wanting to herd us out for the next customers in line....factory processing. "Would you like some dessert or just the check" doesn't really present an intimate environment to enjoy a meal. But, the sushi is good...though not so good and not nearly cheap enough that I'd want to wait an hour.

    (4)

  • Rodrigo D.

    I had to pick one star because there is no support for zero stars. Well, lets just say that the name fits the joint. We came here and were kicked out like a Toro tosses a Matador out of the ring. I noticed that a lot of the reviews rate the food as being great, but we never had a chance to get to the point of trying out the food. We got there at 8PM and the place was packed. When I asked if we could be put on the list, the lady that worked there said that they already had taken their last customer on the list and although they close at 10PM, they were not accepting any more customers. I highly doubt she is the manager or the owner. Anyway, an owner would never do something like that and if he/she did, he/she would offer an apology and do something to make sure that the potential client would come back some other day.

    (1)

  • Chris S.

    Let's just say, there is a reason there is a sushi place NEXT DOOR that's empty most of the time while people wait in line for Toro. BYOB, and you can keep your beer cold in the fridge in back. Try one of the chef's special rolls: these are actually culinary creations, not just template replications of sushi-house standards.

    (5)

  • esther r.

    Best sushi I had in a long time! Really fresh and so tasty...you feel you have to close your eyes to be able to enjoy all the flavors bursting in your mouth....AWESOME! Being a small place , you do have to wait a while to be seated :(

    (5)

  • Molly P.

    I went to this place expecting sushi euphoria. I consider myself to be a sushi snob, so I was very excited. However, I think I only experienced 75% euphoria. First of all, they do not take reservations, and wait times can be very long as it is fairly small and it is in a really popular location on Clark St. You can leave your name and phone number, and they will call you when your table is ready...pretty cool! So we went to a bar across the street for a drink. Only waited only 45 minutes...on a Tuesday. The waitstaff is really friendly and gave good suggestions for what to order. We ordered the "Oh my God" roll which she recommended, and I thought was awesome! We also ordered my tried and true favorite--Philadelphia roll. It was probably the best Philadelphia roll I have ever had. The salmon was so fresh, and there was the perfect ratio of salmon to cream cheese. We also had the "O" roll which was VERY spicy, but good. The last roll we had was the Spider roll which was really fishy tasting and sort of a luke-warm temperature. I though the prices were good, as you do get a lot of pieces for each roll. Overall, it was really good, and I'm sure I will go back, but am hoping none of the other rolls taste fishy...ick.

    (4)

  • Andrea C.

    like most of the reviews say, this place is bomb.com/delicious i wont make this lengthy, but i will say i definitely enjoyed my visit... pros: -delicious, unconventional sushi prepared by a super cool chef who gives high fives and fist pumps (!!) -byob (theres a limit on the alcs, so be aware...i think its 1 bottle of wine and a sixer of beer) cons: -TINY restaurant. for the love dont have your birthday party here...nobody else will fit! -a result of the restaurant size...usually there's a ridiculously long wait. yes, you can leave your phone number, which is nice, but id rather just be seated! wouldnt you?! im certain ill return, but hopefully not to be crammed at the end of the sushi bar dropping bows on strangers...

    (4)

  • Erin M.

    If you have another sushi place within walking distance that you like-save your bus fare-if not, it's worth the bus fare. My husband and I decided to try Toro Sushi because we wanted to see if Toro Sushi was all that people say it is and whether or not we enjoy this sushi better than Oysy Sushi in River North...We prefer Oysy. Pluses: If you sit at the bar you might get to try some fish for free. The Maki rolls we tried-avocado, shiitake, and california were all great. You can BYOB If you sit at the bar you can watch them put your sushi together. You put your name on a list and they will call your cell when your "table" is ready. Minuses: There was a 45-60 minute wait at 7:45 PM on Saturday and when we did get a place it was at the bar (we did prefer a table). The maki rolls were smaller than we're used to. They only give you about 5 pieces of ginger and we got all three roles at once (18 pcs)! The wasabi was not very hot at all which makes us think it wasn't that fresh. So-overall it's good tasting but these minuses were why I gave it a "3."

    (3)

  • Andrea M.

    Be warned: get there early to put your name on the list- especially if you are in a group of 3 or more. If you don't get there early (like 6:00) on the weekends, you will be waiting for HOURS. This place is super small and does not take reservations. That being said,I love this place! So many options, and I've never been disappointed in the flavor/quality of the rolls I've chosen. My favorites are the Kamikaze and Trixie. Pretty decently priced if you're splitting amongst a group. Like that it's BYOB, not a fan of limit per person.

    (4)

  • Tina W.

    Oh Toro Sushi how do I love thee. Let me count the ways. 1. Your fish is fresh and always tasty. As a rule I'm not a sashimi girl, but when the chef served up a slab of complementary white fish, it was delightful! 2. Your maki rolls are innovative and delicious. Every time I go there are new rolls to choose from, one more delicious than the next. Sometimes when I select a roll I think "This has too many ingredients. There is no way these can work together." But they do. They always do. 3. You let me BmOB. 4. Your are friendly and accommodating. It's hard to make people like you when you're making them wait two hours for a table, your the staff is very considerate and treats you well when you're at the table. The chef is a real ham! I almost hate to increase the influx of people to this place with a good review, but my love cannot be denied.

    (5)

  • Yashar Y.

    K, K Toro, hands down, is the best place in town to get sushi. BYOB, and amazing sushi at very good price. I can't think of any other place that can top this place. I've tried all you can eat, I've tired other sushi places on Clark, and none comes close to this place. One tip, if u can sit at the bar, and offer some of your drink to the chef, trust me, its worth it ;)

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    Ugh. Yum. So freaking delish. Too bad I live 2,000 miles away... :( Worth the wait, if you have the time... esp. considering the wealth of nearby options to have a drink. Although the 1-hr quoted waited turned out to be more like 1hr30min, we weren't too concerned as we passed the time at nearby DOC (for wine) and a corner store (purchasing our wine for din). :) We tried five rolls. The "Oh My God" was our fav. Atmosphere is young and lively. I didn't see a table in there that hadn't brought their own wine (though saw a surprising number of people drinking red... w/ sushi[??]). And the wine was most certainly kicking in at most tables... If there wasn't a guaranteed wait and we hadn't been less-than-blown-away by our final roll selection (the Big 10), I'd give it five stars. Regardless, I love it and recommend it and would go back if I lived in the CHI. And finally, BYOB + No Corkage = Amazing.

    (4)

  • Randall B.

    Busy but still friendly sushi spot. The menu read a bit over the top, but we chose the O roll and various nigiri and thought it was excellent. Did order a negi hama maki and some of the fish was a bit too cold.

    (4)

  • Bryan G.

    When I moved into this neighborhood, I noticed that a majority of the surrounding restaurants were either Mexican or sushi. I figured it was going to take some time, trying them all out, to determine which one was going to be the best. Thanks to Yelp, I found it on the first time out. Toro was absolutely perfect. Despite how busy they were, the service was attentive and gracious. The specialty rolls were as creative as I have ever seen with presentations that made you pause to soak it in before eating them. I had a Kamikaze Roll with the perfect amount of spice complimented by sweet mangoes and salty sunflower seeds and the Ahi Salad Roll that was remarkably refreshing to cool down my palate. To top it all off, the sushi chef insisted I try his homemade green tea, white chocolate and orange blossom ice cream. The perfect end to a perfect meal.

    (5)

  • Jane T.

    Hmm a place named Toro that doesn't sell toro ... Anyways, besides the fact that it didn't sell what its name claimed, the sushi was very good, very fresh - prob some of the best sushi I've had in a while. There was quite a wait though, but you can just jot down your name and number on the list and they'll call you when a table is ready. How awesome is that? No crowding in the doorway and making people uncomfortable as you drool over their food. I'm taking away 1 star though because the Uni tasted off - not too fresh. Buy a magazine, put your name on the list, then head across the street to Starbucks' outdoor seating and sip a latte while you wait.

    (4)

  • Matt R.

    This place left me with few words to describe it. The fish: fresh and flavorful. The portions: big and well cut. The rolls: out of this world (I'm not even a huge roll fan but I appreciated what Mitch did with the rolls.) The service: outstanding. Mitch: the Man. The cons are obvious...no reservations and long waits. But at least now I don't wonder every time I walk by why people are always waiting...sometimes you have to endure pain for truly beautiful things.

    (5)

  • Mary d.

    I've heard all the hype about this place and decided to take a chance on the little, unassuming storefront sushi place on Clark.... We were SO sold on this place! The portions are beyond generous and filled with FRESH and tasty ingredients. My date had the Oh roll, and I had the Philadelphia. Mitch also gave us free slices of bluefin with queso fresco on top....fantastic! We were super lucky because we got there RIGHT before the crowd started lining up outside. The service, despite the crush, was still friendly and chill. The vibe is very casual. It can get a little loud in there (side effect of BYOB in Lincoln Park, for sure), but who cares? With fish this good, it's a tiny price to pay.

    (5)

  • J G.

    YUM. I don't even know what to say, although I do know my mouth is legit watering right now just thinking about this place. We got here at 5:05 pm on a lovely Saturday evening. This place was full by 5:40. I think that because we got there so early, we had great service, as it wasn't too jam-packed busy. So I can't say anything about people complaining about service or the wait. Eveything was delicious!! A lot of innovative rolls and even the basic rolls, like my fav - the phily roll (dont judge haha) was so good here! The perfect ratio of cream cheese and fish. nom. The 'omg' roll - must try! Everything was fresh! Definitely try to get here when they open for the optimum experience...5 isnt that early!

    (5)

  • Tiffany S.

    Hands down, this is some of the best sushi I've had in the city of Chicago. What stood out to me was the quality of their hand rolls, they were fresh, and well assembled. Besides that, the nigiri pieces we were given were generous, and all of the fish tasted great. The prices are awesome, we ate until we were totally full and each spent about $23. The only downside was the wait. They are obviously super packed, and if you go at a busy time you might get stuck waiting for quite a bit at the wine bar next door. Also, it's a tiny restaurant, but the service isn't as prompt as possible... in fact, it's outright slow. But the servers are gracious, and you can tell that they are hustling. Which I appreciated, but it was the only quality of the service that kept the restaurant being 5 stars. I'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Laetitia L.

    So good. And so fresh. I had the OMG and red dragon rolls and both were great. I already forget what they were made of but the core raw fish in them (I think it was unagi for the red dragon) was fresh and the other ingredients (like siracha!) were creative. Mitch is a fun, cool guy who's got it on lock. The tuna sashimi he sent my party's way was amazing. My $0.02 on the BYOB restrictions? They're reasonable enough and ultimately help everyone out. You go to Toro to savor the sushi with a beer or two; don't treat it as a full pre-game stop.

    (5)

  • Teresa H.

    Toro is definitely worth the wait! This is, hands down, my favorite sushi place in Chicago. The fish is fresh and the flavors amazing. Mitch (the owner) is so friendly and inviting. Some of my all time favorite rolls are Ahi Salad, Sunny, Tuna Lovers and Oh My God. The place is tiny so expect to wait...and if it's after 6pm expect a LONG wait (at least an hour). They'll take your phone number and call when the table is ready, so we usually start out with a glass of wine (or 2) at DOC up the street.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    I love sushi and I been to lot of sushi places. Therefore, I don't get why this place deserves 4.5/5 stars. I read so many great reviews from yelp about this place so my friend and I decide to go. I don't mind the place, it's small and cozy. The staff was nice too. The place is packed so I know my expectations were growing higher. We ordered el fuego, sunny, tempura roll, and asparagus tower roll. And I realized that: shrimp tempura was so small and tiny the roll piece was so small like literally one bite size in el fuego, there is cilantro but it's only tiny amount the good part: sunny roll was pretty good Sure, it's more than an average sushi place, but it's not outstanding either. Maybe my expectation was high. But if I visit Lincoln park area again, I would rather go to sushi o sushi or somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Jessica A.

    I have to start off by saying that I created a Yelp profile for the sole reason to review this place. It is THAT amazing. Things you need to know: 1. Almost always a wait anytime after 6:15 pm, but they will take down your phone number and you can go have a drink while you wait. How can you beat that? 2. I have to start off with the same 2 rolls each time. The "O" roll and the Sunny Roll. Both are extremely fresh and addicting. I highly recommend. 3. Finish your dinner with the Kamakaze, the Red Dragon or the Krispy. You will NOT be disappointed. I have a weird thing against cream cheese, blue cheese or any of the sort in my sushi, but I know there are raving reviews about rolls with these ingredients. You just can't go wrong here! I can't reiterate enough that you MUST try this place. The staff is friendly and great and the atmosphere is quaint and perfect for a date or a friends' gathering. Oh how can I forget? BYOB- no corking fee. Hurry and GO NOW!

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    The standard by which sushi should be measured. By far the best sushi in Chicago. Mitch, the owner, is always behind the bar and is a master of his craft. Every roll I've had has been stellar. It is reasonably priced and BYOB, a winning combination. Be prepared to have a bit of a wait, but there a lot of bars to chill at and the hostess will call you when your table is available. This is a great spot to bring the girlfriend, not so much of a place to bring a group because of the small space. Overall I couldn't recommend it more. I feel like whenever we go to another sushi place I leave wondering, "why didn't we go to Toro?"

    (5)

  • Mari K.

    Your sushi's good and decently priced. That makes me happy. You're BYOB. Thank you. =) You take down names and phone numbers, and then call when our table's ready. Awesome. In the meantime (1.5 hr wait on a Friday night), I can go hit up Urban down the street. Your seating is limited and tables are close together. It's okay. I forgive you. At the end of the meal, we sit, chat, and look forward to finishing off the rest of our wine... and you have the nerve to tell us that others outside are waiting for a table and then ask us to leave?!??! NO YOU DIDN'T! Especially since I've been waiting to try Toro for over a year now. Completely unacceptable in my book.

    (3)

  • Whitney R.

    Tight headquarters yet really tasty! I now know why its always packed. Best after 9 for good seating.

    (3)

  • Anne M.

    3.5 A friend and I enjoyed Toro - it's obviously a popular place (judging from reviews and the line out the door) - but it is teeny tiny and the bar was not the best place to sit and eat... We had waited 30 minutes for a seat, so when we got a phone call that two bar seats were open, we took our chance. We settled up to the bar with our backs to the busy walkway. In front of us was the bustling kitchen staff and a hot draft of air coming from behind the cooler - not pleasant. I guess a large volume of people is a good thing (high turnover of fish / food), but it was a little too chaotic and cramped in here for my liking. We split three rolls that were all quite good and tasted fresh. The rolls weren't huge, but they were enough. For dessert, we split the fried vanilla ice cream roll - cute, and yummy (how can you go wrong?). The byob element is great, and food was good, but I would definitely wait for a table and less busy time in the future.

    (4)

  • Angie K.

    As a sushi lover and moving into the neighborhood recently, it made perfect sense to try the popular Toro. It's BYOB (every Chicagoan's favorite 4-letter word) but they limit the amount you can bring it. I don't doubt if someone once over-did it and ruined it for the rest of us. I went on a weekday and relatively early (6ish) and still had to wait 45 minutes. They do jot down your number and give you a call when a table is ready. The place is really REALLY tiny and tight. You will bump elbows with someone or step on someone's something on your way in and out. It's just the way it is. The place is not really decorated with anything fancy and the signs are handwritten on notebook pieces of paper. The economy is rough, I get it, but this place is always so packed, I'd figure they could invest a little into sprucing it up. My date and I shared an edamame, miso soup and the Oh My God and Super White Crunchy rolls which all phenomenal. The Super White literally melts in your mouth and the sauce of the OMG is just ridic. It also comes with 'OMG" written on the side, making it very Instagram-worthy. The service is pretty good and they get you in and out as quickly as they can without being too pushy, which I liked. The overall vibe just seemed a little dry and if I was any slightly bigger, I'd definitely be bumping into people a lot more. I would suggest this place better as a carry-out option as their food is solid but my issue is more with the actual space of the restaurant. I don't know if I'd go there again, becauase there's a lot of other just as good sushi spots nearby, but I will forever remember Toro

    (4)

  • Cam L.

    This place is as good as the reviews on Yelp! The restaurant has a smaller, cramped New York feel to it, but the sushi is truly unique and Mitch the owner is such a welcoming guy. We had the Kamikaze (apparently a fan favorite), the Spicy Crunchy Tuna and the Yum Yum Yummy rolls which. You cannot go wrong.

    (5)

  • Blair A.

    Sushi was amazing quality. Especially when you factor in price. The murals on the wall are classic and the chef (when we were there) was very personable; greeting and thanking customers. The volcano roll was my favorite. Only downside is the tiny size of the place. Waiting for a table is terrible. And... If you sit along the south wall the floor is a little sloped. Careful w your wine glass.

    (5)

  • Lucy P.

    I don't have a whole lot to report on. We decided to come out on a weeknight during the second polar vortex of 2014. There was an open table so we didn't have to wait at all. As soon as we sat down they brought us complimentary miso soup! That was really nice, and seriously appreciated - we were freezing! We were by the window so it was a little cold, but I'd be cold by my windows in my own house. They let us crank the heater up above our heads. They were really accommodating. The food was very good, no complaints, but because we (my husband and I) only eat vegetarian sushi, I find that the spectrum from good to bad isn't as drastic as regular sushi. We did have two people with us that do eat fish, and they were really pleased with what they ordered. One of the rolls they ordered had calamari on top, one of the others mentioned that she didn't really like calamari so she took it off her first piece, but then decided to give it a try on the second. She said it was totally awesome and she didn't experience the "poking" sensation that she has had in the past when she had calamari in her sushi. (She's pretty seafood adventurous so its not just an ick factor). The food was very good, the service was outstanding, we were very happy that we went. We had their fried icecream (or whatever they call it there?) It was seriously delicious too. Side note: We couldn't figure out why it smelled like a pizzeria inside, although that's better than the foul-fish odor you get at lower quality places...it was just strange. For my needs, I might go somewhere a little bit bigger because I hear there can be a long wait here. Vegetarian sushi isn't really that hard to make reasonably good. But I still gave four stars because it was good, and the fish-eaters with us said theirs was fabulous.

    (5)

  • Kulky N.

    Best. Sushi Bar. Around. Few things to make note: 1) arrive early for dinner because they don't take reservations; 2) be sure that everyone in your party arrives at the same time (*ahem* you know who you are), because otherwise they will not seat you; 3) it's BYOB. Trust the reviews, you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Joe K.

    I just didn't like this place ,it's small and the food is terrible . I ordered some sashimi and the chef or who ever the guy is behind the sushi bar served me frozen fish !!! I'm never gonna come back to this restaurant .

    (1)

  • Andrew T.

    A friend of a friend sent me this place probably...two years ago. No joke. And the email has languished in the bottom of my inbox for that long, before I finally made the trek, fought for parking, and tried it out. Was not disappointed. This was a while back...and their website's menu hasn't been updated recently...so I can't remember exactly what I had. Sorry. I'll do my best. I started out with very good sunomono, crisp and cold, not overly sweet. Very refreshing. And then on to some crazy mixed spicy seafood roll (ordered before I arrived, so I don't know the name). This was delicious - lots of seafood flavor and good heat. We also had a roll with octopus, which some of us didn't like, but I loved - I enjoy the firm texture of octopus. We also had two spicy rolls - I think one was the Arizona? And while they were both quite good, the Arizona was outstanding. I Am really liking fresh jalapeno in sushi lately, so when this was recommended to us, I went for it with no problem. The sushi chefs are very friendly, too, talking to us, explaining what was good and bad, making recommendations. And the prices are reasonable too - 3 of us ate for about $90, and considering I was borderline stuffed, I consider that to be a deal for some great food. As I'm sure others have mentioned though, you better get here early or you'll be waiting. Not that it isn't worth the wait, but the wait can be huge. The place is tiny - we were lucky enough to get spots at the sushi bar, but a little bit later and we'd have been cooling our heels. There also isn't much room to wait inside, so on a cold night, you might end up outside.

    (4)

  • Tescatlipoca P.

    Good sushi, all fresh has different flavors on the menu!

    (4)

  • Dan B.

    One of my favorite sushi places in the city. Great location in Lincoln Park and it's BYOB, so you save some money by bringing your own wine/drinks. Favorite roll here is their red dragon roll, but I've never had a bad roll at this place. Only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is I think the place could use a slight interior remodel. Nothing major, but just update a thing or two.

    (4)

  • Yi M.

    Lol, people who gives this place 5stars are really not knowing what good sushi is. Wait, I would say this mediocre quality and over prices American sushi joint is hustling well in the great little above average American community aka Lincoln park. Avocado roll? Ur kidding me. I just hate hearing ppl scream: oh my gawd, toro is the best sushi in chitown. Plz dont put the third largest American city into shame as a big closed minded Midwestern town. I think I bashed too much on other ppls opinions sometime, but ppl just need to know. From a food standpoint, the rice is just horrible, fish was mediocre. Rice is the soul of sushi! Fish is the appearance. Toro is one ugly chic. Oops

    (2)

  • Kyle D.

    The good: Best sushi I have had in Chicago, and the best I've ever had in the states. Only sushi I've had that has been better has been in Japan. Reasonable prices too, for sushi anyway. Humble environment with great chefs. Oh, and its BYOB The bad: The waits are LONG. Plan to put your name down and come back. They don't take reservations either. You will most likely have to wait. Overall: The inevitable wait is worth the quality. Great tasting sushi, much better than anything else I've had in the city. Definitely will come back when the craving hits again. Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Food: 9/10

    (5)

  • David P.

    lMy girl and I were here for dinner last night. We came early, but still a pretty good crowd already starting to come in. We were very excited to try this place, as the yelp reviews were really solid with a 4.5 stars. We love sushi, especially BYOB sushi joints! This one seems to have a good following, so we were very excited. We started out ordering the Spicy Tako Roll, highly recommended, it was great! We then moved on to some sashimi and nigiri sushi. We had some yellow tail and white tuna sashimi; the yellow tail was solid, the super white tuna was previously frozen and watery with no flavor. We then had a scallion and yellow tail roll, since we knew the yellow tail was good, and it didn't disappoint. We then moved on to a Kamakazi Roll, which was a bit of a disappointment. It was a combination of several different fish, tobiko and a mayo based sauce. It was presented very poorly, it wasn't eye appealing at all, which is unusual for a sushi bar, it's usually all about the presentation. As for the taste, everything just tasted the same, one flavor, no separation of fish flavors etc.; just a big blob of mayo stuff... We also had some surf clam and sweet shrimp nigiri sushi that were not very fresh, not good! I was disappointed i3rn the quality of the sushi, but the prices were fair and the BYOB will make me consider trying it again. I really want to like this place, as they do use fresh wasabi, which is awesome, but a $3 side dish up charge. I also like the small old school feel this place has... We will be back, but we aren't in any rush, as there are a lot of other good sushi spots. We are fans of Yuzu, Matsuya and Ukai are three of our favorites.

    (3)

  • Sara T.

    Rock and roll: decent but not very much eel or sauce. Super white crunch: interesting but way too much rice for the filling. Apparently it had mango but didn't taste it. If it didn't have the spicy mayo it would've had no taste. Shrimp tempura: not tempura only fried shrimp. And the smallest damn shrimps I've ever seen in shrimp tempura. Soft shell crab: decent I suppose? Not worth $9 that's for sure. Wouldn't get any of the above again. Overrated for all the talk about it. On a side note, the hot water tasted like soap.

    (2)

  • Nitin D.

    Toro Sushi is the best overall spot for sushi in Chicago. High Quality Fish. Inventive Rolls. Mitch, the owner, is real cool. Sit at the Sushi Bar if at all possible. Things to try: Spicy Tako, Kamikaze, Sunny Roll, and all the Nigiri and Sashimi

    (5)

  • Brianna K.

    Some of the best sushi I have had in Chicago. If you go on a Thursday-Saturday night you are going to wait. Best to put your name in and go to a bar nearby. They will call you when ready. The owner is great if you have a chance to sit at the sushi bar and chat with him (he normally has a bandana and glasses on). Often order to go and sitll tastes great. They are very strict about how much alcohol you can bring (1 bottle of wine or 6 pack of beer per two people) but many BYOB places around are. The only other good sushi nearby if you do not want to wait is Ponzu but I just think Toro's fish is freshier. Izzo is also good but not BYOB. If you are someone who likes a ton of random toppings and sauces may not be the place for you.

    (5)

  • Anne M.

    I really struggled with what rating to give this place. It wasn't bad but wasn't awesome. My Husband and I came out with the following thoughts: - The food tasted good but not something memorable. - The chef seemed really nice from what I could observe across the room, but I also witnessed him shaking hands and giving high fives to customers and then continue making sushi without washing his hands. - It was kind of divy feeling. It was cold, cramped, and a little dirty. Our table wobbled the entire time. To try and fix the wobble it looked like there were a couple days old pack of chopsticks under the leg. I would go back only if I was in that area. I wouldn't recommend this place to friends unless they were specifically in that area looking for sushi.

    (3)

  • Megan T.

    We had been hearing about Toro for months from our friends that live in Lincoln Park and their recommendation did not disappoint. My husband took me here for my birthday on a Sunday night and we waited less than 10 minutes for a table (we had been warned to expect a 30-60+ minute wait). I would probably avoid trying to come with a group larger than 4 because the restaurant is so small. We ordered vegetable tempura, a maki roll, and a mix of handrolls and our least favorite one was still lightyears better than any other sushi I've ever had in Chicago. The hype was worth it for us, every though it's small and has gotten really popular. Like most sushi spots, it's BYOB, which is always nice. I swear I'm still dreaming about this sushi weeks late, we will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Jonathan D.

    Very good sushi. Sashimi was very fresh and specialty rolls were good and of greater-than-normal size (with additions). Service was good and the food was out quickly.

    (5)

  • Nisha S.

    We have been coming to Mitch for some time now.. And of course he is always the best. And here I am sitting at Coast Sushi... Which I heard was a rival. All I have to say is, Mitch... YOU WIN

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    Hostess was rude but our waitress was nice. Sushi was over hyped especially the "oh my god" roll. Kamikazie was spicy but tasted weird. Overall mediocre experience and I've had better sushi in Chicago.

    (3)

  • David B.

    Good food, especially their sushi and very friendly host, BYOB, they don't serve any alcohol. Will go there again.

    (4)

  • Monica M.

    still my fav neighborhood spot, even though i dont live in that area anymore. mitch is amazing, im upset when hes not there on nights i eat there. byob. fish is so good. sashimi dinner. do it. if you dont want to wait, dont go. even the less busier days are busy. i get the sense that people who eat there are regulars, or people who know and understand that the wait can be long, but dont care and will wait.

    (5)

  • Charlie N.

    Mitch is the man! Favorite sushi spot by far, I've been countless times and it never disappoints. Chirashi and the hand rolls are my favorite. If you've never experienced the kamikaze roll be sure to get that. Overall you can't beat the sushi and Mitch makes this place one of my favorite spots in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Cristina G.

    I don't write a lot of reviews but I wanted to warn other sushi lovers that with almost 800 reviews and a 4.5 star rating as of today, this place is severely overrated. I was visiting Chicago for a few days and, as I am a huge sushi lover, I looked on Yelp for a good sushi place. Toro immediately stood out with its plethora of 5 star reviews. The fact that their menu has about 50 "special rolls" should have been a warning as to the quality of this restaurant--in general the best sushi restaurants serve mainly traditional nigiri, sashimi and maki and only a few special rolls--but I did not heed it as I can understand that restaurants have to respond to customer demand. Whenever I go to a sushi restaurant for the first time I order simple pieces (no "special rolls") which most clearly showcase the quality of the fish and the rice. So I ordered similarly at Toro: salmon, white tuna (escolar), scallop, uni (sea urchin), and a salmon avocado roll. The first thing I noticed was that the salmon avocado roll was literally falling apart. It looked like a 3-year-old had made it. Fine, I figured one of the less experienced staff members had made it, and was willing to overlook this if it at least tasted good. Unfortunately, it didn't, it tasted worse than supermarket sushi, both the fish and the avocado tasted days old. The scallop was ok, nothing special but not bad. The sea urchin was plain bad, tasted bitter, but I know that sea urchin can be hit or miss so I thought maybe this was a bad batch. Then I got to the salmon and escolar, and the complimentary pieces of salmon sashimi they had added to my plate. And this was when I finally decided that the prior shortcomings were not just coincidences. I almost gagged when I ate the salmon. Now, I have eaten at hundreds of sushi restaurants, and salmon is one of the items I order every time. The salmon at Toro was absolutely some of the worst I've ever had--possibly *the* worst. It tasted disgusting. I don't know if it was old or not, but it was most definitely NOT sushi-grade fish. More like cat food grade, and any sushi chef that serves this to their customers is not worthy of the title of sushi chef--sorry. Unfortunately I was sitting at the sushi bar, as I usually like to do, so I finished the rest of it out of politeness for the chef (who, as everyone says, is very friendly, but that does not make up for the bad quality of the fish). I shouldn't have, as I spent the rest of the evening in severe abdominal distress. The white tuna was just as disgusting. I don't like to imply that other reviewers don't know good food because Yelp reviews are usually spot on, but in this case, based on my experience at hundreds of sushi restaurants, I can honestly not give Toro more than one star. I've never regretted eating at a sushi restaurant, no matter how mediocre, until now. If you are visiting Chicago and only have time for one sushi restaurant, please do yourself a favor and do not go to Toro.

    (1)

  • Dennis T.

    Indescribably fresh. Small and busy, but deserves to be. As good as anything I've had in Seattle or Vancouver.

    (5)

  • Teri B.

    I love this spot. The fish is always fresh and the portions are generous. The must order roll for me would me the spicy tako. It is unique, well prepared and always delicious. BYOB is always a plus.

    (5)

  • Brad S.

    Best Sushi in Chicago by far. Expect a long wait, so plan ahead though. We usually put our name in and go down the street to Duke's or DOC Wine bar and have a drink or two before they call us and tell us our table is ready.

    (5)

  • Manuel A.

    Miso soup on point, the volacano roll was super fun. When it comes to the table they light a sparkler to give it the volcano effect. I am from LA and had no idea that most of the places in Chicago are BYOB, so bring your bottle of wine. I sat at the sushi bar, and everyone was very friendly. Its a cute place to go on date, and have some good a$$ sushi!

    (5)

  • Jennie T.

    I'm between giving this place 3 or 4 stars, but I guess I'll be nice and give them 4 stars for the food. Three stars would be for the service. Everyone said to eat at the bar. Almost every review said that the service was good, but either we came on a really off-night or the service was just okay, and that's me putting it nicely. Kenny O. and I stopped by to put our names down a little bit after 6pm. The hostess told us that it'd be about 45 minutes. So we decided to walk around the neighborhood a little bit. We stopped by a record store and spent a good amount of time there. Then we went back to the restaurant. Nope, there's still another 20 minutes. Ok, so we went to Starbucks to get some coffee. We went back, and they still told us it'd be another 15 minutes or so. I felt annoyed, but after waiting so long, I decided that we better just wait it out. Eventually we got seated at the bar. The chef/owner gave us fistbumps when we sat down. I expected this after reading everyone's reviews. Ok, cool. Maybe things will get better. It took our server another 10-15 minutes to check up on us and to take our order. I was feeling a little nauseated from hunger pains. We ordered a salmon teriyaki bento box to share with some salmon sashimi as well as some futomaki. The futomaki was alright. I didn't expect it to come with asparagus, but ok, it's still good. The salmon teriyaki was delicious, and I loved the salmon sashimi even more. We decided to order a salmon nigiri as well. Still good. I think we also ordered some tuna, but I forgot if that was true or not. The food was good. I'm just not sure it was worth all of the hype, considering the lack of service and attention we got. Almost everyone said that the chef made small talks with them. Nope. That didn't happen to us. I'd like to give them another chance one day, and I hope that the service will be much better then. We shall see.

    (4)

  • Samantha E.

    Toro went above and beyond all expectations I had for it. I love sushi and while Chicago has quite a number of places that sell it, there really aren't many that stand out to me. I love the fresh sushi at Lawrence Fish Market so I wanted to see how Toro stacked up. The rolls were more expensive than Lawrence but also much more creative. We got our Sushi to go in order to avoid the long wait that seems to constantly be occur here. We got a volcano, spider and one other roll. Sooooo delicious. The spicy sauce that came with the volcano was insane (a mix of sriracha, mayo, and soy). Loved it all!

    (5)

  • Melanie L.

    Hands down the best sushi in the city and Byob, what more could you ask for. Mitch, the owner is beyond nice and the staff are just as friendly. We have been coming here for over 5 years and have now earned our own chopsticks there with our names on them! The fish is flown in 3 times a week and is always the freshest around. The wait is the only downside, if you go after 6-6:30pm you may wait up to an hour. But trust me it's worth it!

    (5)

  • Paul L.

    By far the best quality sushi spot I've been too. The sushi is on point and fresh. Melt in your mouth good! I recommend sitting at the sushi bar, if you want a full sushi experience. Sushi Chef Mitch treats everyone like family and also gives great suggestions for sushi newbies. Make sure to schedule a reservation as this place is packed all the time! The wait times are usually 30-40 minutes, but it's well worth it. This place is also BYOB, so bring your favorite brewski or wine. Overall, great place for quality sushi, very affordable and well worth the wait. The people and service are very friendly and attentive. BYOB is never a bad thing.. cost wise. Toro is closed on Mondays and have very short hours when open, so plan accordingly. Fun and relaxed environment and worth a visit!

    (5)

  • Inara I.

    One of the best sushi places I've tried. The fish was unbelievably fresh, and the waiters were very accommodating considering how busy the place seemed. They brought us all of our food as we asked for it, and we hD rounds and rounds of sushi. We probably spent a good 2-3 hours at this restaurant because we couldn't stop ordering seconds and triples of all of the food! The crunchy salmon was amazing -- kind of a smaller roll, we got 3 orders before the 4 of us were satisfied with how much of it we had. The kamikaze roll was as good as they promised, the roll with the scallops was also delicious. I'm convinced you can't order wrong at this place. And it's BYOB!

    (5)

  • Jordan M.

    This is my favorite place to go get sushi in the city. It is always fresh and they have a huge selection rolls. My favorites are the "O", kamikaze, and crazy horse. It is small and usually busy so it is sometimes good to go in off hours or a little early.

    (5)

  • Margaret D.

    This place is amazing! The only drawback is that there is always a wait, but it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Tara M.

    My friend was leaving Chicago to move to North Carolina. We stopped by Toro for her last time. It was lunch and we got there right when they were closing. Mitch was behind the sushi bar and I told him my friend was moving away. He stayed open just for the two of us. As usualy the sushi was incredible. I rarely, if ever, order off the menu. I just ask that Mitch make two or three rolls of his choosing. The presentation is so beautiful that you kinda feel bad eating the rolls. I love this restaurant. Mitch is always so warm and welcoming.

    (5)

  • Andrew M.

    Great sushi in Clark/Diversey Corridor. It is more expensive but very good. The Nigiri is recommended. The service can be slow. It is not getting 5 because last time we went a certain chef was not there and they refused to make us Nigiri. I've never been somewhere that refused to make an item if a person wasn't there. Sounded fishy to me...no pun intended. BYOB...

    (4)

  • Chad V.

    EAT AT THE BAR IF YOU CAN! Clean and simple Nigiri and Sashimi. No need to order the maki here (save that for other places). If I could make one improvement it would be the atmosphere... not that I care too much because the sushi is the best I've had in Chicago (the price is reasonable too). Yes, there is a wait, just put down your name and they'll call you after you've had a beer or two at one of the many bars in the area.

    (5)

  • Tiya L.

    My go to spot for sushi, has been for the past 7 years and always will be! Mitch and the staff are all great! Some of my fav rolls, Oh My God, MIAMI (melts in your mouth), Tipsy Trixie (comes on a bed of salad, so delishhh), spicy tuna (always a must), Super white crunch, Southern Gals (deep fried gooddness) Toro is open for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays. Living and working in the area, I take out lunch just about everyweek! Awesome lunch deals. makes me feel like I'm robbing the place everytime. They are super busy and always have a wait. But definitely worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Lisa L.

    For Chicago, this sushi is decent. We ordered take-out after learning the wait for a two-top was an hour but it was Saturday night right around dinner time... so that's normal, I guess. The sushi was ok - given that we're in Chicago and not on one of the coasts or in Japan, and it's reassuring that the people who work there are Japanese. The fish was decent, but definitely doesn't compare to fish in NY or CA sushi restaurants. The only gripe is when you change your phone number... you should probably also change it on your website and alert Yelp of the change. Otherwise, you could miss out on a lot of potential business...

    (3)

  • Meredith S.

    Toro absolutely lives up to the hype. It is by far the best sushi in Chicago, I cannot get enough of it. I love the kamikaze handroll, the ama ebi, the big 10 roll and the el fuego roll. I love that it is byob and love that you are able to give your phone number and have drinks down the block while you wait for a table to open up. Mitch, the owner, is extremely nice as well.

    (5)

  • Rhoda G.

    Every time I walk by this place, it's always jammed packed and I can see why. The sushi is really good and fresh here. We split the sushi nigiri dinner combination that came with miso soup and a side of rice along with several of their specialty rolls like the Big 10. Delicious! I have been to a few Japanese restaurants around my neighborhood on Broadway and Clark and this is definitely the best in the area that I have tried. Next time I'm bringing beer or wine.

    (5)

  • Hrudaya S.

    I went here with a friend for lunch on a Friday. It was not busy, and we got served very quickly. The service was excellent.

    (4)

  • Andre W.

    Quite a small space, but the sushi is decent! The Spring Blossom roll was good, but had a little too much rice. Good if you live nearby, but no place I would break my neck to get to.

    (3)

  • Lorrie M.

    I guess you have to judge your food by appropriate location and categories. For Chicago, I think this place is not bad but a little over hyped so a little over priced. I think we ended up eating $70 here for both the bf and I and the food wasn't amazing enough to warrant $70. Interestingly, the head chef is from Sunnyvale, CA! A stone's throw from where I live. He came to Chicago because of his wife's family and decided to stick around to start this restaurant. He was really friendly which made the whole experience great. We sat at the sushi bar and the chef continued to feed us things he thought would interest our palette and even showed us the catalog of $5000 knives that sushi chefs do buy. The service was prompt but a bit messy, they brought out some things immediately and other things not when it didn't make much sense (i.e. raw versus cooked..) and generally speaking the food was good but not great. And compared to some of the sushi places here on the West Coast definitely falls in the 3 star or so category. But the whole place is fun, the atmosphere is good and its BYOB so you can't complain. Great choice for casual sushi in the Chicago area.

    (3)

  • Jim V.

    Best sushi place in Chicago. Period! It is pretty difficult to get a table, but worth it if you get in! Have to try the OMG roll

    (5)

  • Addison E.

    This place was awesome. I'm not a very experienced sushi eater, so I ordered the the Sashimi dinner which had 8 different kind of rolls. All of the rolls tasted really fresh and were full of flavor. The Vegetable Gyoza was great too. Again, I don't have a ton to compare Toro to but I thought the food was incredible. We randomly went on a Saturday at 7 and were seated 10 minutes later, which I understand is completely atypical. With a 6 pack of beer bought around the corner, the total for the bill was around 50 and we were stuffed. The wait staff was helpful and attentive, and there was a great buzz to the restaurant. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Crystal L.

    So, I have to be honest about this place: it's really not THAT good. I've been here many many times as this is my best friend's favorite sushi spot. The sushi is good, but not anything to rave over. I've had as good or better in the city for a better price. BYOB is nice, but it's only 1 bottle per table. With 4 people and a table full of sushi, that just doesn't cut it sometimes. My main problem with this place is that it's so hyped up that it is impossible to get a table in under an hour if you get there after 5:30. This is true any day of the week. They do not take reservations, which makes this even more of a burden for groups bigger than 2. To make things worse, once you DO get to sit down, the waitresses rush you through dinner and have even asked us to leave once as we were finishing up our wine (maybe 5-10 minutes after finishing our meal). We had to buy a dessert to get to stay. Not cool. Overall, the place is just not as awesome as everyone says.

    (3)

  • Kate M.

    473 reviews already, so I'll make this quick. Toro is a small place and fills up fast, so get there early if you don't want to wait for a table. It's nicer than your usual small sushi joints. The sushi was pretty good. The siberian tiger roll was the best of the rolls we had. The tea tasted and smelled like frosted mini wheats. While that was strange, it wasn't necessarily bad. So, in summation; small, siberian tiger roll, frosted mini wheat tea.

    (4)

  • Andrea A.

    I will never stop recommending Toro Sushi. I've been citing it as my favorite BYOB sushi spot for years! Mitch, the owner and main sushi chef, is fantastic...very friendly and even has a special good-bye for regular customers. The rolls are plentiful, creative, and he will not sacrifice his integrity for a fast meal or sub-par dining experience. Be prepared to wait...Toro is tiny so put your name in, and head over to Frank's or D.O.C. They will call you when your table is almost ready so you can get back and get your sushi on! Definitely try the Oh, Oh My God, and Big Ten roll. The super white sashimi is a MUST HAVE!!! Closed on Mondays...I always forget and it makes me so sad.

    (5)

  • Sue Z.

    I liked Toro Sushi alot, but I am a little confused as to why it ALWAYS has such a huge line. The food was good, don't get me wrong, but no where near the level of amazing that I'd expect with a daily wait of 1 hr+! (we ate at 8 on a Sunday) Bf and I got a basic miso soup to start (a little too salty. had to dilute mine w/ water), and 4 chef special rolls: OMG, Best of both worlds, Midway, and Starry Night. All of them were yummy. My fav was Best of Both Worlds - really fresh and light tasting. Bf's fav was Midway, which was a bigger roll that felt and tasted like they stuffed a small bit of everything in it. What I liked about the rolls: they were consistent, well presented, and the fish fresh in all. What I didn't like was that there seemed to be a large amount of crab salad incorporated in most of them....which got repetitive/overpowering by the end. Also, at some point, I turned around and noticed that I was the only asian in the entire restaurant and the crowd still waiting outside. That did trigger some warning bells in my head, because to me that usually signifies that the restaurant places a heavier emphasis on ingredients like cream cheese, tempura, and crab stick than fresh fish or lighter makis..but maybe it's just cuz there's not a lot of asians in lincoln park? =S Either way, it doesn't matter, because we would definitely return to Toro. Not only is it good, it's verrry reasonably priced. Bf often gets the lunch special teriyaki boxes (without me =.=), which are an amazing deal at SEVEN BUCKS!! and, according to him, always delish. So if you're craving sushi and don't mind waiting, Toro's definitely worth considering!

    (4)

  • Sam I.

    I have to say goodbye to this old friend, at least for a while. My last experience here was awful. Bad service and less than ok sushi. I will not be returning indefinitely. And that goes for the others who were with me. There are many other options for great sushi in the city where I would rather take my patronage. I'm sad to say the quality of both service and food has gone down a lot. For those who don't know any better I guess it's fine.

    (1)

  • Laura G.

    Finally got to try this place last night after many recommendations! Came here on a Tuesday night around 7 with my mom and sister, and we waited about 10 minutes for a spot at the bar. Not bad considering how small of a place it is! Started off with some veggie gyoza, veggie tempura, and salads. LOVED the ginger dressing. I thought the gyoza was tasty, but a bit greasy, and I enjoyed the tempura, but we would have preferred more veggies (like broccoli or green beans) over the multiple potatoes. Our favorite roll we order was the "O"- so delicious! We were a bit disappointed that they were out of salmon, but excited to come back and try more rolls next time. Service was very good!

    (4)

  • Gary C.

    Yeah...I'm a fan. I was hesitant at first; 4 & 1/2 stars on 500+ reviews? I was trying to figure out what people were smoking that got Toro to such baller status, because I've walked by it many times while in the neighborhood and wasn't impressed. But I guess I shouldn't judge a book by it's movie. As many have said already, Toro is a small place; it can seat approximately 20-25 people max. With that said, prepare to wait. But the nice thing is that they take down your name and number to call you when your table is almost ready. That gives you time to have dessert first [a la Molly's], because if you're like me, you eat too much during dinner and skip out on dessert. My party of four waited about thirty minutes [we were quoted an hour] on a Wednesday night at about 7:30 PM. Not too bad considering we were prepared to wait a while. We ordered a good amount for four; five rolls, one hand roll, and a dinner entree. Based on a very scientific experiment, the ranking of rolls from best to not-so-best is as followed: OMG: The name says it all. There's actually so much going on with this roll, but somehow everything comes together like symphony. Kamikaze: The sauce is boss, though I wasn't sure about sunflower seeds and sushi...but it added a new texture to what would have been a regular roll. Volcano: It came out with sparklers. SPARKLERS. And it's deep fried. I think that says it all =) Three Musketeer: Three types of fish...and they were very fresh. Trixie: I think there was a little too much going on. If there was one or two fewer ingredients, it would've been great. The chicken teriyaki was aight. Nothing to order more than once. The California hand roll was consumed by one person in our party, and it wasn't me. So I can't give any suggestions about it. I'm going to guess that it was good because it disappeared in but a few minutes. Service was on point; can't really complain. They didn't complain when we paid with four different credit cards. Cost for the four of us was about $85, not bad considering the quality and quantity of food (we were all full). You can't beat $20-$25/person for quality sushi. You just can't. Had the wait been less and the hot entrees been on the same level as the rolls, Toro would've easily gotten to that five-star status. But that doesn't mean I'm not returning. Oh, I will return...and you shall too.

    (4)

  • Frances X.

    I don't know what's the hype about this place. - The food is very americanized. Yes, you can find cream cheese in maki... almost everything else has avocado. - The space is tiny, the waiting space is even worse. - It is hard to get the attention of the servers - Sure, the seafood is fresh, but I regard that as a bare minimum for a sushi place. - We taste many hard kernels in the rice: very disappointed. - Not cheap, unless you go for lunch, which is available only two days in a week. - Food came very slow at dinner time.

    (3)

  • Billy H.

    it was fairly average for me. food, experience, all. it's a very tiny place so we waited about an hour to get seated. but this was expected based on what i read here. but i saw a couple being seated about 20 mins before us simply because they didn't have space for our party of 3 but a tiny table for 2 opened up. understandable. i just didn't feel like their sushi was that great. it's not a place i'd go back to. Uni was average and tasted like the kind i buy sometimes at korean or japanese markets. white tuna had a slight fishy flavor. ama ebi was a bit bland altho the shrimp head fry was pretty good. maki's were ok. but handrolls are excellent. all in all, average rating.

    (3)

  • Laura D.

    Absolute favorite sushi spot in Chicago if not in the world! It's the freshest sushi and every single time we've been there our meal has been stellar. The rolls are creative and delicious. It's a hole in the wall and even though we've been there a million times we've walked by it and not realized it...numerous times. The owner is personable, funny and a genius. He's down to Earth and all of the staff is equally friendly. We try to get there right at 5pm when it opens to avoid a way BUT even when it is busy the wait ends up being shorter than quoted. They take your phone number and name down so that you can go for a walk versus standing around awkwardly watching the people at their tables enjoying their meals...so thoughtful and easy to do! More restaurants should follow suit. Either way it is WELL worth the wait! We love that it's BYOB so we can go crazy with sushi and not break the bank with drinks. There's a great/cheap liquor store across the street at Wrightwood and Clark...convenient. A MUST is the sashimi appetizer...delicate, cold and a treat! The Oh My God really does make you say OMG out loud, also something we get every time. After moving back to my home town, I miss this place the most!

    (5)

  • Linda T.

    wait can be long, but that said...this place is pretty small. sashimi definitely looks fresh. all of their special rolls sounded delicious. rec the kamakazi roll, omg, best of both worlds and holla halepeno. holla halepeno can taste a little "fishy" though. edamame served warm. food took a while to come out....but otherwise very yummy and creative.

    (4)

  • Meredith B.

    Given how popular this place is, I feel lucky to have gotten a table! Fortunately, I went on a Friday for lunch around noon-thirty, and we were seated right away. It's a small restaurant, with cute purple paint on the walls, but there's no decent place to wait, so good luck if you come during the dinner rush. I got some of the delicious sushi bar green tea, and my friend and I split some edamame, hot and sprinkled with sea salt. We wanted a light lunch, so we only got two rolls, the Crazy Horse and the Miami. They didn't take long to be prepared, and the presentation was absolutely gorgeous. The Miami roll was very long - 7 or 9 good size pieces - and it was luscious. I can't remember everything that was on it, but I know there was eel involved. It was on the special maki list. The Crazy Horse roll had only six pieces, but they were large and bursting with deliciousness. The end pieces of the Crazy Horse were shaped differently, with pieces of fish and vegetables decoratively flowing out of the top of the roll. I pulled a few of the pieces of fish out to eat separately as sashimi, and they were impeccably fresh. I just closed my eyes and relished the moment while I chewed. Given all the great reviews, it sounds like everything here is great, but whatever you order, make it something where you can really taste the fresh fish, because they are working with superb ingredients. This is definitely one of the best sushi places I've ever visited, and I would absolutely come back next time I'm in the city.

    (5)

  • Mondher B.

    My favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago. Mitch is a creative chef who enjoys communicating with his customers. Many of his special rolls are named after his regular customers. The staff is also fantastic, friendly and stable.... great to see familiar faces. I recommend the Age Dashi Tofu and Green Mussels to start... as for the rolls, be adventurous... most are simply awesome.

    (5)

  • Lauren D.

    Several years ago, I wrote a review for Toro Restaurant under another name "Chillie D." We arrived at 5:30 pm on a Friday, and got a legal parking spot in front of the restaurant which was really sweet :) We started with two bowls of Miso soup which contained kelp (seaweed) and tofu. The soup was very average. The broth was cloudy and not clear, but it was flavorful. We ordered six different rolls, which we ordered according to the reviews at Yelp. Two of the rolls were not mentioned in the Yelp reviews, but we ordered the last two rolls to try something different or unique. Our favorite Sushi rolls were the "Yum Yum" (which we both agreed deserves four stars) followed by the "OMG" rolls (which we also rated with four stars). We really enjoyed all of the Sushi rolls. I felt something was "off" or missing from our experience. I believe that it was perhaps the lack of quality, fresh ingredients utilized in making the rolls. This is a BYOB, so bring your favorite wine to pair with with your sushi. There are only 8 or 9 tables, so it is a very small restaurant. There are also eight stools at the bar where you can sit and watch the Sushi Master Chef making his sushi creations. Really cool. We were seated at a table for two. We noticed how much more crowded the restaurant was by the time 6:30 pm rolled around. People were standing in the door way as well as outside waiting for a table. Our total came to $62 and change (excluding the tip), which we both agreed is a reasonable price-point for two bowls of soup and six different Sushi rolls. The service was very average. Our Server didn't say that the other rolls were being made, so we thought maybe they FORGOT that we ordered six different rolls. When we asked her about the other two rolls she said "Oh, they are being made. I'll bring them later." However, this was never communicated to us when she dropped off our four different Sushi rolls. Duh! We also needed extra napkins, but were not provided with any, so we took them off the table that was next to us since the table was empty at the time. Our EMPTY soup bowls kept us company for over one hour. The table was crowded with our Sushi rolls and there were plates all over our tiny table. We rearranged a few things to make room for these other plates. When our Server finally delivered the other two Sushi rolls that we had been waiting on for a while she never removed the empty soup bowls. Weird. Our water glasses were never refilled (from the moment we sat down at 5:30 pm until we left at 7:10 pm), so this was a bit disappointing. For these reasons, we did not leave a 15% tip. I've had much better Sushi elsewhere, but this place is affordable. Some of the Sushi is unique, while others are pretty typical Sushi. The plating of the rolls was not artistic, but then again this is a hole in a wall dive restaurant. This is not a place where you come for the ambiance. I rated the other Sushi rolls with THREE STARS only. I am not sure if this place is under 'new' management or not, but the Sushi was so much better years ago. Some of the ingredients were not very high quality and some of it didn't taste very fresh either. In fact, I could tell that some of the ingredients used were NOT fresh or high quality. I believe they produce quantity rolls over quality rolls. For this reason, I am giving Toro an over all rating of THREE stars.

    (3)

  • Shayan R.

    Ok so maybe people in this area of Lincoln Park don't know what fresh sushi-grade fish is but Toro's fish is certainly not fresh (try Arami or Kai Sushi). The sashimi and nigiri were stale, not delicate and tender. The rolls are overstuffed and not nuanced in their flavor profile at all. The restaurant itself needs to be cleaned with a steam cleaner, and frankly the fact that the owner fist-bumps everyone that comes in, while continuing to use the same un-gloved hands to make my sushi is unsanitary to say the least. I think because this is an area where a lot of college kids tend to congregate, the plethora of 5 star reviews reflect that lack of a sophisticated palate.

    (2)

  • Abigail T.

    I've been going to Toro for over 9 years, even though I haven't lived in Lincoln Park for 7. It's my favorite restaurant in Chicago - not favorite sushi restaurant but favorite restaurant (period). The kamikaze roll and the ahi tuna salad are my "go to's" as well as super white tuna nigiri. Mitch, the owner/chef, is great and I've been hoping for years that he'd expand because it's not very big and there's almost always a wait (they don't take reservations).

    (5)

  • Caroline M.

    This place rocks. My friend and I arrived right as they opened, which was great because we were seated at a table immediately and avoided the long wait. We started with the seaweed salad, and it was great. I loved the toasted sesame seeds tossed throughout. Yum! I went with the Dragon Roll and a Spicy Tuna roll. Both were excellent and presented beautifully on a long plate. My veggie friend was happy to see that the menu included a section of just vegetarian offerings. She enjoyed her futo maki and veggie tempura plate. We were both very happy with our selections and can't wait to dine at Toro again. Recap: 3 rolls veggie tempura seaweed salad = $40 And don't forget they are BYOB!

    (4)

  • Andrew B.

    AWESOME. Lucked out and the 3 of us got a table in under 20 minutes on a Thursday evening; by the time we left, the wait was up to an hour and a half. MJ roll was just about as good as everyone has posted. All the rolls were well put together, great presentation, great ingredients, great taste. Sashimi was GREAT -- the salmon (sake) was like butter, the maguro (tuna) was top notch. The escolar was served overly cold, sadly, but everything else was perfect. The tempura ice cream was pretty good, and two dishes were more than enough to share among the 3 of us; the vanilla has a very strong flavor, the green tea a bit milder.

    (5)

  • Ian P.

    I get take out from this place quite a bit and one of the first things you notice upon picking up your food is that the place is always PACKED. This is for good reason: their sushi is awesome. Pretty obvious, I know, but not for the most obvious reasons in my opinion. What makes this place really good is that along with their traditional nigiri and hand rolls being top notch, their specialty rolls and dishes are unbelievable as well. I have found many times places that are usually only good in one or the other, or are okay in both. If you live in the area or are feel like having an adventurous takeout, I suggest giving Toro a try, it won't let you down.

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    This is by far my favorite sushi place in Chicago. I have sought out sushi on every coast, in many cities and I have been lucky to find some really amazing rolls and not so lucky more times than I can count. I have waited in line for them to open on Saturdays and spent weeknights waiting over 90 mins for a table at 9pm. I suggest going 4pm Sat or before 6pm on weeknights if you want to get in quick. I have been coming here since around the time they opened, about every 6-8 weeks for my fix. Toro gets it right and they get it right every time. I love how inventive some of the rolls are. I love that Mitch makes everything and takes the time to go to the fish market himself and pick out the best fish every day. He cares immensely about the quality of food he picks out. I am saddened that the place is so small but understand its because of Mitch wanting to keep it great and make everything. When others give me sushi suggestions in Chicago I find myself snobbishly rolling my eyes and going, "Yeah, sure. Have you been to Toro?" My Faves are: Ahi Salad (Simple but it's the one I always end up craving that instigates my next trip. The layers of flavors are perfect.) Big Ten Miami OMG "O" Spring Blossom Volcano 3 Amigos

    (5)

  • William L.

    Toro was the host for a cold-evening dinner with a fellow yelper. I'm not a sushi savant so I relied on her to make the suggestions. We dined on edamame to start, which was pretty yummy. For the rolls, we (she) chose the crunchy salmon, crazy horse, and the Siberian tiger...all were very delicious and presented beautifully. The freshness of the fish really stood out to me. Like I said, I'm no sushi expert, but as far as my experiences go, this place was the best I've been to and I will certainly be back. It is small and from what I hear, the wait times can be quite long. But, get there early so that you can sit and chat before it gets busy and loud.

    (5)

  • Yen L.

    My boyfriend and I are steadily working our way through our list of sushi places to try, and this was up. A friend of ours who's got high food standards said it's one of the best he's had. So with his opinion, a majority of good reviews, and an appetite for sushi, we headed out. In terms of wait, it was what everyone said it would be...approximately 45 minutes. But we weren't in a hurry, and they called us actually a little bit earlier than expected and said our table was ready to go. The staff is very courteous, though it actually took them a little time to bring us water. But the restaurant was filled to capacity, with more people coming in. We each ordered one maki roll and one "Mitch's Special", and my boyfriend added a plate of sashimi. The quality of the fish was sooo good. Oh, the salmon was delicious and seemed to melt in my mouth. For the rolls, I was so pleased at the minimum amount of rice that was used. I could actually taste all the fish and the other elements of the roll without getting overwhelmed by rice, and it was nice to not feel bloated without excess rice expanding in my stomach. The only problem was that it was pretty loud in there. I was fine with hearing the people right next to us. You can't really help it when the table is only four inches away. But we were getting drowned out by tables further away from us. I guess when tables are that close to each other, people talk louder to compensate for their "next-door" neighbors' conversation, then everyone else talks louder...and next thing you know, it's a roar worthy of a Sox game. But, if you can put up with that, and are willing to wait, the food is TOTALLY worth it.

    (4)

  • Samson P.

    One of my girlfriend's favorite sushi restaurants in Chicago is Toro! We were craving some good sushi. So we decided to get some Toro. We ordered two orders (four per order) of green mussels (baked in spicy mayo sauce and simply delicious). We had an order of Namesake Nigiri (salmon), one order of Negi Hama Maki (yellow tail), and one KamiKaze hand roll. All were fresh and delicious. We sat at the sushi bar and Mitch the owner/head sushi chef threw in a few extra pieces of yellow tail sashimi on the house! Because it is a tiny restaurant and with it being so popular and all there is almost always a long wait so we usually go after lunch to dine-in or order take out. Every time we come here, the sushi is awesome. It never fails to keep us coming back for more.

    (5)

  • Michelle T.

    On a Wednesday night at 6:40, there was a 1 hour wait for a table. ONE HOUR!!! That's how popular this little "hole in the wall" joint is! (It's a pretty small restaurant) After a good hour walking around the neighborhood and picking up some tasty Molly's Cupcakes next door to Sushi Toro, we were finally seated! TWO HUNGRY DINERS! RATINGS Overall: 4/5 (Mitch's special rolls are just too special and too tasty) Taste: 4/5 (You can't beat fresh fish!) Originality: 4/5 (Mitch's special rolls are just...too unique!) Plating: 3.5/5 (The kamikaze and futo fell flat, but everything else redeemed them!) Value: 4/5 (A good deal for a sushi joint serving high quality fish and sushi!) Service: 4/5 (Hard to complain about anything but the wait! The waitresses were polite, quick, and got all our orders right) Final Words? We may come back just to try all the other rolls on the menu!! The long wait was worth it, but it really is TOO DARN LONG!

    (4)

  • David L.

    Food: 4 Decor: 3 Service: 4 After driving an hour all the way from Waukegan and getting rejected earlier in the week, I decided to come back here with a party of 6 for dinner shortly after they opened, around 5:30pm. We were able to get a seat without a problem. All the tables were filled by 6pm, and the wait started getting long by 6:30pm, so arrive earlier to beat the wait. Parking is street, so good luck. Everyone ordered at least two rolls, which was about enough food. 1. OMG yelp.com/biz_photos/sjhB… Pretty good. Some of my friends agreed that it was probably the best roll out of the 8+ we ordered. 2. Kamikaze yelp.com/biz_photos/sjhB… Very good. Toppings were delicious, and it had the perfect amount of spiciness. 3. Arizona yelp.com/biz_photos/sjhB… Very good. Definitely in my top three favorite rolls. 4. Crazy horse yelp.com/biz_photos/sjhB… 5. Al fuego yelp.com/biz_photos/sjhB… Pretty good. Couldn't really taste the difference between this one and some of the other rolls. 6. Green tea ice cream yelp.com/biz_photos/sjhB… Very good. Generous scoop of green tea ice cream with some chocolate syrup and powdered sugar. Green tea wasn't overbearing at all. My friends who had the salmon nigiri said it was very good. Overall, very good sushi. Rolls are around $12-15 each, and there is 20% gratuity for parties of 5 or more. My total was about $33 after tax/tip.

    (4)

  • Elina S.

    Officially, the BEST sushi place in Chicago! I've been to soo many sushi places in Chicago and burbs, and finally found my sushi gem! everything we had here was super fresh, innovative, phenomenal quality for sushi. The only draw back I would say would be the small place so the wait kinda sucks. We came here at 530 on a Saturday and the wait was a half hour, which isn't bad, but kinda annoying to wait, especially if it starts to rain in our crazy weather city. We had the kamikazee roll, the dragon, bunch of hand rolls that were to die for, I mean everything Mitch made was incredible and we sat at the bar which was kinda cool to see everything in action! He just expand and bring another Toro to the burbs (it would do equally well). LOVED it and officially will be back as soon as possible!

    (5)

  • Sara L.

    I came in here with high expectations after reading the Yelp reviews, and I can confidently say that I left with a smile on my face. Service/Atmosphere: The seating capacity is very limited, so the wait can be very long. We came in on a Thursday night (party of 3), and we only had to wait about 45 min, which isn't too bad. There are more tables of 2 in the restaurant, so I would advise coming in smaller parties if you're not wanting to wait This isn't a place that you would come if you are searching for a romantic or upscale atmosphere. This is somewhere you would go simply for the love of its food and the charisma of the sushi chef/owner. As soon as we were seated at the sushi bar, the chef greeted us with a fist pound as if were his friends. He entertained us throughout the night, so I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar if it is your first time. He might even give you free samples. :) Food: -Hamachi (Yellowtail): This is my staple when I come to sushi restaurants, and this can be a make it or break it for me. The Hamachi here was the best that I had thus far in Chicago. Slightly buttery, tender, rich flavor, clean aftertaste. Perfection. -Rolls: Kamikaze: This has to be my favorite roll of them all. Basically it is a roll topped with mixture of different cut up RAW fish, sunflower seeds, scallion, masago and then mixed in spicy mayo. The sunflower seeds definitely give it a extra kick. MJ: This is more of a savory roll, since it is deep fried. It wasn't one of my favorites though. Ahi Salad: This isn't truly a sushi roll, but more like a fresh spring roll in that it's wrapped in rice paper (what they use for spring rolls). It's filled with salad, tuna, other veggies, and then topped with spicy mayo and ginger dressing. I really enjoyed it, and I think it makes a great appetizer. Gives a very fresh feeling, and sometimes that's what you want after eating heavy rolls. Spring Blossom: This also has to be another favorite. Mango goes very well with spicy rolls. I will definitely order this again on my 2nd visit. Awesome: There are three types of fish that is seared on top of the roll (Tuna, White Tuna, and Salmon), so that can give a slight fishiness. It's topped with blue cheese, which gives an excellent aftertaste. -Tempura Ice Cream- They were out of green tea, so I got the vanilla. IT was friggin AMAZING. Most places I know use poundcake over the ice cream, and deep fry it. This tasted a lot better than what I'm usually used to, and I freakin love tempura ice cream. I'm very curious what they use for the breading. They top it with powdered sugar. -on the menu, you will see TIFFANY SAUCE in the descriptions a lot. This is simply just spicy mayo.

    (5)

  • Anna B.

    YUM. for the food alone, 5 stars. service, prob a 3 or 4. Specialty rolls are to die for -- huge portions. I can't remember specific names, but we have yet to try something I didn't love (I've been 3 times). Volcano roll is fun for flair-they light it on fire. The crunch rolls are killer. Sauces delectable. Warning: taste your spicy rolls before dipping them in wasabi-laden soy sauce -- they can be pretty hot!! Go during the week, show up before 7--I've only had to wait 5 min tops. BYOB! My neighborhood fave, by far.

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    Really great sushi! Lots of unique rolls with non-traditional ingredients like jalapeños. Went here for the first time last week and ended up back there two days later...it was that good!

    (5)

  • Kevin H.

    Prepare to wait for 30-60 minutes... excellent food and a pretty solid price. Love this place!

    (5)

  • Katalina B.

    el fuego is amazing! any friends i've ever brought here really enjoy this spot. it's a must-do!

    (5)

  • Robyn G.

    This review is long overdue. I have eaten here 100+ times. No joke. I've lived in the city for 6 years, and this was the first sushi restaurant I ever tried. It set the bar HIGH, and I have never found a place in the city that compares. The sushi at Toro is SO fresh. My favorite rolls are: Super White Tuna Crunch, Spring Blossom, and Yellow Submarine. Their hand rolls are delicious, as well. To top it off, this place is BYOB. Mitch, the owner, is always present. What a great guy with a great restaurant! I will be back here 100+ more times. I can't get enough. Toro does not take reservations over the phone. And there is usually a wait after 6pm no matter what day it is. I recommend getting there to put your name in an hour before you want to eat. You can always grab a drink at the wine bar down the street while you wait. They call your cell phone to tell you that your table is ready.

    (5)

  • Mei H.

    We were very disappointed. Sushi was ok, not good. Long wait for a table as this place is small.

    (1)

  • James X.

    The first time I went here I was seated almost immediately and had one of the best sushi experiences of my life. The menu is big, with creative names and clever pairings that you have to try to believe. Mitch even gave myself and my girlfriend a cut of salmon and another type of fish, and explained to us the proper color, texture and taste that should accompany the aforementioned. Very good tasting sushi. My g/f and I had a fair amount of food for a surprisingly small bill ($28). The second time we went to Toro, we waited by the door, crammed next to a group of three. A couple came in the door and preceded to sit down at a now open table -- what the -- it's okay, the guy said, they put their name down a while ago and came back. No problem there. Then a group of five girls came in the door and waited....and waited. Finally a server came over to all of us...only to say, "Can you please shut the door" (it wasn't open). Nothing about seating. Five minutes later, the server is floating around and we catch her and ask if the two of us will be able to get a table. Nope. The restaurant is closing (in about an hour). If there were three couples ahead of us, I could understand. But no mention of who, if anyone, was ahead of us. No mention of anything. Communicate with us. Use your words. The fact that there is not a dedicated host at all times taking walk-ins and questions is beyond me. This is a sushi restaurant that absolutely demands that. Overall, love the sushi, and Mitch is great. If you can get a seat, it is a treat. Nice rhyme. But there needs to be better service, especially for a place this tiny.

    (3)

  • Boon K.

    Very affordable for the amount you get. I like that their rolls are not full of rice and full of fresh fish. The tipsy roll was getting the ocean and it came on top of a nice light salad that went really well together . I like their spicy scallop hand roll. It was spicy but seem to have more rice in their hand rolls. The big tiger which was a soft shell crab roll was probably my favorite because it was huge and full of favors like seaweed that really complement the crab. We also had the best of both world which was really good too, the sunflower seeds added a nice crunch.

    (4)

  • Prix L.

    The reviews say it all. The service is great, the rolls are perfectly fresh and perfect size and amount, and BYOB! It's the best sushi place in all of Chicago. When my dad comes to chicago, he NEEDS! to go, he loves this place

    (5)

  • Jenn C.

    Came here for lunch with a friend and had the chirashi. They gave me generous amount of sashimi, however it didn't "WOW" me. I am a snobby sashimi/sushi eater and have been spoiled living on both East and West coasts, I am be critical when it comes to Asian food! It is BYOB which is common out in this area, but I personally like to go to a place that is a full bar or at least wine and beer. I'm not sure why so many people yelped this as so great. It's average, but my lunch with my friend was fun so I didn't hate this place.

    (3)

  • Laura C.

    What is up, Yelpers? This place and it's mushy sushi rice really surprised me. For the half hour wait on a Wednesday night, I expected more. Sure, they have some unique rolls with some bizarre names, but the amount of fish that actually shows up in the rolls is absurdly lacking as is the quality. We were quoted with a 30-45 minute expected wait time, and they called us about 25 minutes later to seat us. I liked that they took a cell phone number so we could grab a drink nearby instead of waiting in the extremely crowded space. Fine, it's Lincoln Park, so tables are going to be close, but I wasn't happy with my seat facing the bathrooms. Not exactly appetizing. Signage is a little preschool - handwritten sushi roll descriptions and strict magic marker BYOB signs surrounded us as we ate (limit 1 bottle of wine or 1 bottle of saki - repetitive since saki is wine - or 1 six pack per table). I would rather enjoy my drinks elsewhere, anyway. It was kind of like being in a kindergarten classroom where all the students are white and all the teachers are Asian. Maybe the lack of Japanese patrons should have tipped me off. Started with age dashi tofu, which came swimming in a large bowl of dark sauce and served with two soup bowls. I had to ask if it was a soup, and the server told us it was just a sauce, although some customers do drink it. The presentation is confusing - really way too much sauce for such a small portion of tofu. Instead of the soaking tub that just diminished the fried crispiness of the tofu, I would have preferred the sauce on the side to control the dips. The benito flakes were a cool aesthetic addition - they danced around on the top of the dish like the crazy balloon guy from Great America. It was mesmerizing, until you ate them and were brought back to a strange bland reality. Water was served in those yellow/brownish plastic cups from the 80's. I was really turned off by this, as presentation is a big deal for me. It was another flashback to kindergarten snack time...just missing the animal crackers. We tried three rolls: salmon crunch, super white crunch (tuna and mango were the main draws for this roll), and a deep fried unagi mess with a ridiculous name. I was so excited for this one, but the sushi rice and fried coating arrived mushy and overpowering. I hardly tasted anything but the rice in all three rolls. The tempura green tea mochi caught my eye before we ordered, but the fried choices we had during dinner made me want to get out of there as soon as possible. I should have stuck with my sushi go to - Tank, but I wanted to see what all the hype and long lines was about. I guess you have to try everything once.

    (2)

  • Abigail L.

    HANDS DOWN BEST SUSHI IN CHICAGO!! And trust me I've done more than my fare share of sampling! Rolls are amazing crafted. NOT too crunchy and full of cucumber, which is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Also not so much rice it will fill you up fast! Melt in your mouth fresh sushi! The rolls are all very creative! Sit at the bar, it's worth the wait. Key is to get there early on a week night. They don't take reservations and are always busy (because they can). I live in the area and 9 times out of 10 there is like a 45 min to hour wait. I've been by when they said hour and 45 min, yet people wait. What does that tell you?! It is byob, but there is a liquor store just across the street to the north that sells sparkling sake. Who knew that even existed, but it is FABULOUS!! Big up side to going on a slow night and sitting at the bar, chiefs have been known to create new rolls for bar dwellers to sample. AND they accept liquid tips, if you know what I mean. They will also tell you about the rolls they are preparing for others if you ask. That is usually how I order most of the things I try there. Words cannot do this play justice. You just HAVE to try!!

    (5)

  • Eric T.

    Probably the best sushi you are gonna find without dropping serious coin. I'd put it right up there with Murai or Sunda and it's a fraction of the price. BYOB is also pretty awesome. If you sit at the bar the chef will shoot the shit with you, so avoid if you're not interested. Molly's cupcakes is also right next door for desert...major win.

    (5)

  • Alexandria H.

    The only reason I didn't give this place five stars is because on several occasions I have had outstandingly bad service. Actually I would say about 50% of the time it's outright awful. However the sushi is so amazing that it keeps me coming back. I'm from SF where good sushi is not hard to find. However I think Toro is my all time favorite spot. Mitch is wonderful. The sashimi is always perfectly fresh and the maki is creative and delicious.

    (4)

  • Megan J.

    Holy Awesome Sushi, Batman! This is some of the best sushi I've had, period. Every roll was delectable, with beautiful presentation and creative combinations. My brother and I started off with -- well, to be fair, we actually started with a cupcake from Molly's next door during out wait, but that's neither here nor there -- three bites of delectable escolar sashimi ($5 for 3 nuggets of awesomeness). Not too long after we were tearing through a JJ roll (explosion of happy involving tempura shrimp, salmon, and a little dallop of cream cheese), a Midtown Madness roll (YUM - spicy tuna, shitake mushrooms, asparagus, on a bed of salad), a Spring Bloosom roll (*swoon* - mango, sunflower seeds, tuna, delicious), and another roll I can't even remember because I think by this point I was in a food coma haze of delight. Money well spent here! FYI, no reservations, and this place is not meant for big groups.

    (5)

  • Justin C.

    Came here with a friend on a Tuesday night. I was concerned that we wouldn't be able to get seating since I've heard it is a small space and it is popular all the time. Fortunately we were seated fairly quickly at the bar - and were able to put our names down and go close-by to pick up a bottle (BYOB). We ordered: - Age-Dashi Tofu - Green Mussel - Oh My God roll - Kamikazi roll, and - 2 pieces of Ikura nigiri Out of the items we ordered, the Green Mussel were really good, and we loved both the Oh My God and Kamikazi rolls. Would definitely come back as the sushi tasted very fresh and flavourful.

    (5)

  • Jonathan L.

    I had the Bento Box B which came with one main dish (choose teriyaki chicken, beef, or salmon) and one side dish. I had the chicken. It was just ok. I don't know why it's so hard to find good teriyaki in Chicago. My side dish was vegetable tempura which was very good. I also ordered the spicy tako maki. WOW. Really great and fresh. I highly recommend it if you love octopus. Chef Mitch is friendly and says hi to everyone at the bar.

    (4)

  • Jeremy W.

    Went back to this place again because it always gets so much love that I thought I just had a bad experience. Welp, it was even worse. I get better nigiri at Sushi Para down the street which is an all-you-can-eat sushi place. That is pretty pathetic when an all-you-can-eat place has better nigiri. My friends also had the Boston Roll---no joke, I had a better Boston Roll at the new Walgreens down the street. MOST OVERRATED PLACE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO!

    (1)

  • Allyson R.

    All the 5-star reviews on Yelp for Toro are spot on! Happened to be in the neighborhood last weekend running some errands and needed a reasonable place to meet friends afterwards. Toro popped up in my search and I was tempted by all these positive reviews. The actual space itself is quite bijou. Make sure you're entire party is present; you don't get the option to sit and wait for the rest of the group to arrive. We were lucky to get in without any wait, but it was not shortly after our arrival that a line started to form. Our waitress was super helpful in providing recommendations. I have never seen such a variety of sushi rolls! We could have spent an hour reading the menu itself. We selected about four rolls to start. Don't pass up "O" and "Salmon Crunch". The "Midway" roll and "Sunny" was also a hit with our group. We continued to order sushi until we were all stuffed. I was hesitant to see the bill as we had all lost track. $63 for a four person sushi feast was a pleasant surprise. We pay nearly that for two people in suburbs. Toro is BYOB and did not charge a cork fee. There is a Trader Joe's down the block to meet your adult beverage needs. Another visit to Toro is definitely in the cards. If you love creative and delicious sushi rolls with surprising combinations, you will love Toro.

    (5)

  • Thomas B.

    As far as I can tell, this is the freshest, most traditional sushi in Chicago. There is something for everyone. I usually order sashimi, and this place did not disappoint. This is very traditional, but extremely delectable. The chef is a true Itamae. They have sporadic hours, I recommend getting here close to open so you can guarantee a table.

    (5)

  • Annee H.

    Without question the best sushi in the city! I've been coming here for years and have recommended it for years. I have always loved every bite and so has anyone I've taken. The "Oh My God" roll is amazing as is the "Southern Galz" if you like something spicier. The "Sunny" roll has a few different kinds of fish and is incredibly fresh. But you really can't go wrong. There are many rolls to choose from and something for everyone. The space is tight, so expect to wait. (Also, it's a little tough for a group over 3 because of the limited space. Really ideal for 2 people on a casual date or 2 friends catching up.) Waiting really isn't a problem as it's in a busy area of Lincoln Park ,and we always head to DOC Wine Bar, Duke's, or Molly's Cupcakes while we wait. And it is always worth it! Oh, and it's byob so you can match your meal perfectly with your beverage! Enjoy!!

    (5)

  • Natalie F.

    Best Chicago sushi! Very original and interesting menu- byob is great!

    (5)

  • Nicole A.

    went to this place based on the reviews from this site. my fellow yelpers have never failed me.... until now. the service was so so. it's a TINY PLACE so you'd think it wouldn't be very hard to keep up with the ten small tables inside..yet ONE girl was juggling the entire restaurant???? the menus were DISGUSTING and covered in old food and stained with soy sauce.. gross. miso soup was good but that's kind of hard to mess up. we ordered the kamikaze roll which was average and fell apart by the time you got it to your mouth. the fish was in no way as fresh as the people on here made it seem... or maybe I just went on a bad day??? (Saturday afternoon) we also got the soft shell crab spider roll... average at best. the best part of our meal was the side salad with ginger dressing. sad. bummed and disappointed.

    (1)

  • Frank M.

    All the review are so true; I thought I'd throw a little bit more 5 star juice their way, because I love this place. In my mind, the best gauge of a sushi place is the obvious: how fresh in the fresh. I've gotten the sashimi platter here the past few times, and it's darn fresh. If, for a night, you decide to for-go the incredible maki here and just keep in simple, old school sytle, you'll be in for a treat. Mitch selects this stuff, prepares in beautifully and I shovel it in. I'm a bit like a senior citizen. I like to eat breakfast and dinner early, to avoid crowds. And if you come here during prime-time on really ANY night, you will have to wait. So, hey, why not go the early bird special route? Then you can go crush some cupcakes at Molly's.

    (5)

  • Sarv C.

    The best sushi I've tasted by far - great staffs specially Mitch who is the owner and is always there making the special rolls .. Everything on the menu is amazing and the quality of the food will blow your mind.. We have been there several times and always excited to go back :) try OMG roll. Sashimi pieces are great too..

    (5)

  • Jay G.

    Best sushi in Chicago. Fish is always fresh and melts in your mouth. Softshell crab was delishious and the tigers eye roll changed my life!!!

    (5)

  • Nina M.

    I wouldn't have given it 5 stars the first time I came here. I think because my sister and I like very different rolls. She likes that fried kind with a lot of stuff on it. I like more fishy and fresh. I like nigiri too. So when I ordered what I wanted the next time I was very happy with the quality of fish and my roll. I also appreciated it when the Gulf oil spill happened and the owner put a notice on the window that they do use Gulf seafood for their customers to be aware. Very good and honest person. He recognizes my sister every time we go here because she can't stay away. Easily one of the best Sushi places in town. And I love hearing complaints about the people who don't know how popular this place is when they hear the wait time. Or that they can't handle anymore reservations for the night. Instead of thinking, "Hey this place must be really good," they say, "How dumb" and go to one of the nearby sushi places that only exist for Toro's spillover crowd. Little do they know they are dumb for going into those other places. I appreciate places that don't expand because the chef is passionate and caring and proud of their work. You know you get quality food then.

    (5)

  • Raquel D.

    Toro, toro oh so Fan-tas-tik-o. This little gem completely fell off my radar - mainly cuz I highly dislike driving to LP and parking SUCKS. But, my lil sis re-introduced me to something I tot forgot - there is an itty-bitty spot that serves AWESOME sushi. Why, Toro, it's been too long - what's been going on? Well, for starters, the wait hasn't changed. Which could have added to my memory loss of this place. BUT, it's better than ever before! Delicious and creative rolls, FRESH fish and BYOB. We all know those are my 3 main judging categories with sushi. And the rolls here have more fish than rice - whaaaat! That's right - amazing. Check out the super white crunchy roll. Crunchy and melts in your mouth. Even tho I hate sitting at the bar, it's pretty cool here as the Master Sushi Chef will offer some sashimi pieces. Or is it just for me? hehe. The only reason it's missing a star is for the consistent HOUR wait and the lack of reservations. They could at least have a place to drink my wine...but the goodness makes up for that - just come early!

    (4)

  • Nina G.

    I came here only one time a while back, but I still remember how fresh the sushi was! There was a 45min wait when we got there, so we left and walked around the neighborhood a bit. Since it was byob we walked to the nearby liqour store and came back. I liked the fact that they call your cell phone when they are ready with your table.The sushi was honestly some of the best I've ever had in the city! So fresh, it just melts in your mouth. The prices are a bit steep, but once you taste the quality then it becomes justifiable. The only gripe about this place is that it's sooo TINY, so I minused one star for that. You would think with all the business they get they would at least expand by now. It's the size of a shoe box, so I wasn't very fond of hearing the groups conversation next to our table and vice versa. We ended up ordering a dessert that was off the menu, and we could hear the people next to us saying that they wanted to order the same thing, but that they couldn't find it on the menu. We were going to tell them it wasn't on the menu, but we actually found it kind of amusing that they kept looking for it. I know, we're assholes. Nonetheless, it was amusing but a awkward to hear everyone's conversation, but all in all the sushi was great!

    (5)

  • Roxy A.

    Just went here for dinner w/ the bf, i really like toro sushi..they have some interesting maki rolls that are super "oishii" (delicious). =) We ordered the 1. ahi kani salad roll super fresh & refreshing (tuna w/ mango, sunflower seeds, salad wrapped in soypaper topped w/ "tiffany sauce"); 2. Tuna lovers (crab meat w/ avocado topped w/ tuna); 3. Park west (shrimp tempura topped w/ yellowtail baked w/ tiffany sauce). The prices are decent & the sushi is fresh! The last time we went here we also ordered some uni (sea urchin) it was so fresh, buttery and oooh so tasty. Toro is definitely a great sushi spot where you can choose different types of maki that don't include "cream cheese" in every roll. The place is a bit small, but if you come at the right time you won't have to wait very long & they let you leave your number and they call you when your table is ready.

    (5)

  • Susan D.

    This by far is one of Chicago's best kept sushi places. The food was amazing and everything we ordered was FRESH! I wont eat frozen fish and no the difference and I will tell you its fresh. Mitch the well loved owner was very kind and the sever mad awesome recommedations to us since it was our first time. I loved the green monster roll I think it was called? I really cant wait to go back but it is a tiny place and priced reasonable it can get pretty packed go early or late will help =)

    (5)

  • Tera D.

    Good sushi, yes. Worth the wait, not really. I mean, come on, 7pm on a Thursday is an hour wait? And even if you want to order take out instead, it's practically impossible b/c the owners are on some kind of paranoia inducing narcotic that's convinced them that posting their menu ANYWHERE will lead to sushi chefs around the world poaching their recipes????? Seriously? We ordered four rolls, and they had the standard distribution of some being our favorites, and others being just ok. I'd tell you the names of the favorites, which to be fair, were very good and unique, but I can't remember and can't look them up.

    (3)

  • Jenn G.

    DAMN. GOOD. SUSHI. It's a hole-in-the-wall place that you'll probably wait an hour to get a table in, but boy is it worth it. You won't find sushi like this anywhere else in the midwest, and I'd even go so far as to say that it rivals many top NYC sushi restaurants (that's a bold statement having lived in NYC prior to Chicago). Toro isn't cheap, but nor is it outrageously expensive. It's my go-to sushi place in the city and I've never been disappointed by my dining experience. In fact, I have an entire rating system for the various sushi rolls. Each time I go, I have to order at least one of my favorite rolls, then try and branch out for something new. In addition to the set menu, there are always random new rolls being added by the sushi chef (usually featured on a quickly printed 8.5 x 11 paper on the wall). Plenty of amazing options to choose from. Here are a few of my faves: - Red Dragon: far and away the best roll at Toro. Order it every time i go. - Super White Crunch: super white delicious! - Big 10: very good - Miami: muy excellente - Sunny: really really good - Best of Both Worlds: best of a lot of yumminess I have to say, I've never had any issues with the service, but to all those who have - come on! if you need to be pampered go pay $1000 to eat at Alinea. This is a phenomenal sushi joint and if you're complaining about the service, you're probably not worthy of the delicious food in front of you!

    (4)

  • Jessica H.

    Hands down my favorite sushi restaurant in Lincoln Park! It's a great BYOB restaurant that is decently priced. The sushi is ALWAYS fresh and delicious. Mitch is always there too. Sometimes he'll even send out new creations out for guests to try. He's very personable and thoroughly enjoys his customers. I enjoy all of the items on the menu. My best friend that is a vegetarian also sings praises of this place. One thing to know - they do not accept reservations. If you plan to go, make sure to arrive early and put your name in. There's a liquor store across the street so put your name in first then go grab a good bottle of wine!

    (5)

  • Amelia S.

    Best Sushi in the city of Chicago---by far. Be prepared to go to a bar in the area and wait since they don't take reservations but it's totally worth it!

    (5)

  • Amey K.

    Go there on off peak hours/days and you could get in easily. Great sushi.

    (4)

  • Stephanie W.

    Good, but I'm not sure it's worth all of the hype...and the hour and a half wait. But after we got done waiting for a table at this lovely BYOB establishment... Agedashi Tofu - Simply delicious. I love that it was prepared in much smaller cubes than normal so you got more surface area covered in delicious deep fried batter, and the sauce was good as always Vegetable Tempura - basic, nothing to write home about Dragon Roll - Absolutely yum yum, just wish there had been a little less eel and a little more avocado on top. We polished this one off in about 30 seconds flat Spider Roll - Melt in your mouth good, though I always have trouble fitting those end pieces in my mouth. Crunchy and so good Tamago - A super generous double-portion, the perfect slightly sweet finish to a salty Japanese meal The food was really outstanding - but I love Japanese food and have had great Japanese elsewhere in Chicago. The wait here just kills me.

    (4)

  • Tina C.

    Best sushi in the city! Also, they just got a new phone number last week 773-348-7255 Super fresh sushi, great prices, BYOB! What's not to like?!?! Don't forget to say hello to Mitch!

    (5)

  • Zo O.

    this place is so busy. this place is so good. it's like the kuma's of sushi. everything we ordered was excellent, but super white crunch (!!!)

    (5)

  • Vaidehi T.

    Very good sushi. I have wanted to go to this place for a long time - but there is always a VERY LONG WAIT. Its a hole in the wall kind of place, but the food is delicious - extremely fresh and fun! Their signature rolls have some fun names and they are extremely tasty. The service is very friendly, helpful and attentive. They get 5 stars for food, 5 stars for service, but I take off 1 star because of the wait times every day. I wish they started taking reservations!!

    (4)

  • Mark F.

    Fresh Fish! Really high quality!

    (5)

  • Dax R.

    Mitch is awesome! The sushi he makes is awesome. Just make sure you are ready to wait. The Kamikaze Roll is one of the best things to eat there. Sit at the sushi bar if you can.

    (5)

  • Alicia K.

    This is some of the best sushi I had ever had, and I have tried some pretty darn good sushi (Seriously -- I'm from CA). The nigiri is fresh and excellent, but I would save your money for the specialty rolls which are phenomenal. Went for a friend's birthday and we tried maybe 8 of them (oh my god, rainbow, O, toro, kamikaze...) -- we loved every one! It's definitely going to be a wait, so don't show up too hungry or you'll just be irritated. They take your cell number, you leave and hang out somewhere else, and you come back when they call you and your table is ready. Note: This also means you should be respectful and LEAVE after you're done eating since there are going to be other people drooling over your table. Seriously -- don't be lame. It's pricey -- the kind of place you save up for -- but worth it in quality. Plus, Mitch (the owner, always behind the sushi bar) is so cute and will give all the guys a fist bump and the girls a spirit fingers thing on your way out if you stop by to say "thanks." Great place as long as you expect to wait, know it's not cheap, and are ready for some amazing sushi! Edit 3/27/10: Went here again last night and the food was as great as I remember (especially the Sunny roll... Yummmmm...), but the wait was 2 HOURS. I'm going to leave it at 5 stars b/c of the quality of their sushi, but again, REALLY be prepared to kill time after you put your name in! I would also say pass on the tempura ice cream. It would have been better to just have another roll for dessert. ;]

    (5)

  • Lu H.

    This place changed me from only being able to eat sushi rolls to love eating sashimi. Their super white tuna is out of the world!! Every time I had it, it felt like the fish was melting in your mouth, leaving behind the taste of fatty tuna. Then it was like teasing your palate so you would always want more and more and more. Their sashmi combo was very fresh and yummy. We've tried lots of other Japanese restaurants in Chicago. Toro is not your typical Asian-fusion place. The rolls are good, but I'd say if you want some old school sashimi with nothing fancy, Toro is the best. Given the price and quality, there's no other place in Chciago can compete with Toro.

    (5)

  • nicole b.

    SPICY. TUNA. HAND. ROLLS. enough said.

    (5)

  • Tom T.

    The fish is very good quality (for Chicago that is) and the preparation is top notch. However, I feel there are a lot of sushi places of similar caliber in the area. Why so much hype for this one place? I have tried to get into Toro four times now. This, my fourth visit, was the first time they ever accepted me. The other three times I went between 7 and 8 on a week night and they had such a huge line that they were no longer taking names. How exactly does that happen three times in a row? The place is tiny, so I understand why. What I don't get is why there is such a hype over this place that it generates a line like that every single night. If anything, the line is a huge turn-off. Seriously, there are plenty of other sushi places around that are just as good. I will say their selection of rolls is quite lengthy and they have a lot of complex rolls. If you like just shashimi this place will not disappoint either. Prices are also very reasonable considering the quality of fish. In summary, a great sushi joint that I would love to patronize again but I refuse to wait in that ridiculous line. I will be going elsewhere where I can eat just as well and get seated immediately. Toro, if you open a larger restaurant I will give you five stars.

    (4)

  • Selin D.

    mmm! Pricey but "oh-my-god" delicious. definitely worth a try! it's a byob...rather small but intimate. good place for a lunch out with the girls.

    (4)

  • Ally B.

    I came to Toro because the reviews on here and yelp were really good. We went when the place just opened since people complained about the wait. The decor is horrible and the place is really small. I don't know if we had an off night but the sushi was horrible. We got 3 rolls and each roll had no flavor whatsoever and fell apart when trying to pick it up because they weren't rolled properly. We did notice that there were 2 very young girls behind the sushi counter who didn't look like they knew anything about sushi. The Tempura roll was the worst shrimp tempura roll I've had and 2 pieces didn't even have any shrimp in it. I mean how do you screw up a shrimp tempura roll?! We asked them to put cream cheese in one roll and the cream cheese was warm and completely melted and didn't taste right. The worst part, we got through most of our rolls and found a blondish hair completely stuck in the rice of the sushi. It was definitely the hair of one of the random girls behind the sushi counter. The waitress apologized and only took $3.50 off our bill. Worst service and sushi I've had in the city. Only good part of the meal was the wine we brought (BYOB) and going to Molly's cupcakes a few doors down. Won't try this place again.

    (1)

  • Shayna N.

    I've been here more than once and still haven't had to wait. Sitting at the bar, the owner/sushi was super friendly and chatted us up as we ate. He suggested rolls for us even comped us White Tuna sashimi, The fish is definitely fresh and delicious. All the nigiris or sashimis are awesome!! hamachi sashimi, sake nigiri, super white tuna. The spicy tuna hand roll is also perfect, not too creamy and just spicey enough. They also have a whole list of specialty rolls. We tried one with cilantro which was amazing, also the Oh My God roll was very good, but not my favorite. Prices aren't bad either. Remember to BYOB!

    (5)

  • Chris E.

    Was at Toro again lats night, delicious as always. Just wanted to offer a few recent things of note / insider tips. 1. There's a new special roll - Watchamacallit, delicious. One of my new favorites. 2. Mitch has started taking Tuesdays off (he deserves it), he said he will probably go back to working Tuesdays when the weather starts to warm up but for now don't expect to see him on Tuesdays. Don't worry, the food is still just as delicious and the other chefs can fill in adequately but if you want to see the star of the show, he's not working Tuesdays for now. 3. Business has already started to ramp up after the typical restaurant slow season that is Jan/Feb. Friday and Saturday of this weekend they stopped adding names to the list before 8pm and they seat till 10. 1 of the waitresses mentioned most people put their names down starting around 6 because that's when they start to get busy and Mitch told me business is starting to pick back up so I don't expect this trend to get any better. Just keep this in mind, go early or go on off days (read: not Fri/Sat).

    (5)

  • Nicki W.

    I thought I would give Toro a chance because my friend kept raving about it. I would prefer a place that's a little more low key and not so packed all the time. She told me it was packed for a reason. First off, when you walk in the door, you're lucky to be greeted within five minutes. Usually you're just ignored. Once you put your name in, it's usually an hour no matter what day of the week. This is usually a good sign. We waited the hour and had a glass of wine at D.O.C. However when we got back to the restaurant and sat down, we were ignored for close to 10 minutes. I'm a server and this is simply unacceptable. I find myself to be very easy to serve (just as long as you acknowledge me!) It's not that hard to tell me, "Hey how are you? I'm really busy at the minute but I will be right with you!" Done and done. This was not done. This place is a B.Y.O.B so we had a bottle of white sitting on the table. It would have really been nice if they could have at least brought some glasses over so we could get a little sauced while waiting. That did not happen either. When I finally grabbed the waitress, she looked at me like I was bothering her. I said "We have been sitting here for about 10 minutes and we have not been greeted. Can we have at least a bottle opener and some glasses?" She then threw a bottle opener on the table, said nothing and didn't come back with the wine glasses until about 5 minutes later. If it weren't for my friend, I would have walked out right then and there. I understand, you are busy, but just tell me that. Show me some respect so I don't walk out. I really wanted to try the rolls my friend was raving about so I stuck it out. Needless to say, the rolls were mediocre and they didn't even have mochi in the end. I believe that service makes or breaks a restaurant. I dine out A LOT and if the food is ok, or if there is a mistake and the server makes up for it with kindness and attentiveness then I will come back a second time and give it another go. Not with this place. I was not impressed with Toro and will not be coming back. I really wish we had just gone to Ponzu down the street.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth C.

    Toro is my favorite sushi place ever!!! The staff is very friendly & you almost always get a menu item "on the house" It is a little pricey for sushi, but it is byob, so you can use the money you would have spent on a $7 glass of wine towards the bill! I love toro sushi!!

    (5)

  • Chris P.

    The sushi is fantastic. Try the oh my god roll and the super white crunch. Also the individual pieces are fresh and great. Mitch is very friendly and often surprises regulars and those waiting long with an extra piece or two of sashimi. Arrive when it opens to avoid a wait.

    (5)

  • Victor L.

    Very good sashimi and sushi. All the food was very fresh. Sushi Master is the center of attention in the restaurant and he is very friendly. The service is quick (you should get there early) and my girlfriend who has celiac disease always has lots to eat here. The Spicy Scallop here is amazing! Rainbow roll is excellent (this is the roll with all different types of fish on it). Unfortunately, I did not think the Uni was as good as some other places in town, notably down the street. Overall a very good restaurant.

    (4)

  • Aleks M.

    Wow! Toro you amazed me again! This is hands down the best sushi place in the city. It just blows your mind and senses! I live just around the corner for Toro, so when I put my name on the long wait list, they are kind enough to call me when a table is ready! Have a few glasses of wine, then run down for a delicious dinner! My mom and I were sitting at the bar, and ordered a bunch of different rolls. They were stuffed with fresh fish and little rice, just how I like it! Mitch, the chef, was kind enough to let us try some sashimi and gave us a free salad roll that was just spectacular!! I LOVE LOVE Toro and want to bring all my friends here!

    (5)

  • Jenny N.

    Best sushi in town. Won't even take away a star for the freakish small space this restaurant is in. They should buy whatever restaurant is next door, knock down the wall and make it bigger. They would make a killing overnight. I try to go here as much as possible. Good prices and amazing sushi. Love that it's BYOB too. FYI - Don't plan on walking in and getting a table on a Friday or Saturday night. Plan on going an hour early, putting your name in, and then getting cocktails at a bar nearby. They will call you when your table is available. I usually don't put up with hour + long waits at restaurants, but trust me, this place is worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Bea K.

    So delicious! Freshest ingredients make for great rolls. Long wait well worth it! Oh my god, "O", & kamikaze rolls are all outstanding, especially the oh my god. Must try! /Return!

    (5)

  • Brittany M.

    I'm convinced this is the best sushi in Chicago. Really lucky my friend and I stumbled upon it because it doesn't look like much from the outside. The wait is long, but put your name in and go to the DOC wine bar for a drink - that's what I usually end up doing. Love the cherry blossom, the crazy horse, and they have this one with quail egg that is really unusual but very good. And Mitch (the owner) is super nice. And also, there's a picture of Vince Vaughn on the wall, which makes this place automatically awesome.

    (5)

  • Kathryn S.

    Hands down the best sushi place I've ever found that isn't right on the ocean, and actually the best unagi maki (my personal favorite sushi) I've found, ever. I was so sad when those unagi rolls were gone, you have no idea. (The spicy tuna maki was good, too.) In addition to having unagi maki I'm going to be dreaming about for months, this place was friendly with *exceptional* servers, nice ambience and fair prices. I really have to emphasize how impressed I was with the two servers: full house less than 30 minutes after opening and they stopped by my table with my next course within 2 minutes of every time I put my empty plate to the side. When they stopped, they smiled, refilled my water if needed, and asked me how the food was. At one point, I asked one of them to make change for a $20, and despite the fact she must have been busy, she did it immediately and without the slightest hint she felt inconvenienced. Very classy. Only two downsides: first, the yellowtail sashimi was uninspiring. It's usually a favorite of mine, but this was a very bland example, although it was fresh. There was also rather loud music playing, which I could have lived without, but what can you do.

    (5)

  • Jen P.

    Oh Toro Sushi. Because of you I will never be able to appreciate anyone else's sushi ever again. Maybe I've just been with lamer, more prosaic sushi places in the past, but after you I think I'll have to raise my standards. Standards which only you can surpass. I decided to try this place after needing a change from my usual sushi joint, which as of late has become too pricey especially for the quality. After trying Toro, however, I'm surprised their rolls aren't pricier based on how amazing they are. My friend and I started out with the spicy tuna roll, which was delicious and actually spicy. I've had many experiences in which the sushi chef would skimp on spice, but in this case I was pleasantly surprised to have to reach for my water glass once or twice. We decided to get a little more adventurous, and ordered two rolls which blew me away; the Oh My God roll and the Sunny roll. The Oh My God roll lives up to it's name. Piled high with eel, cucumber, salmon, eel sauce and sriracha, it is a surprising fusion of flavors. On the other hand the Sunny roll, which featured crab, avocado, and mango, was so sweet I don't know how anyone would want to turn it down. Every roll featured incredibly fresh fish. The service was exceptional considering the high volume of customers. While I am absolutely compelled to give the food 5/5 stars, the wait time was absolutely abysmal. It was so crowded, despite it being a weekday, that we waited nearly an hour for our table. Regardless, the sushi was fabulous, and I would wait an hour all over again.

    (5)

  • Stephanie L.

    Went here for lunch awhile back. I actually really liked this place. I had like a bento box. It was super cheap, the restaurant was jammed for lunch on a Sat. I would definitely go back. The fish was fresh and I saw a sign that said BYOB. I wanna try it out for dinner sometime. Cute, cheap, yummy sushi

    (4)

  • Kariyushi C.

    I don't really see what all the fuss is about here. This is not the best sushi in Chicago. If you are a fried-foods lover this place is for you. I ordered one regular roll (yellow tail) and two specials (ninja and volcano). The regular roll was fine, but the specials were super gross. Waaayyyy too fried fried for me. I love me some tempura, but man, this was bad. Don't expect to get a table here, or to have anywhere to wait. They basically cram people waiting to be seated in a 2x2 breezeway in the middle of all the diners, very awkward. Torajiro sushi down the street is way better. The specials are actually special and I don't feel like I'm eating sushi out of the Saz's tent at the Wisconsin state fair (which was pretty much my experience at Toro). Also, why in the world do they have sesame seeds in like three of their rolls? This makes no sense. This place's saving grace is that it's BYOB.

    (3)

  • Jessica F.

    I'm sure I'll get slapped for giving this place 2 stars, but I'm doing it anyway. Ok, the quality of the fish at Toro is really good. The rolls are tasty and pretty creative, and, as named, their o-toro is really good. That's why it gets 2 stars and not one. And the owner is very funny and entertaining. Of course, I only know this because on several occasions I've agreed to wait more than an hour to be seated (on a weeknight), endured incredibly rude staff, dealt with really poor service, and was willing to sit elbow-to-elbow with about 50 other people who were crammed in with us. If the staff had any clue what they were doing, they could actually feed a lot more people in a given evening, but there's no strategy to how they seat customers and certainly no sense of urgency to take their order, get the orders to them, or maintain any sort of flow. Or, alternatively, they're in a huge rush and do everything in their power to get you out the door ASAP. When I go for dinner, I'm hungry. I don't have the desire or patience to wait or deal with all of this crappy service for good fish. I am not really of the mindset that if there is a big line that it must be really good. Instead, I just go to Sai cafe in Lincoln Park, where the fish is just as good, and we're seated almost immediately every time by really nice staff.

    (2)

  • Steve T.

    I cannot get enough of this place! In my humble opinion Mitch and Toro set the bar for good sushi in Chicago. Everything is always fresh, tasty, and leaves everyone completely satisfied. The staff is super friendly, and the cozy setting is great for dinner with friends. I don't know if it's the recession or what, but I like that the wait has been reduced lately, but that can also be due to the new restriction on 1 bottle of wine per 2 people. I've bitched about BYO restrictions at sushi places before, but I'm not going to bitch this time since it gets this amazing sushi to my mouth faster. Stop thinking about good sushi places and just go here, you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • J M.

    Went here for lunch on a Sunday but was closed. I had a long drive in the cold and a long walk through the snow due to lack of available street parking. Their website and yelp advertises as open but when we got there the door said they were closed. Was really upset because I heard good things about this place so got Molly's cupcakes and Korean food instead. Thank goodness for cupcakes.

    (1)

  • blake m.

    I love this place - small - fresh fish - great location -

    (4)

  • Anisha A.

    So, I'm banned from Wakamono for reasons I cannot get into here. But screw them, Toro is ridiculously better. There are literally 23 total seats here. So it's worth getting there at 6 on the weekends to minimize the 2 hour wait. And parties of 2 work best, any more and your wait time is bound to double. They take your digits, so normal people leave and come back when summoned. We like to stand in the corner and hover over tables- staring them down in an attempt to get them to leave. Anyway, everything was superb in taste and presentation. Our personal fave was the Arizona roll, which took on the shape of a cactus. I'm a proud owner of a 5'7" thriving cactus named Tuxedo Jim, so this made me especially happy.

    (5)

  • Nikki L.

    I've been here three times. All three times have been OK. I don't know what's the big hype about this place. I had the OMG roll which was just OK, the Sunny which was actually pretty great and Crazy Horse which was eh, soso. I went last week only to find out that Mitch was not in, therefore the restaurant was not serving any tuna, salmon, yellow tail or super white...WHAT WHY? They said it was for quality purpose which I appreciate but, common...plan ahead, I ended up leaving. Coming back tonight confirmed that this place is just A-OK but nothing to rave about.

    (3)

  • Alexia M.

    Absolutely the best sushi I've ever had. Everything is extremely fresh, tasty and creative. The owner, Mitch, is extemely friendly and great to be around. You have to try the "That's How We Roll" and "Kamikaze". I catch myself dreaming about this place and almost starting to drool. Good thing it's down the street !!

    (5)

  • Robert Z.

    The best sushi in Lincoln Park!

    (5)

  • John F.

    Went back here two weeks ago when Mitch (the owner) had said they were getting an order of toro in. Obviously toro is an expensive fish, but definitely worth the money, was amazing. The rest of the food is amazing as usual and I love the people there. I'd say I've been there about six times since and am planning to go again next week! Best sushi in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Doniele G.

    My fiance and I eat at toro about once a week, we love it! The food is great and the staff is even better, they are so sweet and Mitch, the head sushi chef couldnt be nicer!

    (5)

  • Cathy H.

    I wandered into this place on a random day, thinking that if a restaurant looked full, it was sure to be good. Sadly, not the case. I'm not saying it was bad--it was decent--but it was nothing to write home about. The chicken katsu was kind of boring, the sushi is nothing special, and the place is really crowded. Result: you hear a lot of your neighbors' conversations, and boy, were they particularly vapid the night I was there. For a more low-key sushi experience at a lower price and with fewer crowds, I'd go for Shiroi Hana a few blocks north on Clark. Bright side of this place: just around the river bend from Molly's Cupcakes, which is delicious.

    (3)

  • Bea P.

    You know when you see a product from a major fast food joint in another country and it's like a mutation of the original concept to appeal to local tastebuds? For example, burger buns made out of rice or pizza with potatoes and mayonnaise on top? I bet the Japanese feel the same way about fusion sushi. It's like, "Hey, this is our food, but...not really." And if they should happen to walk into Toro Sushi, their reaction would probably be akin to our "They have what in their McDonald's??" The specialty rolls at Toro Sushi are stuffed with everything from mango to sunflower seeds. It was a bit too overwhelming for me - it took me forever to pick something out. I was afraid they would think I couldn't read. I ordered the red dragon roll, the Hiroshima roll, and the striped tiger roll (?) but I don't remember if it was actually called that. Yes, all for me, but as my nickname in middle school was "Glutton," this is standard procedure. The red dragon roll was huge and yummy and really spicy, but it ruined my chances of flirting with the cute chef behind the sushi bar. (Have you tried guzzling water with your cheeks bursting with sushi you can't swallow? Uh huh). The Hiroshima roll was even worse (in a good way) - each piece was the size of a coaster. It was deep fried, the pieces half-submerged in a pool of tempura sauce (ohh yeah) but I had to nibble around the edges bit by bit until it fit in my mouth. The striped tiger roll was also good - it was the only one with recognizable amounts of salmon in it, although I got tired of chewing the sunflower seeds after awhile. All three rolls were very good. I was expecting to drop a small fortune on them, but the bill (less than $30, I think) wasn't too bad. I came in at around 4:30 pm on a Sunday, and the place wasn't too full. The famous Mitch wasn't there, but I got something better (a free sample of fresh salmon sashimi with a small piece of goat cheese, which was possibly my favorite part of the entire meal. Like, cream cheese as a sushi ingredient is so totally over, like.) The waitress was really friendly and always made sure my water was filled. Would I go back? Probably not, but only because of preference, not experience. I like my rolls simple. I'm not for the over the top sushi implosions, where it's hard to make decisions because you like half the ingredients but don't like the other half. I don't even remember what was in the sushi I ate. My absolute favorite ingredient is salmon, and it was hard to find something where salmon was a main component, and not just a little piece fighting for space with everything else. (My dream roll would have tons of salmon...broiled, half-broiled, raw, smoked, spicy, ikura, I don't care). But if you're adventurous with sushi and open to original and creative rolls, you might like this place. If we could do half stars, this would be a 4.5 A note about Toro Sushi as a date destination, especially for women: unless you a) can put your fist in your mouth or b) are sure your partner loves you unconditionally, don't even try to eat a piece of a specialty roll in one go. You might as well just dunk your face in your bowl of soy sauce before even placing your order and get the 'sloppy eater' label over and done with.

    (4)

  • Sam K.

    I went to this place last October, 2009, with my sister. I read many good reviews of this place and wanted to give it a try. It turned out nothing really special or standout about this place, but if you're looking for a decent BYOB Japanese restaurant in the Lincoln Park/Lakeview area, then this is a good place to go. There are too many Japanese restaurant/sushi place in Chicago now, at least for this one the restaurant owner/sushi chef is actually Japanese.

    (3)

  • Megan J.

    I have to say there was a lot of hype to this place. I have heard a friend rave about it for over a year and I have to say I was disappointed in my experience. I was disappointed in the sushi & even more disappointed in the service & inefficient way the place was run. For a place that has a line out the door and limited tables, they were not concerned with giving prompt service. We were seated for a total of 2 hours, 20 of those minutes were spent waiting for the server to run our credit card. I wasn't really upset about the waiting, I had good company and wine, it was more annoying than anything. I left wanting to call the owner to tell him...do you realize how much money you are loosing out on because of how you are running this place??!!! As far as the food goes, it was just ok, it was not amazing by any means. We ordered 6 of their best per our server. The Arizona roll is the only thing I would order again, but I will not be going back. Overall, just a let down and a lot of time spent waiting.

    (2)

  • Karen S.

    Finally went here the other night and it did not disappoint. Sat at the sushi bar with some friends. The service was attentive, friendly and vibe was very neighborhoody - my fave kind of place. They also didn't rush us, despite the notoriously long wait. We were there on a Wednesday and it was still nuts, but they win huge bonus points for letting you put your number in and then calling when seats are available. The food was awesome. We had a whole smorgasbord of appetizers and rolls - far too much for three people but hey, we were excited. I couldn't tell you what half of the rolls were, just that they were great. The only one I can remember, which was ironically my fave, was the Fuego roll. All in all, great experience. I will definitely be back, hopefully next time with a Stanley Cup sighting. The owner told us a few of the Blackhawks are regulars...not that I'd know them if I saw them!

    (5)

  • Sarah A.

    Size doesn't matter - well size of the restaurant. In response to everyone else who keeps bringing up the size of the restaurant: There are so many fantastic restaurants throughout Chicago that have a smaller space (see my other reviews of Adesso and Sapori Trattoria). It doesn't make the waiters less friendly, the service less prompt nor does it make the food taste any less delicious. Unless you are looking to book a table of 10 or so, you shouldn't make size one of your overall factors to go to a restaurant, that is, otherwise fantastic. I went here with a group of six friends taking advantage of the BYOB without the corkage fee (gotta love that!) and we were able to sit comfortably after a short wait. I also love the tickets they give you so that you can just check mark the sushi you want for the all-you-can eat. I only wish they had more specific descriptions of the types of sushi on the ticket. What I also liked about the place is that I didn't feel rushed at all even though they were fairly busy. Sushi was great, came out earlier than we expected and we had a great time.

    (4)

  • Martina M.

    I went there for dinner on Saturday night. Really loooooooong wait - I was told I would get a phone call in about 30 min but it actually took an hour to get seated. Nothing compared to the wait later on around seven pm - one hour to one hour thirty minutes - so be prepared. I shared sashimi appetizer with my husband, the red dragon roll and the o my god roll. The sashimi platter was really good and so was the o my god roll. Definitely would come back despite the long wait!

    (4)

  • Kara B.

    Toro was good. The food was well prepared and tasted fresh for the small storefront it was served in, but Toro can be described as being damned by faint praise. It is by no means the cheapest or the freshest option among the cornucopia of Lincoln Park Sushi places -- it does seem to be one of the busiest however. The decor is odd, but hardly noticeable as well. Its an interesting combination. The place is a VERY small shop, so you're often seated right at the door and always on top of another table. Forget about an intimate dining experience here -- its much better for a group of friends and their box of wine (which I have noticed here on several occasions). They mulch (Thanks Colleen!!) their scallops but charge you $8 for the roll? Not so cool in my book. BYOB with no corkage fee? Very very cool in my book. Basically, I'd be back, but I won't be rushing back. I certainly wouldn't wait long for it either.

    (4)

  • Ashley V.

    2 years later and still our favorite sushi in Chicago!!!

    (5)

  • Nana H.

    I realllly like this place. It's so crowded and tiny it feels just like a sushiya in Japan. And then you discover it's a BYOB! Get here early put your name down and then walk around the neighborhood, they'll call you when your table is ready! We came here recently with 5 people and got seated in an hour, and enjoyed our giant bottle of wine and 6 pack. They do put a limit on how much alcohol you can bring, which is good, otherwise no one would leave in a timely manner. We were kept waiting an extra 30 minutes because the table that we were waiting for was being kept by annoying ladies finishing their wine and talking about writing thank you notes. Our waitress had to ask them to leave! I guess my only complaint was that I wish it was in a cooler neighborhood.

    (4)

  • Leah P.

    I think whoever said, "Good things in life are worth waiting for" was waiting for a table or takeout from Toro Sushi. As someone who is a little...ok very claustrophobic, the thought of eating at Toro gives me sweaty palms. There are maybe 10 two-tops? Determined to at least try the sushi everyone is raving about I decided to get carryout tonight. Unfortunately (for me) there was an hour wait for carry out (7 pm on a Wednesday) because of a huge order they had just put out. I ordered, went home, thought about sushi, folded laundry, thought about sushi, did the dishes, thought about sushi, checked facebook, and finally couldn't take it anymore, I walked back to Toro before they could call me to tell me my order was ready. Three rolls and $22 later I was speed walking home ninja style, ready to beat the crap out of anyone who might come between me and my sushi. I got the Spicy Tuna, Philly, and Shrimp Tempura , totally boring, but also totally safe. That's just how I "roll." Excuse the lame humor, it has been a long night of starvation and anticipation. Anyhoo, they were all delicious! I was surprised by how heavy the takeout box was and how generous the portions were! Yum Yum YUM! Does anyone else feel guilty when you order so much food for yourself that they give you two sets of chopsticks, and then you eat all of it yourself?

    (5)

  • Chelsea M.

    I don't get the hype around this place - nor the group of 15-20 people that block the sidewalk standing outside it waiting every Friday/Saturday. It is good sushi, but I think there are better options in the neighborhood.

    (3)

  • Adam K.

    Went at 5:15pm on a Thursday night. It was basically empty. They were playing reggae music. Nice. I like that is a BYOB, though I forgot to bring the B. Small place, but good atmosphere. A lot of locals chatting it up with the sushi chef makes it seems like the 'cheers' of sushi bars. Feeling good. We ordered miso soup. It came out quickly. It was really good, if not slightly saltier than miso at some other places. But good. We ordered a few rolls and waited maybe 10-15 minutes before the food came. And when it did - woah. The first thing I thought was 'is there any rice under that fish?' The nigiri servings were generous (and 2 for $5 for the salmon. Awesome.) Fish quality was melt-in-your-mouth good. Every nigiri bite I had (unagi, hamachi, sake) had some fish left over that I had to take a second bite for. And the important thing was that I wanted to take the second bite. Really good quality. We ordered the 'oh my god' roll which I wasn't 100% sure about when ordering, but it ended up being really delicious. There was a 'red' something roll (red dragon?) that was like spicy tuna with more added, and that was good as well. And some other shrimp tempura roll that was good. I don't recall - we ordered three rolls and three nigiri and couldn't finish it all. Very generous portions, and you can't argue with the prices. I think we paid maybe $55 total. I really like this place and will be returning again and again. Oh, and stop by Molly's cupcakes a couple of doors down. Delicious way to end the evening. Remember BYOB! And parking gets tougher as the night goes on, though it was no problem at 5pm. It's really a headache. Take the bus if you can.

    (4)

  • Amanda T.

    From here on out, every piece of sushi I ever eat will be compared to the sushi at Toro. This place is absolutely wonderful, and it's pretty evident from all the positive reviews it has gotten from the people of Yelp-land. Simply put, Toro=instant euphoria. I highly discourage people from coming here because it's creating a longer wait time between me and my beloved sushi. Stay away. PS: I love Mitch. Thanks for the free sashimi! ::Fist bump/tickle::

    (5)

  • Jim F.

    Great Food! Judge sushi on the freshness and quality of the fish and how it is cut and Toro's owner Mitch scores 100% in all areas. The here fish is as fresh as it could be in Chicago and it is not soaked in water to make it last longer; the rolls have exquisite taste showing the Mitch's creativity and imagination. Can't say that we've ever had anything other than sushi, sashimi, all of the rolls, miso soup, edamame & tea. Don't see that changing. The atmosphere is friendly, although think of a family style dinner with 30 of your newest friends, it's not an intimate, private place; nor a place for a large party (unless you're going to rent out the entire restaurant) because there is just not a lot of space. We try to get there early for dinner. Think of how crowded Tokyo is... you're going to have an authentic Tokyo experience Mitch taught my wife to enjoy sushi, from how to eat it, to what to look for in taste to the point where she was enjoying sashimi. This was back in '03, when he was at another restaurant (image we were the only patrons in the house -- twice). We followed Mitch when he opened his own.

    (5)

  • Emma O.

    Holy cow, amazing! My roommate took us here because she found out about it on Yelp, and we could not have asked for a better experience! Because the atmosphere is so cozy and the sushi is so delicious, there is often a wait, but they let you give your phone number, so you can go to a local bar and grab drinks while you wait and they'll call you when a table is ready. Once we got in, we got to sit at the bar, which we quickly learned is the best place to sit. Mitch was so friendly, offering us suggestions for what to order and giving us a free sample of the super-white tuna, which was INCREDIBLE. Everyone else sitting at the bar had been there before and was so friendly, telling us where the local liquor store was (as Toro is BYOB and we didn't come prepared) as well as what were the best rolls to order. There are so many delicious options to choose from, and everything's decently priced. Definitely a favorite place to go.

    (5)

  • Kim D.

    BEST SUSHI EVER... annnnd it's BYOB! Coming from Southern California, where we don't have the luxury of BYOB restaurants, that alone made this place amazing. Sure, we had to wait like an hour and a half, but it made us hungry, and even more satisfied when we finally did get to eat. This sushi is amazing. So fresh and so clean, clean. The specialty rolls are to die for. I mean OMG is exactly what came out of my mouth when I ate my first piece of the Oh My God roll. YUMMMMMM.... So yah, bring your fav bottles of white wine, yes, they give you a wine opener to open them, and chill for a bit while you wait for the best sushi of your life, thus far.

    (5)

  • Samantha L.

    I went here on my first date with my current boyfriend, and he's lucky I still liked him after, lol. However, he had never been there and only wanted to go based on the good reviews. I apologize and don't want to offend anyone... but I have eaten quite a bit of sushi in my lifetime, and I know what it should taste like and what is unoriginal. This sushi was very sub par, and we were confused about the reviews being so good, until we looked around the room and observed we were 2 out of 4 Asian people in a full room. Then, it made sense. This restaurant is like the typical American view of what Japanese food should taste like, and I say this as an Asian AMERICAN. We ordered the chef's special hoping for something exotic and unique... We got unimpressive sashimi and a California roll, basically. We also ordered a couple other rolls, including a Spider roll, which for some reason had what looked like minced imitation crab in it... I was confused. If you want good JAPANESE food, this isn't the place to go. If you want pseudo-Japanese food, it's not bad.

    (2)

  • Susan Z.

    Toro Sushi is mine and my husband's all time favorite sushi restaurant! Mitch, the owner, is very personable and wonderful at remembering his regular customers. The fish is always very fresh and the service is great. It's always very busy but you don't have to stand outside and wait for a table because they will take your number down and call you when a table is ready. My husband and I frequently go have a glass of wine at one of the nearby bars and then we just walk back when our table is ready. I would recommend Toro Sushi to anyone!

    (5)

  • Andrew M.

    For the price, and the fact that its BYOB, this is about as good as it gets. We decided to go on Saturday night because we wanted something fairly close that was BYOB. We arrived around 7pm, and the hostess took our name and our number and told us that she would call us when a table was available. She gave us an estimation of 30 minutes. We walked down the street to Duke's to grab a drink, and sure enough about 30 minutes later, we received a call informing us that our table would be ready in about ten minutes. On our way back to the restaurant, hit up the bodega near Clark and Wrightwood for some beer. When we arrived they sat us at the sushi bar where we were immediately greeted by the head sushi chef's fist bump. For an appetizer we ordered the gyoza. For our meal, we ordered the Salmon Crunch, the "Oh My God", and the Crazy Horse. All were great and, as specifically requested, not spicy. After we informed the sushi chef that we don't like spicy food, he made sure that anything spicy that would typically go into the roll, would be put on the side. The food was great, and the service was great too. The sushi chef even gave us free sashimi samples! I highly recommend this restaurant and we will be back soon!

    (4)

  • Brit T.

    Great sushi, casual atmosphere, good service. Can't ask for much more than that and the prices were pretty reasonable.

    (5)

  • Luke C.

    Very good special rolls. My friend and I got quite full from eating them. The price is reasonable. I will definitely consider going back again.

    (5)

  • Rebecca H.

    I know this place has a zillion reviews that all pretty much say the same thing. Let me tell you something new. The rolls all tasted the same. Their fish was super fresh, so I would suggest sticking nigiri.

    (4)

  • May S.

    Okay, I hate the wait times at this restaurant, but I am giving it five stars because it is so WORTH IT! I came across this place waiting for my friends to get out of another restaurant...my car was a restaurant down from Toro but I was amazed that there was a line out the door on a cold night in November! I had to find out what it was and dragged my boyfriend out a few weeks later. It seriously is the BEST sushi in Chicago. We've gone back and tried various other places, but they do not compete. Oh and it's also BYOB :) Yes the wait times suck, but try to get there early and put your name in or heck, just get there right at 5 p.m. It is nice that it's surrounded by various bars/stores/restaurants...so on some nights, we'd walk over to Molly's Cupcakes, Dunlay's on Clark, wine DOC, etc...or on a nice day, just walk around the lovely LP neighborhood. Mitch is awesome - he's funny and super sweet and comes up with random creations! We brought one of our friends who has a shellfish allergy and Mitch took care of him. Now our friend loves going there! I recommend everything - try it all, it may surprise you!

    (5)

  • Lindsey M.

    All I can say after living here for two years I have yet to find anything better. Now if they delivered that would make my life complete, but my wallet is probably thanking them for not adding that convenience. The Holla Jalapeño roll is to die for delish. LOVE this place! But shhhh don't tell too many people.

    (5)

  • Sunny S.

    This is long overdue, but better late than never...Simply put the best Sushi in Chicago. My roommate and I have been going there non-stop for the past year, since we moved in a couple of blocks away. At first the long wait deterred us from trying it but after a couple of months we had to find out what the fuss was about...I'm kicking myself we didn't go sooner. Mitch is awesome and after about a year of loyal service he always hooks us up with free rolls, sashimi, etc. The wait staff similarly awards loyalty with great service, free samples, and generous wait list postioning. My favorite items after nearly 50 visits: 1.) Kamikaze roll 1a) White tuna sashimi 2.) Oh my god roll 3.) Arizona roll The fish is fresh, the rolls are awesome, and the people are fantastic. GO TORO

    (5)

  • Kati B.

    So fresh, SO GOOD, and so reasonably priced. Best sushi I have ever had. You'll have to wait for about an hour, but their system of calling when your table is ready works out very well. You can hang out at Dunlays or DOC and have a drink while you wait. Mitch is a fantastic chef and an awesome person in general. He makes sure everyone feels welcome, even when he is super busy. He cares a ton about quality and it definitely shows! Someone asked him where to leave a cash tip and he pointed to a Children's Hospital donation jar. Like I said... really great guy. Great food, great owner... enough said.

    (5)

  • Jessie T.

    My favoriate SUSHI in town. However, the only disappointment is their white fish SUSHI though it is quite fresh. Probably, I simply don't like the taste and texture.

    (4)

  • Sara F.

    So - have always loved the sushi here. Great stuff, original rolls, certainly earns a spot in the top 3 of all the sushi restaurants I've tried in Chicago. HOWEVER, I cannot say enough bad things about the service. If you put your name down for a table, it is NEVER the amount of time they tell you. Once you've waited the minimum 45 minutes for a table of two at 6:45 pm, it might (as it did in our case) take a good 20 minutes for edemame to be brought to the table. Mitch (the sushi chef) is fantastic, and will often send over some appetizer, as though saying "yah, I know...I know" about the service. Once the food arrives, all is forgiven. Favorites are the spicy tuna crunch roll, the "Oh My God!" roll, the O-Roll, and Sunny.

    (4)

  • Somchai S.

    Ive heard of this palce through yelp but only recently went when my friends decided to take me. We had the OMG, Arizona, and Cali Crunch. The OMG definitely lived up to its name. Best roll i have had. Im not a big fan of raw sushi...however toro's was quite good. we sat at the bar and mitch greeted us. after we finished out 4 rolls he asked if we were already full. and we said we could eat. so he gave us a free kamikaze roll. which was spicy and delicious. what a great dining experience!!!! definitely my new favorite sushi spot!

    (4)

  • RocknPop R.

    Not worth the 2 hour wait. There's better sushi in Chicago with much better customer service.

    (1)

  • molly w.

    I used to like sushi only a few times a year. Until I tried Toro. I began to dream about their rolls, crave the fresh fish...and that's when I knew I was hooked. This is the best sushi restaurant in the city. Yes, I know you wait a long time to get a table. But it's totally worth the wait. I haven't tried take out yet...because they won't let you take the menu. Apparently other sushi places have tried to steal their unique combinations. Which to me means Toro knows what they're doing. So get there early, put your name in for a table, then and head over to Duke's or Wine DOC for a drink or two. And get ready for the best sushi in town. Trying their sushi for the first time should induce a similar reaction to Homer Simpson's first sight of the Gummy De Milo: hulu.com/watch/19937/the…

    (5)

  • Jen B.

    Absolute best sushi, and yet reasonable prices. Spicy tuna crunch is probably my favorite as I'm constantly trying to modify rolls at other sushi places to mimick it. The rolls are all big too! None of this 4 or 5 pieces you can experience elsewhere. I can address some critizism, however. I've been going to Toro for about 4 years, and I can't seem to understand the choices they make. They don't: deliver, expand the restaurant, expand the hours, update the website, increase waitstaff, or take reservations. Yet I've seen them update the decor... that is literally the last thing I care about. If they at least just delivered, they would make a lot of people happy, while making an even bigger fortune.

    (5)

  • Jess W.

    Toro Sushi, you are a victim of your own deliciousness. I remember many blissful lunches of tasty futo maki in the improbably cheap vegetarian lunch box. We'd each get the lunch special, split a roll or two and come out stuffed for ten or twelve bucks each. Now all prices have gone up, a dollar or more on everything, and the futo is no longer an option in the lunch special. It's been totally slammed, even at lunchtime, and the last few times we've gotten lunch take-away they have messed up our order or taken over an hour for two people's food. For food and Mitch, five stars. Wonderful. For service, price hikes, and hassle, they'd be lucky to eke out a one. I'll compromise with a three. Toro Sushi, you make my heart sad. I'll always remember the good times.

    (3)

  • Barbara D.

    Well I had the volcano roll...and to my disappointment it did not come with a sparkler. I was so close to asking...and then I remembered how old I was, so I didn't. And the roll was blah. However, this time we had the Miami roll and Spicy Tuna and I realized that this place might be becoming my favorite sushi joint in this city. So I added another star.

    (5)

  • Jennifer B.

    Very very good sushi. I am not exactly a sushi connoisseur, but I really liked this. The staff was super helpful and didn't rush us at all. It's a BYOB, which cuts the bill in half pretty much, since I like my booze! My favorite thing though is that they take your phone number and call you when your table is ready, because it is always packed.

    (3)

  • Elaine L.

    We've been going to this little gem on Clark for a few years now, and it's always a pleasure going back for more! Mitch (the owner) is always there and is always so nice to his customers. The servers there are get as well. Depending on the time you go, there is usually a wait, but it's well worth it. I noticed that some people have commented on the wait, but that's what happens when you go to a place where the food is amazing, lots of people want to go there, hence you have to wait. Let's see, where to begin... the rolls are outstanding, my personal favorite is the kamikaze, it's like a spicy delicious fish salad on a roll! My fiancé favorite is the yum yum yummy and it is truly that, yummy! The oh my god roll will make you say omg, basically, you can't go wrong here. Everything we've ordered (and we've been here way too many times to count) has been great, there's never been a time where we have left Toro Sushi unsatisfied :)

    (5)

  • Hunter B.

    Very fragile wine glasses. Watch out. Great sushi though.

    (4)

  • Peter H.

    Hands down the best sushi in Chicago! Fantastic Sushi at Fantastic Prices. Mitch (the chef/owner) is creative genius. I recommend getting the aged tofu for an appetizer. As far as rolls, try the Siberian Tiger or the Kamakazi, they are both incredible. If you're not a sushi connoisseur, the waitresses are always kind to help you order or you can ask for the chef to make something special. FYI - expect to wait 30 to 45 minutes during dinner rush. There are plenty of bars around the area to have a cocktail and trust me, it's worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Tonya R.

    If this were just based on the sushi experience, my rating would be a 4 1/2, however since I was the only sushi lover in the party, the average dropped drastically. Waiting ten minutes to get into the cramped, yet cozy and welcoming restaurant itself was fine. They took our bottle of wine and kept it chilling while we waited outside, once we were seated the waitress was prompt in bringing the wine and menus. After so many previous 'rave reviews' by fellow yelpers I was excited, only to be severely let down. Sushi Handrolls are the way to go here! Large, packed, tasty, generously filled with fresh fish and prompt upon ordering, and quite inexpensive. The specialty rolls were decently sized and well prepared. Hot Stuff: The "chicken teryaki" should really be called, small chicken brest with drizzle of sauce, since thats all you get with it, oh and a side of rice. Not worth the $14 price tag..not even for the miso soup option. The tempura veggies and shrimp were edible, but tasted like the oil hadn't been changed in a while and were heavy with oil and low on flavor even with the dipping sauce The postickers were among the worst things I have EVER eaten. Not only were they called "vegetarian" and clearly contained pork, or some other type of indistinguishable meat product, mushy vegetables and a hard outer dough that seems as though it may have been previously steamed, refrozen and then thawed. All in all, a 3 is generous.

    (3)

  • Ben P.

    Went for my 2nd time tonight and this is the best sushi place in Chicago! Insanely fresh. Cheap. Yes there's a wait. But some places are worth it. Go to Toro!

    (5)

  • Charles B.

    Quick Service and WOW the specialty rolls are DELICIOUS!! No complaints.

    (5)

  • Ke M.

    The rolls were delicious and the wait time between ordering and table was not long at all. It's a very small restaurant so know going without a reservation on a weekend may result in a long wait time. It's absolutely worth the wait and being a small restaurant adds to the cozy atmosphere and the personalized feeling. Great choice for a date but plan ahead or be ready to be patient if necessary.

    (5)

  • Vivian D.

    Maybe I've been a little selfish, because I've been avoiding reviewing Toro for a while now to try and keep it to myself. But, by the looks of it, the cat's out of the bag so I might as well get it over with. So what can I say about Toro, other than it is utter bliss and the ultimate culmination of tantalized taste buds? And I'm not saying that to be over-dramatic either guys. Toro seems to be the best of both worlds, providing the fresh fish that some sushi purists are searching for, while giving those who crave innovating creations rolls that are rarely found anywhere else. But there is more to Toro than just that, as the sushi chef, Mitch, tries to personalize everyone's experience. Now, to be completely honest, I must admit that Toro does have some downfalls. With a limited number of bar seats and tables, there is ALWAYS a wait (unless you're there as it opens). This also means, that even if you manage to get seated, expect it to be a little crowded. Although there are- usually- four waitresses, service can get a little slow. However, the quality of the food makes any of that worthwhile, I promise. My personal favorite is the Yum Yum Yummy roll and the Awesome roll (tuna, super white tuna, and salmon topped with blow torch-melted-blue cheese, yum!). The prices are some of the best I've seen in the city, esp. in relation to the amount and quality of the food, and the atmosphere can't be beat.

    (5)

  • Eliza T.

    Toro is AMAZING, love it! My favorite neighborhood BYOB. They have some great tasting rolls. If you live in the area you have to try it! A few points to note before going, -Unless you are the first person there you will probably have a 45 minute wait. The place is SMALL. No big deal though because you can just give them your cell number and head a block down to Wine DOC (and they will hold your bottle of wine for you until your table is ready) -They put Cream Cheese in a lot of their rolls (I find this weird as I am more accustomed to authentic sushi, it must be a Chicago thing) but they will remove it if requested. -Favorite rolls: "Kamikaze" "Oh My God" & the "Sunny" these are all HUGE rolls so come hungry. Also try the seaweed salad, yummy! -It is CHEAP, our tab last night was only $15 each! -Mitch is the owner, if you are new there he will know it and usually send over a free appetizer :)

    (4)

  • Andrew H.

    You know a place is good when the only criticism I can come up with is that they are too busy. But even the wait isn't that bad, because they call you on your cell phone when they have a table. BYOB, great sushi, decent prices, decent service, and amazingly friendly owner/head sushi chef. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Tuck H.

    Absolutely incredible sushi. Takes awhile to get seated during busy times, but I have never been disappointed. Innovative, delicious rolls. Iced green tea pretty good as well. Best sushi in Chicago in my opinion.

    (5)

  • Riley S.

    BEST SUSHI IN THE CITY!!! I have been to many sushi places in the city from Wicker Park to River North and nothing even comes close to Toro! The best Rolls: Spicy Tuna Crunch Oh My God Yum Yum Yummy And you cant beat the BYOB...no corkage fee. Also SO reasonably priced. If you havent gone yet...your loss!!

    (5)

  • Jackie L.

    Every time i want sushi...What i really want is TORO. The "oh my god" roll literally made my friend and i say "oh my god" when it came to our table! Everything good in this world wrapped into a colorful tasty bite! There's a fresh roll salad thing that is also so freakin' wonderful1

    (5)

  • Kathy K.

    The sushi here is fantastic!!! The freshness is incomparable. The fact that they don't accept reservations and the place is so small is disappointing. I live half a block away and don't go often due to the long wait.

    (4)

  • Rich L.

    What's not to love here? BYOB, delicious, creative rolls, and Mitch is the shit. I've probably eaten here five times in the last year. Not too shabby considering I live in freaking COLORADO, 1000 miles away from this place. Everytime I visit my girlfriend in Chicago, we make it down to our favorite sushi spot. Love love love it.

    (5)

  • Matthew P.

    Best Roll on the Menu: "Oh My God" Roll. Best Feature: Reasonably priced (for sushi that is) This place is great and it couldn't be what it is without its owner and head chef (his name eludes me right now). There is a whole page of specialty rolls and I recommend you give those a try. The wait can be long so be sure to scope out a bar/pub/drinking venue prior to placing your name. Oh, and don't try and call for a reservation, they don't take them. The only unfortunate situation about this place is the seating arrangements. There are very few places for peeps to sit and most are right by the door. Let me tell you, it's hard to swallow sushi with a sub-zero breeze flying down the crack of your ass.

    (5)

  • Katty D.

    This is by far the best sushi in Chicago. The only downfall is that their seating is very limited, but the hostesses are great enough to take your phone number down so you can go shopping or walk around the neighborhood until they have a table ready. My favorite is the Kamikaze roll, this is a must have on the menu. Otherwise, I have never been dissappointed on anything I've tried on the menu, however, I've only tried the sushi and not any off the kitchen menu. Also, dont forget to bring a bottle because its BYOB.

    (5)

  • Ashley D.

    GREAT PLACE! I can't wait to bring more people. Got there at 5 with a party of 13 and was able to get seated. They were very accommodating, especially since I think they thought we might hog a table for a long time. It's BYOB and every roll I tried I loved. I had the El Fuego and Trixie. First, they were beautiful. The Trixie was a little tricky to eat, but jeez they were so good. The prices were fine. I would say this isn't a place for a really fancy night out, but I think that's what I loved about it. I will return always.

    (5)

  • Jamie O.

    My favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago. It's a small shop with short hours so check the schedule and expect a 45min wait list. Sushi types are a personal preference so whatever you fancy, the fish is always fresh.

    (3)

  • Mike K.

    Toro is as good as advertised. There's great sushi to be had here and the people behind the restaurant are very friendly. Pros: - Nice, small, intimate dining experience. You can stretch your arms and knock over at least four people in the process. You will definitely get to know your neighbors here. - The wait can be excruciating. This is my second attempt at eating here. When my friends and I came here for the first time, we were staring down at least an hour's worth of wait time and we thought we were being clever showing up late to avoid the rush. Not so. The trick is to come early. Why is this a positive? I don't know why but I happen to enjoy places that are difficult to get into. Call me masochistic. - Food is very good. Either that or the other sushi places I've been eating at lately have been super awful (which can be the case). I'm more of a spicy eater and the spicy tuna incarnations here are indeed spicy and very good. I wasn't too much thrilled w/ their special rolls, however. I had the Volcano roll and while still good, I found nothing special to write about (and hence the short review). - Mitch (head chef) is cool as hell (+1). I sat down by the bar and he introduced himself, asked me my name and generally made me feel like a regular right away. The waitstaff is equally nice. They check up on you regularly and make sure you're taken care of. Cons: - The place is SMALL. Seriously small. Well, ok, not so serious small but considering the fact that the entire neighborhood wants to eat here AT THE SAME TIME, it's seriously lacking in accommodation space. - It's constantly RAMMED. I've passed by this place a lot of times and it's always filled to the teeth w/ people. Yes, I did mention that I enjoyed places that are difficult to get a seat at but sometimes I just want to sit in, grab a quick meal and bounce. Unless you come here before 6pm, that is not going to happen. - The special rolls (at least the Volcano) are a tad lacking the "special". I'm not a fan of these wacky "special" sushi rolls where they mash up five different kinds of fish and then layer that w/ some eel sauce and odd slices of fruit (don't steal this idea - I patented this). I'm more of a simple, "let me taste the fish" kind of a sushi guy. This doesn't mean that I won't give the other specials a try. I will. I'm just not holding my breath to be blown away by them is all. Overall, if you haven't been in here and have met Mitch, you should at least come in, have a roll and introduce yourself.

    (4)

  • Katie N.

    I crave Toro every day. And no, I am not preggers.

    (5)

  • Therese C.

    I have been eating at Toro for over 6 years now and love it! There isn't a bad dish on the Menu. My Top 3 rolls are the "O" Roll, The "Oh my God" roll and the Tiger Eyes. The Tiger eyes can be a little hard to eat due to their size, but you can request to make them into 4 pieces as opposed to two. Also if you sit at the bar, Mitch will be sure to throw some yummy pieces your way!

    (5)

  • Miranda H.

    For my birthday last year, I told my husband I wanted the best sushi in Chicago. This place delivered so well that I went back this year for my birthday. There are several good bars in the area to sit at while you wait, but do expect to wait. If you want a cushy service heavy meal, go someplace else. If you want an amazing experience for your tastebuds, go here!

    (5)

  • Corinne W.

    So if I could give them a zero I would! I've had the sushi once - it was ok. Saturday night, my roomates and I wanted to go out for a good BYOB sushi dinner. I suggested Toro because so many people love it and I figured I'd give it another go. 2 of the 3 of us get there at 6. They tell us it'll be about 45 minutes. We say fine and go down to Duke's for some martinis. 6:15 they call us and tell us our table is ready. I said "well, one of us isn't here yet, so can you just skip over this round, we're fine with waiting another 30ish minutes, no problem!" she says "Ok sounds good!" 30 minutes later she calls back and says there's room at the counter for us. I tell her we don't want a counter, we want a table. She says "well we have a lot of groups of 4 we have to seat before you because you're only 3 so you should really just take the counter" SERIOUSLY?!? You aren't seating us simply because we're 3 and not 4 person party? Are you kidding me? And I don't want to sit at the damn counter with 2 other people, it's going to be completely awkward to share the sushi, carry on a conversation, etc... so annoyed! So now it's a little after 7, we're done with martinis and want to eat - we walk back to Toro and the woman says "oh yes, another 15-20 minutes" . 8 pm rolls around and the woman calls back and says "it's just going to be another 20 minutes" and then never calls back again...by then we had had it, and walked down to Kabuki. The woman from Toro never called back to seat us....thank God we went down the street or we would have never eaten! Total BS - never going there again -

    (1)

  • JP D.

    Great sushi, great price, BYOB! good location, small place, always packed. I like that the hostess takes your number and gives you a call when your table is ready. Gives you enough time to go down to Dunlay's for a drink or two.

    (5)

  • Leang E.

    This place is absolutely phenomenal, and the only reason why I'm holding back on the last star is because the service is kind of slow. This place is very small and so there's limited seating. I love that it's BYOB, and our waitress even heated up our sake. We started off with some miso soup to warm ourselves up, and then I had the Oh My God Roll, which is exaclty what I said after having my first piece. I also ordered the Red Dragon, 3 Musketeers, and the first one I already forgot! The sushi is pretty fresh and delicious here. What they make lack in decor more than makes up for in the taste and flavor of the food. I loved it and would definitely come here again!

    (4)

  • Craig Glenn S.

    I love this place so much I incorporated the motto "be like Mitch". Mitch is the owners name (so I'm told) and he pretty much rock the sushi hizzouse. He always seems to be in a great mood and loves what he does, which shows in his sushi! The wait can be long, but it's worth it... if you don't like waiting call for carryout, it taste pretty darn good too. Make sure you give Mitch a knuckle pound on the way out.

    (5)

  • Maria H.

    I have to give this place another try because it would be a shame to have to leave 3 stars when I only ate rolls. Took advice and tried to get there really early, but still got my number on the wait list (not a prob when I was already expecting this), seated within the hour in a VERY awkward seating area. It felt like the sushi bar looked was a wonderful party where all the guests were speaking to each other and to the chef while the rest of the dining room and I were at the "kids" table. Ordered 4 rolls. I loved how they staggered the order in which your rolls come out b/c they knew some were going to take 45 minutes to prepare while others ust 20, plus points here. But jesus! The rolls were the size/intensity that I would only share in super large parties. But the 200 sq ft dining area only accommodates small parties so you're screwed if you want to try a variety of things. I don't know if I chose poorly, the menu/waitress were no help in my decision making. EVER roll was fried, overstuffed with rice, falling apart and drenched in mayo. I had to stop eating half way through because they were all so heavy and the "s. galz" roll honestly make me want to throw everything I just ate back up. the seaweed was gross, the rice prep just okay, the mayo dominated the flavor... but the did put effort into the presentation. That was nice. But underneath all that mayo, rice and tempura felt like some really great fish. NEXT TIME, and I've heard such great things about this place, so there WILL be a next time, I will sit at the sushi bar, order some sashimi and ask the chef to suggest a roll or two ( I don't think i can handle all the rice from any more than that). I really want to find a place to go to for great/affordable sushi besides coast. damn it.... oh some day, chicago, some day.

    (3)

  • Josh S.

    It's worth the wait, the hype and all of your hard earned money (not that it isn't very reasonably priced). Eat here and you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Heather M.

    The sushi is great here, and I love that it's BYOB. There's a great selection of rolls, and so far I've enjoyed every roll I've sampled. I think it was called the Salmon Crunch, whatever the name that roll was delicious! The prices aren't outlandish either (unlike a certain sushi place I've been to -ahem -TANK in Lincoln Square). The only reason I'm not giving Toro five stars is because it's too damn crowded, it feels claustrophobic with all the people inside that tiny space. Service can be relatively slow too, but what do you expect? It's really popular for good reason!

    (4)

  • Mandie T.

    Tipsy Trixie is the bomb!!! It's the BEST roll I've ever had in my life!! It's got a little bit of salad surrounding the plate, the portion is huge, and half of the roll is topped with super white tuna, while the other half is topped with salmon, so needless to say it is like 2 rolls in one!! I know the wait is super long as most people complained in their reviews, BUT you can go early and put your number down and they'll call you when the table is available. AND their sushi pieces are PHENOMENAL (say it in a singing tone)!! The pieces are HUGE and thick and not that expensive compared to a lot of other sushi restaurants. They're definitely worth the buck. My boyfriend's fave is the scallop and mine is the salmon... wow, I'm drooling as I'm writing this review. Time to eat! Oh, one last thing that my bf wants to point out - BYOB and NO corkage fee! Yayyy (fireworks)!

    (5)

  • matt k.

    Stop reading this and go! Great sushi...awesome sushi and byob. Crowded? So what. Its worth the wait. Or even better, just go at an off time. Sit and the bar and pig out.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    Toro is my favorite sushi place in Chicago; I've been coming here for about 2 years now. Everything is amazing - I think the Kamikaze, Caterpillar, Arizona, and Sunny are my favorites but I try to try something new every time I come and I always love what I get! Be prepared to wait or else go early to get a table; as everyone else says they are always busy and the place is tiny!

    (5)

  • Keith C.

    Sushi make better lover! Mitch is a sushi sensai and a wonderful human. Try the special rolls (red dragon, arizona, oh my god) and save room for the fried green tea ice cream, shaped in the form of a sushi roll.

    (5)

  • Ryan C.

    Really? Ok. I don't get it. Yes, the fish is fresh, glad they got that right. However, the rolls are kind of boring and nothing special. The atmosphere is cramped and their attempt at decorating was weak. This place is way over-hyped. Don't bother with the hour wait to get a table, go venture somewhere outside your east Lincoln Park bubble to a place with creative maki rolls. The only thing this place has going for it is the BYOB and cheap prices.

    (2)

  • Angela S.

    I went for the first time last night and it was fantastic. After reading all of the reviews about it being crowded we decided to get there just after 5:00. It was close to full but we had no problem getting a table toward the back. The service was great and the sushi was wonderful. We tried a few of Mitch's rolls. The "Oh My God" roll was amazing!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth K.

    Great Sushi and totally woth the wait! Try to sit at the bar because Chef Mitch is great to watch and talk with. Service is sometimes slow but that's probably becuase they are always packed.

    (4)

  • Mary Jo M.

    Wonderful sushi in a simple atmosphere. Mitch the owner makes superb rolls. I went with two girlfriends, and tried rolls I never would have thanks to them. Lets just say the Sunny has changed my life! Wait on a Wednesday at 7:30 was 45 min, but it was nice out and gave us extra time to chat. The restaurant is BYOB (1 bottle per 2 patrons). Service was a little iffy- we received no ginger or wasabi on any of our platters, and our water wasn't always replenished. Decent prices for fantastic food. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    Very fresh, delicious rolls that are really creative! The menu is huge and I had a really hard time ordering since there were too many choices. The fish was very fresh and everything I had was super tasty. It is a huge bonus that it is BYOB! But it is a super tiny place and it is quite a popular spot, so be prepared to wait! I can't wait to go back and try other tasty rolls!

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    Awesome!! Toro has the most creative rolls and they are all amazing and fresh. I don't remember the name of my favorite roll but it has sunflower seeds in it that add a great flavor and extra crunch! Also the super white is really good! I've never gotten a roll I haven't liked. The restaurant is really small so there is almost always a wait but they take your number so you can walk around and get some liquor across the street since it is BYOB! Yummy and large seaweed salad too..major plus! I think I might just go there tonight!

    (5)

  • Jaclyn C.

    This place has great sushi and very creative rolls. Their seaweed salad is so good and refreshing. I wish they had a menu on-line to order from cause the place is pretty small and always a wait. Overall it is solid, but I would say it still is not a memorable as Coast, which is also BYOB and takes reservations too.

    (4)

  • Kate B.

    I went here with Megan G. on Friday night and it was sooo mouth-wateringly good. In fact as I am writing this my mouth is watering thinking of all the tasty sushi we had. We had the OMG roll which was out of this world, a spicy scallop roll and I had some tuna and unagi nigiri. The tuna melted in my mouth, it was so fresh and perfect, and the slices were large. Then I had skinless unagi, as I think the skin makes it chewy and there is something about the texture that makes my mouth not so happy. As we were finishing up, Mitch, the sushi chef realized that we were new to the place. He asked us what our likes and dislikes were and then made some recommendations for the next time. I was really impressed at his work ethic - he is able to make beautiful sushi at a machine like pace and have time to meet and greet new and old clients. I think he has mastered the way to have a successful business. Another good thing is that they serve toro when in season, which in my experiences so far has been relatively hard to find in Chicago. I will definitely be back! FYI: When we arrived seats at the sushi bar were opening up, so we didnt have to wait, but shortly after we arrived at around 7 on a Friday it got pretty crowded.

    (5)

  • Anya B.

    LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT So I live in the suburbs and this is definitely one of the top reasons I come to the city. It's possible that my friends who live around there think I'm using them because every time it's definitely like "Hey, I'm gonna come visit you... we're going to Toro right?" My favorite rolls so far are the OMG roll, the Three Musketeer roll, and Spicy Tuna Crunch. Not that I've ever had a roll there that I didn't like. And their sashimi is absolutely delicious! The prices are decent, and it's safe to say that if I lived close enough, I would eat there every day. Now this place is TINY! And so many people are in love with it, that it is pretty hard to get a table. However, I've always gone right when it opened 5-5:30pm on a weeknight and never had to wait. So, go early and you don't have to worry about the 2 hour wait everyone is complaining about!

    (5)

  • Jen M.

    We ate lunch at Toro today with a friend, for the first time. It was an outstanding experience. We sat at the sushi bar. The chef/owner sent us little extras (uni). Then he realized my husband, a devotee of bento boxes (aka beef teriyaki), did not eat sashimi or nigiri. The chef/owner proceeded to take the time to provide my husband a tutorial on sashimi and nigiri (grade, how long it should be kept, how to eat it properly). In an unobtrusive way, my husband really enjoyed sashimi for the first time in his life. It was a fantastic experience. I will go back just because the owner took the time to share knowledge and the joy of eating sushi.

    (5)

  • Kevin B.

    Mitch is a pleasure, but I say it's really not worth the hour wait. We did have one orgasmic roll, the Temptation. But other than that nothing really stood out. Even the Spider roll wasn't up to the caliber that I am used to. Very good, not great.

    (4)

  • Greg W.

    Best Sushi place in Chicago and a great great value. Expect to wait as the place is very small. The one knock against Toro is that they do not like you ordering take out. They will wait 2-3hours before completing a take out order.

    (5)

  • Thomas D.

    The reviews for this place is proof that either yelpers or Lincoln Parkers have no taste. My girlfriend and I have wandered past this place many times, intrigued by just how popular it seemed. On the few random nights we inquired about a table, we were always told more the wait would be more than an hour; we'd go elsewhere. We stopped by 09/07 to find it busy but with a few tables open, so we made it our dining choice for the evening. We started with the veggie tempura and, since these things are in vogue at all the sushi places, we went with a few specialty rolls, assuming they'd be creative, delicious and unique: a true representation of their offerings. We went with the Awesome roll and another roll that featured jalapenos. The tempura was flavorless and sparse, as we were given maybe five pieces; expensive, for the $7 pricetag. The rolls were no better; the Awesome roll has a laundry list of ingredients but managed to be flavorless. It was also topped with cooked fish, which the menu conveniently neglected to mention, and the rice and nori wrapping -- the "roll" part of it -- only covered half othe toppings, forming an upside-down "U" over the filling, making it difficult to eat without spilling everything out. I paid $16 for this? It was slightly after the halfway point on this roll when we received our accompaniament of wasabi and ginger, uselessly placed beside our half-eaten meal. The other roll was dusted with tempura and featured jalapenos and tuna, but was similarly flavorless. After our food arrived we never saw our waitress again, and had to grab someone to actually get the bill so we could leave. I would not return. For even half the price there's much, much better in this city; for the same price you could go to a real gourmet sushi place and not just some fad that treats its patrons poorly.

    (1)

  • Matt W.

    One of the best sushi places I have been to. I agree that the waits are long but once you are in and eating you feel privileged to not be one of the people waiting outside so it makes you feel better. The best part of it is the quality of the fish. I always like to start with some sashimi and I think that is the best indicator of quality. This was very good. Also, they have the TV with the funny Japanese obstacle course to keep you entertained when your friends girlfriend starts yapping about something mundane. Also, last but not least, it is a BYOB so even with four people the bill was less than $100 if I remember correctly. There are two types of sushi restaurants; expensive, fashionable, trendy (e.g. Japonais, Sushi Samba) and this kind; cramped, minimalist, focus on food. This is the best of the 2nd type.

    (4)

  • Logan T.

    Absolutely my favorite sushi spot in town. I've never had anything that wasn't fresh and super tasty. Though it can be a pain to have such a small dining room, the neighborhood is great to kill time and it's nice that they call your cell when your table's ready. I've had nothing but great service and good times here.

    (5)

  • A V.

    Large selection of rolls. My friends and I ordered 6 different rolls, and none of them were disappointing. Very fresh sushi. Good atmosphere. Not stuffy or pretentious. I thought about subtracting a star because we had to wait over an hour for a table on a Thursday night, but the wait was worth it. Also, they offered to call our cellphone when our table was ready, so we had the freedom to roam around for a bit. I wish more places would do this.

    (5)

  • Vick C.

    Good sushi and reasonable price! You will get what you pay for! Toro Sushi have a lot of nice rolls, for rolls lover you really need to go there! Last time I tried their sushi called "Tiger eye"(something like that) OMG it's a huge piece! Funny thing was the owner said I have to take only one bite to finish it, oops, sorry..I really couldn't take only one bite, made me almost throw up(but I guess guys can do that!) Their quality of sushi is outstanding and not a rip off sushi restaurant. It's a nice decor tiny sushi restaurant and you always need to wait in the line, just put your name and number on the list and they'll call you when your table is ready. BYOB,, love this place!

    (5)

  • Lee W.

    I visited Toro for the first time last week and had the good fortune of sitting at the sushi bar. Mitch -- the sushi chef -- is adorable. Watching him make the rolls was perhaps even a better show than Benihana. He obviously takes great pride in his food, and it shows. The gyoza is mouth-watering and the rolls are great (mostly signature rolls that you can't find anywhere else.) The restaurant gets packed quickly, but it's worth the wait. The BYOB option makes this restaurant a great deal -- especially when "Two Buck Chuck" is involved.

    (4)

  • Nick L.

    Good reasonably priced sushi.

    (4)

  • Sam L.

    Toro is a really tiny place right where other great f&b outlets are located. Their sushi rolls are really good with lots of variety. We had about 10 rolls and I love them all....the one that i think is really good was the O. The house salad is also very light and tasty. The place is not for a large group for sure, the max is 8, only at early or very late hour.

    (5)

  • Ashley J.

    best sushi, hands down. i hadn't had a lot of sushi before toro, but i knew right away what i was eating was top-notch. been here multiple times..regularly, actually. every time it is delicious and fresh. i feel comfortable saying that it's always to perfection. i wish i could strongly recommend one thing, but i'm working my way through the menu, and honestly--all sooo good. i'm a big fan of unagi and toro has amazing unagi rolls (as well as everything else....but that would be my suggestion if i had to make one). wait staff is awesome. and they're spot on about their recommendations, so take their word if you have any questions. my recommendation is that even if it looks full, pop your head in. we were right behind a group that decided to stand outside the door, peeked through the windows and thought wouldn't get seated, and left. we decided to check out the wait and got a 4 person table right then. either way--it'd be worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Heather D.

    I do not know what the Toro hype is all about. This place sucks. I recently had some friends over and we wanted to order sushi and since Toro is right across the street from me, it couldn't be more convenient. If only I knew... We placed our take out order around 8:30 on a Friday night and they said it would be ready in ~45 minutes (seriously? for raw fish?). They said they would call when it was ready. After an hour and no call, we just walked over there to pick it up. The order was wrong (of course) and when I called to have them fix it and deliver the missing rolls, they said 'no problem, we'll be right over'. Remember, I'm across the street...15 minutes later....nothing, so I call. I get "we'll be right over" again. Another 10 minutes later....still nothing. I call again and I get the same story. 5 minutes after that, they finally admit to not having the staff to run the food over. I was ticked that they couldn't have said that to begin with. That was the straw that broke the camel's back and why I will never ever go back to Toro again. BTW, I hear that Ponzu Sushi at Clark/Fullterton is pretty good. I will try them next time I want sushi in LP.

    (2)

  • blake d.

    The sushi here is pretty good. It's hard for me to call it incredible when Mirai is out there. For the price, however, you get large rolls that are tasty- but the selection is nothing like the more expensive joints. Now this place maximizes every square inch of their space- all 1000sf of it including the kitchen. The wait can be tedious, there's little to no room to stand, but they will take your cell # and call you when your seat is ready. Toro is byob and they have a cooler to keep your wine or brews cold.

    (3)

  • Claire P.

    By far my favorite sushi place in the entire city. Everything I have had there has been amazing. My favorite being the Big Ten (but it changes after every visit). The only down-fall being that it is hit or miss with a wait time. One Thursday night I went we waited for over an hour at a nearby bar. The nice part being they take your cell phone number and call you so you don't have to stand around waiting. Another night I went we sat right down...so I guess you just have to be hopeful. Definately do not come here with a big group, its a tiny hole in the wall place but that just adds to the charm. It is a perfect date place. No matter what the wait though it is completely worth it. And the cherry on top is that its BYOB and nothing beats a delicious BYOB sushi resturant.

    (5)

  • Isabella W.

    I wish I could love this place, I really did.. BUT the service was SLOW, the food so-so. I do give them the extra 1 star for their attempt to appease my hunger pang by offering my friend and I a fried salmon roll "on the house" for thier acknowledged slow service. The best roll we got that night was the Negi Hamachi (yellowtail + scallion), my absolute fav roll, but was not on par with that of Wakamono nor Cafe Blossom in my area on Broadway. The other two rolls we had were the Spicy Tuna Crunch and the Spicy Scallop (which were both drenched by the spicy mayo). They do a fun Volcano roll where they light up a sparkler and yell "Volcano" while bringing the sparkler plate to your table. Oh, and it's BYOB. I would only go back if I was craving sushi and in the area. **********UPDATE**********************************­** My update gives this place 1 add'l star to 4 stars. I decided go give Toro another try (since I'd tried every roll 10x at Wakamono by this point).. However, I wasn't able to get a table until after 4 tries. I recommend coming on a week night. If you're opting for a Thurs/Fri (which is essentially the weekend), I recommend arriving no later than 6pm. This place is TINY (seats max 40) and they move slow, since it's only Mitch & his sidekick making sushi. I was FINALLY able to come here with the hubs, since we left work at 5pm sharp. We were seated immediately, and tried the agedashi tofu and stuffed shiitake mushrooms for beef for the apps. The agedashi tofu was yummy and the skin was nicely fried, but the sauce was a tad bit salty, and not up to par as Sakura in Mount Prospect (gold standard for agedashi).. however, I was still very pleased, and it beat every other place in the city. The shiitake mushrooms (unfortunately) was stuffed with beef and DEEP FRIED! Although unhealthy, it was tasty, but I wouldn't recommend it. We also ordered the hamachi and spicy scallop hand rolls - the seaweed they use here was so tasty and thick! And, the fish here is EXTREMELY fresh!!! I repeat EXTREMELY fresh. We also had the rainbow roll (which unlike most other restaurants), was very clean tasting (not too saucy and full of junk to cover the un-freshbness of the fish), and everything tasted so fresh. We also got the infamous OMG roll, and while not my usual favorite, it was prepared extremely well. I could taste all the ingredients -- both separately and together as a holistic piece of sushi. The mango, unagi, shrimp tempura worked beautifully together. I also like the fact that their ginger is nicely flavored (I hate bland ginger). My one complaint (which is why I'm not giving it 5) is the mediocre (almost borderline not good) service and the cramped-ness. I understand Mitch doesn't want to expand since he wants to stay close to his sushi, but there is something to be said about eating while there's a hoard of 20 ppl hovering over you. Oh well, you can't have it all -- I'll take Toro's good prices and BYOB-ness, and of course, good/fresh sushi!!!

    (4)

  • Laura T.

    I love Toro Sushi - while the restaurant is small, the wait is long, and doesn't take reservations; Mitch is the best. I will admit that I'm not that adventurous when it comes to sushi, but I have tried things at Toro that I otherwise NEVER would have touched and I'm glad I did. The salmon and superwhite tuna are great, but my favorites are the California Crunch and Krispy with kani stick instead of kani salad. Toro is BYOB and Mitch makes sure that everyone is having fun.

    (5)

  • Candice K.

    Hmm... I don't really understand the hype about this place. Maybe people haven't actually had good sushi.. but this place is nothing special. The pieces are tiny. I am not a mouse. I like to eat food. Real people-sized food. Thanks.

    (3)

  • anya r.

    wow, i dont understand the rave reviews of this place. i came here solely based on them and all 3 of us were sorely disappointed. service was excellent despite not being given menus as well as waiting over 20 minutes for our first roll - and this after being the very first patrons to arrive. for infinitely better bang for the buck try Niu in streeterville or south coast sushi in the south loop, the former being much better than the latter. again, if you're okay w/mediocrity, then go forth...

    (2)

  • Missy M.

    Now I know what all the hype is about (and the hour or more wait time)! I highly recommend the Arizona roll and the scallop sashimi. BYOB!! My FAVORITE neighborhood sushi place in the city! Mitch is the best!

    (5)

  • Tanya M.

    Toro was recommended by a friend of mine, so I was very excited to try it out. The fish was fresh, and the rolls were decent. However, I will not be coming back. The waiter did not make me feel welcome. The restaurant is small, so there is always a wait. However, we got there pretty early on a Tuesday night, so we got a table for three right away. One of our girlfriends was running late, but we still ordered appetizers and sashimi while we were waiting. However, the waiter still treated us like we were a nuisance, asking when our third person was arriving, continually asking if we were planning on ordering more rolls - I'm guessing he was stressed out because people were waiting for tables and he wanted to turn the table for a new party. But I'm sorry, if you make the choice to seat us even if our party is incomplete, then that's your mistake, and you need to treat us like guests. We were friends who hadn't seen each other in a year, we wanted a nice dinner, and instead we got bad service. There are plenty of good sushi restaurants in the city. I recommend Tanoshi's in Andersonville and Kaze in Roscoe Village. Toro's is too small and too overwhelmed to treat their clients well. On a side-note, there was a waitress there who was very attentive and much nicer than the waiter. She filled my tea-cup when it had been left standing empty for fifteen minutes, and she got us new ginger and wasabi right away, as well as my appetizer, which took too long to get to the table. Kudos to her.

    (2)

  • Kara H.

    My girlfriends and I tried Toro last night. we arrived at about 6:45. we were shocked at how small and cramped the place was. there couldn't have been more than 6 or 7 tables in there. we were told by the friendly hostess that there was about an hour wait - she offered to take a cell number and call us when a table was ready. we headed down the street to DOC wine bar for a drink and received a call about an hour and 10 min. later. once we were seated the service was fast and friendly despite our server being very busy. then our sushi arrived. wow. just, wow. the sushi here is fantastic! among our favorite rolls... the MJ roll, the oh my god roll, the dragon, and the red dragon. service was great until we finished our meals and paid the bill. we were trying to enjoy the remainder of the wine in our glasses and were asked to leave so someone else could have the table. unacceptable in my opinion. I would go back to toro for the unbelievably good sushi and take-out. the atmosphere left something to be desired and the service was iffy.

    (3)

  • James C.

    Oh Toro it has been to long.. almost a year since I have been there. So there we were my fiancee and myself waiting at 4:30 like creepsters to get in. At 5pm they opened and at 5:12 there was already a huge wait. We sat at the bar and Mitch talked to us throughout stuffing our faces.. Even when he was busy he made sure everyone at the bar was doing ok. He is a sushi superstar and boy it really let me know how much I missed good sushi!

    (5)

  • Rachel Y.

    As an all-you-can-eat sushi place, this is by far my favorite. Add on to that it's BYOB, and you just got a loyal customer. The sushi is very good quality and everything I have had there tasted delicious. Not a bad piece to be had! They don't take reservations so be prepped to wait, but I promise you it's worth it!

    (5)

  • Misty B.

    The pricing is terrific, the sushi chefs are very personable and humorous, and the sushi... was outstanding! This is one of my fav sushi places in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Gianna O.

    I fantasize about the tiger eye roll.

    (4)

  • Peter F.

    BYOB and out of this world sushi. What more could you ask for?

    (5)

  • Renee B.

    My first time having sushi was a really great experience. I love veggies and I love seafood, so you can't beat that. We waited for a seat at the bar, which I think was worth waiting a (little) while for because it was neat to watch the beautiful creations being assembled. Minus one star only because the wait was 2+ hours.

    (4)

  • Sooyon H.

    Although there is always a long wait to dine here, this is my friends and my go-to Japanese restaurant in the city. We usually come in hand with a bottle or two of some wine. There is a good variety of make rolls. . . all of which are pretty tasty and reasonably-priced. If only they expanded the restaurant to make it less cramped!

    (4)

  • Steve C.

    I decided to check out Toro solely due to the hype on Yelp. I am pleased to say that it lived up to all of it. It is as popular as advertised; we arrived at 5:30 and had about a 30 minute wait for a table. Not too bad, we popped across the street to Starbucks and grabbed a latte while we waited it out. Another added bonus is that the place is BYOB. We grabbed a bottle of wine from the liquor store down the street and headed in. The seating is a little cramped but it works well with the atmosphere. We ordered the O My God, Siberian Tiger, 3 Amigos, and Southern Galz rolls. Every one of them was fantastic in their own way but if I had to choose, I'd go with the Southern Galz. For the quality, I thought the price was spot on too. The whole dinner came in at a little under $50. You could certainly do a lot worse in this city. I would certainly recommend Toro to anyone looking for some quality sushi. Be sure to go early.

    (4)

  • George M.

    I ate last night there...i had to wait for half an hour to seat. The food and service was very good. The price was reasonable. The atmosphere was noisy and the lights were too high for a restaurant...i liked the BYOB.

    (5)

  • kevin m.

    Best sushi in chicago. No other place even comes close to comparing. Mitch does wonders behind the sushi bar. I would eat here every night if i could!

    (5)

  • James S.

    Great place! My wife and I found this place walking down Clark Street a few summers ago. We weren't even looking for sushi, but the place looked pretty crowded so we figured it must be good. Sushi was excellent, we love the California Crunch (has a nice spicy kick to it). Only problem is that the thing that first attracted us to the place (the crowd) can be an issue as there is almost always a 40 min wait. However, the food is worth it, so when we have our hearts set on sushi we usually end up at Toro.

    (4)

  • Joe B.

    I'd recommend the Oh my god roll or the yum yum yummy. Mmmmm

    (4)

  • Angela K.

    Good quality ingredients. BYOB. I like everything except the long wait for a table.

    (4)

  • Emmanuel P.

    Awesome sushi! Mitch, the owner, is very personable. Fish is always very fresh as he orders 3 times/week. none of that frozen crap you eat at nearby sushi restaurants...Prices are very reasonable, service is fast. I go there at least once/ week and have never been disappointed. I tried all the sushi restaurants on Clark and Diversey and Sushi Toro is playing in a different league. No wonder why the place is packed even on Tuesday or Weds night.

    (5)

  • Stefanie L.

    This place is delicious every time!

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    Plain and simple, Toro is one of the best byob sushi spots on the north side, and probably all of chicago. I usually try to get there before 6:30 because on the weekends it gets very crowded and waits can be up to or more than an hour. Over all the sushi is great and the service has always been great. The only thing I can suggest is moving to a larger location so more people can enjoy.

    (5)

  • Jenny R.

    arrived around 8pm on tuesday and we had to wait about 30 minutes. this place is smaller than my cubicle. the menu is extensive and everything sounded really good. my date and i ordered an app. and three rolls. literally, 35 minutes later we got our food. for the life of me, i cannot understand how it could take that long to make three rolls when there are literally only 9 tables in the entire place. we were still hungry after we ate all of our sushi (red dragon, el fuego, yellow submarine) and our waiter, who was super nice and accomodating, recommended the kamikaze...at this point it was 9:45 and the place was clearing out. it still took 30 minutes to get a roll that was basically a fake crab salad. basically - the sushi is good. not awesome, not great. but the service was so off-putting. and it's still bothering me. i haven't decided if i'd go back.

    (3)

  • Eric L.

    After reading the reviews, I came here for a late lunch 15 minutes before closing so i didn't have to deal with any wait. The restaurant itself is very small and simple and by the time we got there there were only 7 or 8 other diners. I got a lunch sushi special and my girlfriend got a lunchbox with salmon (only $10 and $8 respectively!) and I also added real wasabi for $3. The sushi was good (not the best I've had) but the salad that came with it had an incredible dressing on it and the real wasabi was definitely worth the $3 (I would eat it on its own). Next time I'm in Lincoln park, I'll definitely be heading back.

    (4)

  • Cindy D.

    I don't know what the deal is?? My bf and I get there at 6:30 pm, but we have to wait another 30 minutes for a table. I'm fine with that... then we order our 2 rolls (Hiroshima and Volcano) and 3 orders of salmon sashimi. We wait... then we wait... then we wait.. a total of 40 minutes for our food. We happen to be seated at the sushi bar, so we see the sushi chefs making the rolls for other tables besides our order. When we finally do get our rolls here's the outcome.. 1. Volcano - it's a cooked salmon roll (which was not said on the menu). OK, but not great.. we are here for raw fish, and I didn't realize it was cooked. 2. Then our salmon sashimi - ehh.. great taste but tiny. Since we were sitting at the sushi bar, I noticed Mitch cutting HUGE pieces for carry out, but he can't cut larger pieces for the people watching his work for the last 1.5 hours???? 3. Hiroshima - it's deep fried roll.. but then it's soaked in a terriyaki sauce?? I don't get it? why would you order a fried roll, but can't taste the texture after it's soaked in the sauce. Then we order Cherry Blossom and 2 more orders of salmon sashimi because we were still hungry.. Both were good, but still.. I would never come here again. I saw four other couples that got freebies (rolls, mangos, desserts), had shorter waits, and just overall better served then us :( I was really looking forward to this dinner, and it really did disappoint me.

    (2)

  • Grace F.

    I live a block away from this restaurant. Went in there several times. The rolls are great, fish are fresh, appetizers to desserts are amazing. I love the wallpaper with snap shot photos. BUT, I tried calling in to order for carry out but the phone was never picked up. It came to a point where it's so annoying, esp in the cold weather. After trying to call several times, I gave up and starting to call Ponzu Sushi and am impressed with the carry out/delivery and even the rolls are much better than Toro.

    (2)

  • k e.

    Probably my favorite sushi place in Chicago. Yes, it's tiny, but that's really the only drawback for me - and it's a minor one in my opinion. The rolls are delicious (the hiroshima and oh my god rolls were amazing) AND it's BYOB. It's a long wait, but it's worth it. Just put your name in and go get your booze or get dessert first at Molly's next door.

    (4)

  • Gfiddy F.

    Awesome tasting sushi.

    (5)

  • Erin V.

    Great sushi. I also have a preference for BYOB, which this place is. If you go with one other person or alone, sit at the bar. The sushi chef, Mitch, is great. It's small, so it can definitely get crowded on pretty much any night. I have recently witnessed several large groups of Lincoln Parkers trying to sit together and getting very pissed after waiting for an hour and not getting seated. The place is a tiny storefront - which makes it so charming. If you want to eat out with 10 of your girlfriends go somewhere else, don't yell at the adorable hosts! I go during the week, with good friends and a couple good bottles of wine. Makes going to work the next day that much easier. I had to change my review to 5 stars (from 4) - after going so many more times since my first review, the consistently great sushi deserves that final star. While you may have to wait to get a table - it's totally worth it.

    (5)

  • Eileen F.

    Food: delicious Ambience: the place is tiny! And you better like your fellow diners, because they will basically be sitting at your table with you. Decor- nothing really to speak of. Looks like a small sushi bar. The wait was INSANE. But that was nicely tempered by the bottle of wine I shared with a friend while we waited... and then another bottle with dinner-- As someone else mentioned there is a liquor store right down the street, so you can get a nice bottle (or two) to bring to your meal. Can't beat those BYOB prices. I went with my tried and true shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, and some sort of tuna tempura all of which were delicious. I hear that the "oh my god" roll is also excellent, although I did not try it. I would definitely go back--- but would go in a mind frame knowing there is a substantial wait.

    (4)

  • L B.

    I am a Toro believer. I was a faithful Butterfly girl and will always have a place for them in my heart but holy hell is Toro good. And its pretty darn easy to get to. Sorry Butterfly! But Lakeview isn't as close to you as Toro. And they are BYOB! That in itself earns a star. The sushi is simply amazing. And very reasonably priced. For two of us and three rolls it was a total of $25. Can't beat that. Nor the fact that we got a taste of free sashimi on the side! Its a little crowded in there or maybe it just seems that way because they are always packed for the amazing food. And because it really is that small. And one other downside to this place is that there are no reservations. =( However, even that wouldn't stop me from coming back. What can I say? I've been converted.

    (5)

  • Eazmg C.

    been there twice just thought it was okay. my friend thinks its the best sushi in lincoln park, i prefer green tea.

    (3)

  • Hana K.

    It was pretty good. Pretty pricey but the quality was good enough to justify the price. I'm not much of a roll person and I rather go for sashimi but their OMG roll that was recommended was good as well as their green tea tempura icecream.

    (4)

  • Tiffany L.

    A friend took me here and I've been back many a times. Always packed so either go when they open or go later in the evening like at 8pm. You can always put in your name and give them your phone # and go down the street to the DOC and get a drink and they'll call you when your table's ready...win win situation! Very reasonably prices and lots of rolls to choose from. The only thing is when we go in the summer (at least last year), it is SO hot inside. I know that there's A/C but it isn't working very well so if you get hot easily or that ruins it for ya, don't go on a sweltering and humid day! Otherwise, enjoy lots of sushi!

    (4)

  • Jon C.

    this place never disappoints. love their spicy tuna and the small restaurant setting. fish is very fresh.

    (4)

  • Natalie G.

    This is for sure maybe the 2nd best sushi in chicago. Their rolls are so creative and it is not pricey if you ask me. My 2 friends and I went and were stuffed with some great rolls and each spent $17 plus tip. The only complaint that I have was the hostess. I know this place has long lines, but we went at 6:30 to put our name down. She told us 1 hour and a half to 1 hour 45 minutes. When she hadn't called us after and hour and a half we walked to over to see what was up. They were really busy, but the hostess told us she was sorry and it would be twenty more. Long story short the total wait was 3 hours. I know they were busy, but having been a hostess before you need to either quote correct wait times or call someone when it takes longer. Other than the 3 hour wait it was great! (Be sure to live closeby so you can go home and drink during this wait or go to a nearby bar.)

    (4)

  • Darlene F.

    After 250+ reviews, there's not too much text to add. Fantastic sushi, more than fair prices. The one very helpful thing I will point out is that they will take your phone number for the waiting list, and call about 10 minutes before they're ready to seat you. That way you can go browse down Clark and come back when they're ready, instead of clogging up the sidewalk outside like a loser...

    (5)

  • Jessica W.

    It's hard for terrible service to outshine wonderful food, but Toro really goes above and beyond. Before the ugly, let's linger on the good: I went on a Tuesday night and was very pleased. The rolls are just lovely: it is obvious the chef approaches his creations with a sense of fun and adventure. Our favorite was the Sun Roll, in which sunflower seeds make a surprisingly good addition to the usual maki suspects. Even better, the fish is melt-in-your-mouth fresh--we had perfect salmon, yellowfin, and ahi nigiri. I've had sushi this good in the neighborood, but not for such low prices. Little secrets like this rarely stay secret for long, and even under stellar management a tiny (and newly popular) space like this might struggle on a busy night . And if the management is less-than-stellar? Uh-oh. We went this Saturday, fully expecting a bit of a wait and a bit of chaos. What we got was a 20 minute stall--3 empty tables sitting before us--while the hostess discussed an upcoming dinner party with a man who'd walked in after us. Certainly this chat could have been rescheduled for, I don't know, ANY OTHER HOUR instead of the week's absolute busiest. Finally seated, we waited another 15 minutes and watched more and more guests stream in. The waitresses looked very young and very green, and were setting up tables assembly-line style: first the napkins, then the silverware, etc. This is of course the WORST approach to a dinner rush because everyone orders at once, effectively flooding the kitchen. This would screw over the most well-staffed kitchen, but a single sushi chef? A train wreck. Over a half an hour into the deal--and still not having received water much less ordered our dinner--we gave up and hoofed it to another restaurant. I'd rate Toro as one of the neighborhood's best weeknight sushi joints. Just avoid it like 3-day-old sushi on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Caroline G.

    Hands down BEST sushi in Chicago. I have never been a big sushi fan, but that was before Toro. I am in love with their food. I highly recommend the Sunny Roll and of course, the Oh My God. It's a small, hole-in-the-wall type restaurant, but the waiting for a table/not too spacious part is totally worth it once you're fed. You will not regret your meal here! Bravo!

    (5)

  • Laura B.

    Finally, I made it to Toro, and I proceeded to return twice within the same week (yay holiday season and time off!) Mitch is awesome, he makes the place fantastic. I like the bar so you can see him work - but I'm biased because i like sitting at the bar in general. He let me try sea urchin once when I asked him what he was making - it was tasty. The rolls are great, fresh and wonderful. The fried tofu appetizer is simply to die for - it literally melts in your mouth. If tofu tasted like that every time I tried it, I might become a vegetarian. Yeah its small, and packed. I like to keep it to a party of 2. Sure you might not be sitting in Zen comfort - but mitch's charm and the great sushi make up for it.

    (4)

  • Josh M.

    Mitch is the best.....great, original rolls. The place is too small and the waitresses have no clue what they are doing. Very slow service....but the sushi is great and so is Mitch.

    (5)

  • Asya K.

    Toro is by far my favorite sushi restaurant. Even though there is always a line and seating could be difficult, I am willing to wait. I have had sushi poisoning twice but I am never concern when I go to Toro. The fish is always fresh and the portions are great for the price. My favorite roll is the Kamikazee, the best thing I have ever eaten in a sushi restaurant!!!

    (5)

  • P R.

    What can I say but that this place is awesome! Really reasonably priced, really fresh, and BYOB. Only thing that blows is the wait. I wish they would use a service like Textaurant.com so that they would just text you when your table is ready because the place is so small that you always have to go down the street to a bar to wait anyways.

    (5)

  • Zach F.

    Easily the best sushi in town and possibly the best I have ever had. I love eating sushi and this place is amazing. Try the ahi tuna salad roll if you want something refreshing and different. They also have a HUGE menu with tons of roll options (which I think is a plus). Worth the wait and if you live/visit Chicago and feel like sushi...there is no comparison.

    (5)

  • Laura F.

    Expecting okay, received amazing!!! What an great surprise. I have been doing a tour of sushi joints this summer and this one is without a doubt at the top. The look of the place should discourage you, don't let it!!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Rita R.

    If I could give less than 1 star, I would. I actually joined Yelp just to write a review about this place. It was the worst customer service I have ever had. I planned a dinner with a bunch of friends and called ahead 20 minutes before we got there to check if there are any free tables. I was told there is a table and it'll be ready when we get there. I called several times to confirm. When we got there, the guy told us that there is a 2.5 hr wait and denied ever talking to me. I tried to explain, but he was so rude that we ended up going somewhere else. I don't care how good your food is, service this bad is not worth it. Go across the street to Kabuki where they treat you well!!!

    (1)

  • Adam G.

    I am a Sushi Snob and I have to say this is the best sushi I have ever had!! You can't go wrong with almost any roll. I must say that the Oh My God roll and Kamikaze Roll are the best. Best part....BYOB!!! Update**I have to tell you that Best of Both Worlds Roll is my new favorite**

    (5)

  • ali a.

    I went here tonight with Andrea W. and luckily we didn't have to wait to long. I really liked 2 out of the 3 rolls that we got. They were creative and delicious! The third was grilled and oddly enough, I thought it was weird to eat sushi cooked. I don't think i'll try that one again, but there were alot of others on the menu i'd like to try. I'll definitely go back here, but just need to time it right so that I'm not waiting too long. Its pretty small but definitely worth trying. The price is right too!

    (4)

  • jame s.

    We got here early to try this place out. It was filling up just before 6p. Service was a bit on the slow side, but we weren't too ravenous and were patient. The first and best roll we ate was the "O" roll. Super white tuna with green tobiko topped with spicy tuna and avocado. Very tasty. The other roll, of which that had many clever names, was the "Oh-MY-God" roll. There was a lot of tobiko and tempura crumbs in many of the rolls. Unfortunately I cannot offer an opinion on the sushi, but will be going back to try a more traditional sushi experience. The creative rolls were interesting, but a little goes a long way. In total, we had four rolls and our tab was $47 plus tip. We were stuffed.

    (4)

  • Rebecca M.

    I love love love this place. Yes, the wait can be long but the fact that they will call you to let you know you're table is ready is awesome in my book. And yes, it's tiny, but I kinda like the neighborhood joint feel of a small place. Hands-down and most importantly - the BEST sushi I have had in Chicago. When I moved here from LA I was worried that I wasn't going to find good quality sushi. What an idiot. Something as simple as the salmon nigiri blew my mind the first time I went here and has never disappointed. I.Love.Toro.Sushi. Go there. Now. And get some treats from Molly's Cupcakes down the street while you wait for your table.

    (5)

  • Hernan R.

    Was there a couple of weeks ago on a Thursday night. Place was full, but only waited about ten minutes for a table. Tried the Dragon and Tempura Maki. Definitely coming back when I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • Philip P.

    I've had about a dozen rolls here and everything has been consistently fresh and well prepared. A small place with seating for about 20, get here early to put in your name. BYOB as well.

    (4)

  • Nikki B.

    the best!!! i loove toro sushi. i have been going there for the past 3 years. me and my boyfriend go to toro sushi at least 2-3 times a month! i have tried other places. but i'm usually not satisfied.. please do try "oh my god" it's one of their special roll. which is my absolute favorite.. they have some great maki rolls. and pretty reasonable price.. the waitresses are very friendly. as well as the owner [mitch]. one thing is that they dont take reservation so sometimes you may have to wait. they are always very busy! it's also "byob"!

    (5)

  • Purnima M.

    This place is special. It got me eating sushi, for starters. And every meal we've had here has been memorable, both for the food and experience. We've brought friends here, and family, and out-of-town guests who want to have a fun evening and great food. Be warned, though: the wait is insane. The place is tiny, and ALWAYS packed, although once you start sampling the sushi, you realize why. We always come in early, put our names down (the wait's usually atleast an hour to an hour and a half), and plan something else for a while before heading back with a couple of bottles of wine. I'm a maki roll person, so will speak only to what I know: they're amazing! The chef has made us stuff that's not on the menu - you can basically tell them what kind of stuff you'd like in your rolls, and they'll happily accomodate you. But seriously, the available choices are so fantastic, you're sure to find things you like. My personal favorites: the sunny (crab, avacado, mango, sunflower seeds - mmm!!), Omigod, and dragon rolls. My only problem with recommending this place is that it's going to be even more packed next time. But that's a risk I'm willing to take.

    (5)

  • Roxanne Y.

    Out of all the sushi restaurants in Chicago Toro's my favorite. Delicious rolls and like everyone else, I love Mitch! However, there's always a wait! I once came 30 min. before closing after finally finding a parking spot and they wouldn't accept anymore customers. Did I mention I was dying for sushi?? Big disappointment. Thus began my love-hate relationship with Toro. If you're willing to wait, this is the place to go for your sushi fix...but don't go too late & don't forget to bring a drink! It's byob.

    (4)

  • andy s.

    probably my best sushi experience in chicago. tastes great, creative, ingredients are fresh, service is good, prices are reasonable for sushi places (which means i can't go often, or i'll get into big financial trouble). so 4 stars, i'm a fan and would go back. also, this place is probably better for small groups. there is not a lot of seating. so don't plan on rolling in with a large group of people. you'll get seated quicker if it's just a couple people, and you arrive soon after they open.

    (4)

  • G N.

    BYOB, reasonable prices and delicious sushi. Best place in Chicago in my opinion. There's a long wait, but so worth it.

    (5)

  • Marcus Z.

    Doesn't look like a place that would have great sushi...man I was wrong. This place is delicious. Creative rolls, BYOB, and fressshhhh. You'll get overwhelmed by the different combinations of rolls. If you're a california roll eater...this place is not for you.

    (4)

  • Jason S.

    AH-MAZ-ING Sushi! Good prices. LONG wait to get a seat in this very small restaurant. We will be ordering carry out from here a lot. This place rivals with Coast which was my former favorite sushi in Chicago. I can't wait to go back. There are several bars in the area to grab a drink while you wait including DOC wine bar just north on Clark. Don't forget to BYOB!

    (5)

  • Mel M.

    The place has delicious sushi but it's so small!!! They do not take reservations and the wait for 2 is about an hour even if you come on a weeknight. Sushi is delicious and the chef is awesome. No matter what you order its gonna rock as far as the maki rolls go. If you re willing to wait it is so worth it!

    (5)

  • Geoffrey I.

    pros: -fresh and unique ahi salad roll - mixed greens, tuna, mango, and ahi wrapped in crispy, chewy rice paper and drizzled with ginger sesame vinaigrette -super white tuna nigiri was buttery soft -light use of rice in rolls -byob big, big pro: -owner and head sushi chef mitch - tremendous presence, fist pounds for everyone at the sushi bar, gracefully managed the most finicky customer ever. she wanted her sushi wrapped in cucumber rather than seaweed. he deftly cut the cucumber while rotating it to create "paper" sufficient to roll sushi with. great feat to watch from the bar. she also changed her order from soft-shell crab to tuna midway through construction. in that position, i would have denied those requests and kicked her out, but mitch kept his cool. i would have rated Toro 4 stars if not for this display of poise and the playful interaction between mitch and his sushi bar patrons. cons: -45-minute wait (but they called us) -mushy edamame -no tofu in miso soup -the food came out very slowly with one roll at a time

    (5)

  • Jet H.

    Yes, the wait is long. Yes, the place is small. Yes, the place can get crowded. But, the sushi is good and the rolls are creative. It's casual and reasonably priced. I have high expectations when it comes to sushi and am pleasantly surprised to have found a decent place in Chicago. I'll definitely be coming back and bring a bottle of sake' with me.

    (4)

  • Magaly O.

    This is the best sushi in Chicago. I almost stopped myself from writing this review to keep this place secret, but who am I kidding the word is obviously out. After eating here no place can ever compare. It's definitely worth the wait, but if you have some place better to be feel free to leave so us regulars can get a table faster. Long Live Mitch, the King of Sushi.

    (5)

  • Jonelle N.

    Toro is definitely the best sushi I have ever had. My boyfriend and I are definite regulars and we plan to try and go to Toro AT LEAST two times a week. I have eaten at several sushi places and now, unfortunately, now I have become a Sushi Snob. So far I have found nolthing better and have almost become discouraged with even looking for something better. Mitch gets a fresh order of all of his fish in every single day with the exception of the Hamachi (yellowtail), which he gets in every other day. We love Mitch and will wait for a seat at the sushi bar to open up just so we can sit with him. He is an absolute delight. I can relate to the service being a little slow, but once you have anything prepared by Mitch you will be glad you waited. As for the people who rated this place negatively, I hope they stick to their review and dont come back.... that's less people that will make us wait to get our fix. I highly recommend this place to any true sushi lovers.... My favorite is Salmon Nigiri, and my boyrfriend's favorite is either the yellowtail, white tuna, or the hand rolls mitch will happily custom make for him. on Top of all this.... the prices can't be beat.... There is a Dinner for two combo that him and I wil be overly full from for 29.99. Awesome!

    (5)

  • Kate Z.

    Awesome sushi! In fact, we were prepared to wait but they told us 30 minutes, and called us to tell us our table was ready in 20! Miso soup is excellent. Great seaweed salad too. Would recommend getting one of these so the wait doesn't seem quite as long for your sushi. Also, if the waitress makes a recommendation on a roll, go for it. You will not be disappointed. The roll our waitress recommended (based on our other selections) was by far the best of the meal. Prices are definitely a value for the size of the rolls too! I will be coming back for sure...

    (5)

  • Wendy T.

    I have loved Toro for quite a while, well since it opened. I would say the best sushi I have ever had! Mitch (the chef) is awesome, and get there early, because it gets packed quickly!

    (5)

  • Justin S.

    So I went out last night to try and form my own opinion of this sushi place. The first roll I had was the sunny, which was so freaking good. I think though that it would have been best to save this roll for last, as the next 4 we had were not as great. Don't get me wrong they were good but the sunny was the best. The food was all around very good. It did take awhile to sit down but all together is was really good. I'd recommend going there for some great sushi.

    (4)

  • Megan R.

    Great sushi! The wait time is pretty crazy, but you can put your name in and they call you when you should leave to go back to the restaurant (as long as you are fairly close). If you don't feel like waiting, get it to go! The O Roll and Tempura roll are my favorites!

    (5)

  • Ashley K.

    The quality of the sushi at Toro is above average. The rolls are innovative and delicious. The restaurant is sort of small and they do not take reservations. I have found at times the staff can be a little rude (but not the men behind the sushi bar- they rock)... probably because they can be and the place would still be packed every night. Love the fact that its BYOB.

    (4)

  • Rocky B.

    Checked out Toro on Friday night for the first time and I give it an A for effort and probably a C for taste. The volcano roll was impressive with the sparklers but the taste of the salmon was almost like eating dried out salmon from a can. The same with the fried salmon fingers. Maybe salmon isn't the way to go. My husband ordered the 911 roll which was really tasty. The dough on the Tempura Fried Ice Cream tasted kind of raw. The service was great and the sushi chefs seemed to know everyone that walked into the place. I'd be willing to give Toro another shot I would just probably stay clear of the salmon items on the menu unless it was sashimi.

    (3)

  • Beth S.

    You let me down big time Toro Sushi. I have to say the best part about this place was the chef who seemed more interested in greeting customers than preparing good sushi. After all the rave reviews, I was really looking forward to "the best sushi ever." Maybe it's what I ordered...the Lunchbox Special for a mere $5, but it tasted like it had been sitting there for days...both of my rolls were just not fresh and one had this odd taste that left a bad taste in my mouth...their miso soup is really good, but for the lack of everything else I won't be going back. Service was ok but nothing special. There's much better sushi in the city, MUCH better.

    (2)

  • Alison W.

    I read about Toro on here and my husband and I gave it a try. Let's just say we make it a regular destination now. It is our favorite spot for sushi in the city! Mitch is wonderful and personable offering beautiful and tasty rolls and sashimi. We just can't seem to get enough. If only we lived within walking distance...

    (5)

  • Emily P.

    byob. put your name and number on the list and they'll call you when your table is ready. i don't go anywhere else. this is the freshest fish you are going to get in chicago and it is served with love and at reasonable prices. our first visit at the bar we brought my mother who was a newbie to sushi. "i love virgins" mitch gleefully said as he handed her a complimentary small plate of sashimi for her to pop her cherry. the next time we brought a very nervous newbie, my father. mitch patiently and passionately explained to him the benefits of fish in general and the perks of each of his individual fish. sit at the bar, bring some booze, watch mitch work his magic, and don't forget to order the sunny roll and tiger's eyes.

    (5)

  • Roy A.

    Maybe I'm a hater giving this only 3 stars when it's chock full of 4s and 5s across the board. Let me explain... Food: The food was real good and real fresh. Apparently, they turn around their seafood faster than most places which is great. They have a bunch of specialty rolls and such of which I've had a few and they are all quite good. It's also BYO which doesn't hurt. All in all with this said it's at least a 4 star place but.... ...then the wait comes of which will never come in under two hours. Three on a Sat night which I endured the last time. At least Duke's down the street got some of my money as I tossed back a few beers waiting for Toro to give my party a call. Now don't get me wrong--I do NOT mind waiting at all for food. Especially good food. I've waited 2-3 hours multiple times at Kuma's, Hot Doug's, etc. and I didn't much get too upset with the wait here. Two things that did annoy me related to the wait was that they were one hour off on their estimate--are you that bad at estimating while working here all this time that you are an entire hour off? Seriously, man, come on. And then when you get in you're essentially sitting on top of one another or ass-to-ass by the sushi bar. I recently sat at the bar and thankfully the person next to me was faced the other way or he could've shared my meal with me since we were so close. At least the head sushi chef (Mitch?) was cool and fist pumping people all night and even offered some free food at the end since I assume he was gonna toss it anyways. Food was good to real good. Wait was "meh" as you gotta wait sometimes for good stuff. Estimate by hostess was horrible. And room to breathe in the place was unconscionable since I was essentially sitting on top of the guy next to me.

    (3)

  • Blair B.

    WOW! Best sushi I've ever put in my mouth. Love chef Mitch! My fav rolls were Oh my god, and 3 Musketeers...so fresh, so delicious. Also, the best thing to do is specify what you like and have Mitch make up something for you. The roll he created for us is the best roll I've ever tasted... honestly. The place is way too tiny, so we had to wait an hour to eat there.. that being said, it was totally and completely worth it. Plus it's BYOB and not that expensive. Glad I've finally found the best sushi in chicago!

    (5)

  • Heather M.

    Having recently moved from Los Angeles, Sushi capital of the world, I was in desperate need to find a new sushi joint to call home. After being referred to Toro by a friend, I decided to check it out. I was glad I did. At first it looked like a typical hole-in-the-wall sushi place, but the food and service make-up for the tight, cramped space. It has a great neighborhood feel and you can tell that most people there are regulars. That is of course for the people who don't expect the hour wait around dinner time. Although it is annoying because there isn't really anywhere to hang out, you can leave them your phone number and they will call you when your table is ready. Mitch, the owner and one of only two sushi chefs, has a special handshake and greets everyone. He is a great personality and I expect customers return to see him and his huge smile. The place is supposed to be expanding in November which is a plus. As far as the actual sushi/sashimi goes...I recommend always substituting the crab salad for the kani in rolls. Also, get the sesame soy paper instead of the seaweed. Mitch gets this having come from California himself. The super white tuna sashimi melts in your mouth. And the crazy horse, three musketeers, California twist and salad roll are my favorites. You can also bring your own wine. So take your time and enjoy this place because you should expect a wait once you get your table too. Sitting at the sushi bar is more fun though because you can chat with Mitch.

    (4)

  • JC M.

    What else can be said about Toro? Get there early with a nice bottle of wine or your favorite beverage and plan on staying while sampling very originals makis "Oh My God","Best of both worlds", is a safe start and go from there....... Amazing combinations that just melt in your mouth. Prepare to spend around 45 minutes if you show up after 7 pm and prepare to wait outside!! Very personable owner and very attentive staff......beware of twosome and foursome parties who stay and linger long after they have consumed their meals and stay chatting while enjoying their last drops of wine with absolute disregard of waiting customers outside to eat....to those ladies that won't leave, shame on you!!!! this is an eating establishment and very small i may add, nice enough, BYOB, it is not Starbucks....pay your check and if you need to continue your chat go elsewhere!!!!! Mitch and his staff is there to provide food for his clients not to watch laugh for 55 minutes while making other hungry people angry!!!!

    (5)

  • Katie O.

    LOVE IT! Great for a first date (I'm had many here) and Mitch is AWESOME at the Sushi counter. Never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Shari G.

    I have very particular sushi eaters in my house, and this is everyones top choice. We go early to avoid the crowd, and have a better pick at a table that affords a little space. It also gets warm in the summer and the door constantly opening is annoying, but it is BYOB and has the best sushi rolls and freshest pieces ANYWHERE. Arizona, Southern Galz, Kamakazi.....and any piece are incredible. Great carry out too.

    (5)

  • M K.

    Toro Sushi is my favorite sushi restaurant in Chicago! For a sushi restaurant to have fresh fish, it has to have high fish turnover, meaning it's a busy restaurant. It doesn't get much busier than Toro, and the fish is definitely fresh. Moreover, the pricing is reasonable. The chef's choice sushi dinner was $15 (I think it's $18 now) and it doesn't have any octopus or squid! When Mitch is there, the atmosphere is friendly (though admittedly hectic given the limitations on space). If you're at Toro at the right time, Mitch might send you a free appetizer. He makes an effort to recognize repeat customers, and if you sit at the bar, he'll even carry conversation with you. You can't have to good without the bad though, and Toro has one major drawback. Like all small but popular restaurants in Chicago, there is always a crowd and they don't take call-ins or reservations. That means, if you don't get there early to put your name in, you might not be seated until after 9pm. Carry-out isn't a solution either, because when Toro gets very busy, Mitch will cut carry-out service. Many people get bent out of shape over how busy Toro is but you have to understand, there is a reason people are willing to wait so long to get in!

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    ohmigosh. best sushi i have ever had in my entire life. i have been trying to find good sushi in chicago but i found great. to enjoy the experience you have to embrace it. know youre going to have to wait and the place is going to be small, but i promise worth it. i had four rolls- ohmygod, J&J. the three musketeer, and a speciallity. Mitch the sushi chef will create you anything, just tell him what you like (tuna, salmon, mango, not spicy for me) and he will create you the greatest roll you could ever imagine. its byob which is cool but it also means no saki. overall amazing, def worth the try

    (5)

  • Sarah F.

    If it weren't for the cramped quarters and long waits, I would give Toro 5 stars. This place is one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. The sushi is fresh, delicious and cheap! The dragon rolls are my favorite. It's also BYOB which is always a perk. As others have stated, though, you can 100 percent always expect a wait. But, if you give your hostess your phone # she will call you when your table is ready. Another downside is that there is nowhere to wait but on the street (literally). So, we frequently walk to Dunlays for a drink until our table is ready. Give this hidden gem a try!

    (4)

  • Jo W.

    As an update -- I've been burned by the reservation system here. On Saturday nights you can't get in unless you physically show up around 6, put your name on a list and get a time. Now, I'm not sure 1) why they're localizing their business and 2) what is so different about this system from reservations -- clearly people are willing to make an effort to plan ahead...so why not just put that effort on people calling in at the beginning of the week to book reservations as opposed to trucking it to your restaurant??? Very silly stuff.

    (3)

  • Olivia L.

    Why is this place so small? I love Mitch's sushi but I can't ever get in. Good for him that he's that busy, but get a bigger place. J\K I have waited and will wait for Mitch's salmon rolls. Very fresh and delicious.

    (3)

  • Shannon S.

    4/15/06 Ok, so I had to come and change my review. I decided to give Toro another try since i had read so many review. The second time around was much better than the first. Although, service was still slow, it was understandable since there was only one of them. The rolls we had were very good. They have great lunch specials (even though we didn't endulge in them ourselves). 3/30/06 I was so excited to check out Toro after reading so many great reviews, but my experience last night left a bad taste in my mouth - literally. First of all, our service was horrible. Our waitress never came over and finally after seeing her wait on the 3 tables that came in after us I flagged her down. Throughout the night we constantly had to keep asking her to refill our water. Our food took about an hour to come out after we had ordered. We ordered 3 different rolls, all of which fell apart as you were trying to pick them up. The fish wasn't the freshest tasting. The spicy tuna roll seemed like they had tried to smash it up before they put it in the actual roll. I don't know, I am really hoping I just went on a bad night after reading so many good reviews. I might check it out at a later date but for now, I will stick with my regular sushi spots.

    (4)

  • Rachel B.

    Hands down the best, and most creatively tasty, sushi in Chicago. Get there early (5:30), as they are a small place which fills up quickly and doesn't take reservations. Mitch is the main chef and savvy business man who ensures that you return through an ultra friendly attitude (and freebies if he's seen you more than once). The rolls are reasonably priced when you consider how much you are getting. The rolls are huge - two is more than I can usually handle. A few favorites (although EVERYTHING is awesome) The age-dashi is simple but great here Oh My God maki Trixie maki Any of the fantastically fresh sashimi

    (5)

  • Ccc C.

    Excellent Sushi. And Mitch the owner is so nice! I haven't been there in a while, but I have been thinking about going soon!

    (5)

  • David K.

    Arrived at Sushi Toro around 5:30pm on a Wednesday night. Empty. Within 20 minutes, this place was bumping. As my girlfriend and I are looking over the menu, we both look straight at the specialty rolls section. We read alot of reviews about the Holla Jalapeno roll, so we decided to get it. It was not that good in my opinion. We also got the Kamikaze roll and that was delicious. The spicy tuna mix was soo good. After the rolls we looked at the nigiri/sashimi section. We saw a decent variety reasonably priced. Uni was $8 and I thought that was a bit pricey. My eyes noticed the red bold writing on top that reads, "2 pieces of nigiri or 3 pieces of sashimi". Wait, so I get 2 pieces of uni at $4 a piece? We were so shocked! The quality of sushi was really good at a great price. The fish was served in hearty slices, but the shrimp was a bit small (Ama ebi and shrimp tempura). Also, the batter Toro uses to fry things - especially the ama ebi heads was not enjoyable. However, overall, it was a good experience. We will be going back to try some other rolls before we can really decide how delicious it is.

    (4)

  • Greg H.

    Great sushi for a great price. A lot of creative custom rolls that you won't find anywhere else. I'm also not generally a huge fan of hand rolls, but the kamakazi should not be missed. Only downside is that they don't take reservations and you can not put your name on the list over the phone.

    (5)

  • Mrjustice ..

    Consistent with other reviews, Sushi was outstanding. Super fresh, large thick slices, nicely presented, and comparably/reasonably priced. They also have a huge selection of special rolls. I tried the "Dragon", which was a combo of shrimp tempura, unagi, and avocado. Pretty good, but I'm not a big fan of the fancy rolls. Think you get a better bang for the buck, just with normal sushi. Rolls tend to be overpriced, and for "tourists" if you ask me. (I'm speaking generally here, not any special critique of Toro's -- if Rolls are your thing, Toro is still for U). Service by the waitresses was attentive and friendly. Only critique, would be that the food (sushi & rolls) comes out slow. Think they need another Sushi Chef to help. And, of course, Toro, is BYOB, which is always a plus in my book. Will definately be back.

    (4)

  • T. T.

    The only thing that's not-so-great about this place is the pricing. But it's no reason one should not take a date there.

    (4)

  • courtney g.

    OK, here's the down side - it's tiny, it's hot (in the summer anyway), and the service is often S-L-O-W slow. The up-side: Mitch couldn't be nicer, the waitresses are friendly and pleasant, they've managed to make it feel modern and cozy, and the sushi is reasonably priced and quite often very very good (I am no sushi gourmand - but it's batting pretty high with me, esp the Yellow Submarine roll). Plus there's this dinner deal I am all about -- and they are BYO. I hate to recommend it, actually. It's hard enough to get a seat.

    (4)

  • David R.

    Not your standard sushi restaurant, Toro serves up a number of inventive and tasty rolls, in a small but cozy atmosphere. This is not a place for traditionalist, but if you want to some different, give it a shot. BYOB is a plus! Unfortunately Toro does not take reservations, so plan accordingly.

    (4)

  • Whitney S.

    We had a great time here!! Mitch, the sushi chef, is awesome - so friendly, outgoing, and really knowledgeable. He gave us a couple of complimentary pieces and taught us a few things we didn't know about sushi. The salmon was melt-in-your-mouth wonderful! Service was a bit slow, but we honestly didn't care because of the food and the atmosphere. If you come during the dinner rush you will probably have to wait, but it started to seem like people come here for the atmosphere and the friendly sushi chef. One surprise: the "MJ Roll" was actually fully cooked fish, so if you prefer it raw, stick with other rolls. The Rock-n-Roll was really tasty (not sure what the problem was with the other review...) and all of the fish seemed super fresh. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Bob M.

    This place is outstanding. The food is great. Mitch dose a great job and is very generous with his portions and special taste samples. Prices are very reasonable. Love the BYOB atmosphere. Rather bring my own than drink someones else thought of a good wine or beer. I only wish this place was bigger. It sometimes can be a wait on the weekends, but well worth standing in line. I tell you if anybody is thinking about an investment they should approach Mitch. I think he could pack a place 10 times the size.

    (5)

  • Jeannette L.

    So the reviews are true! It truly is a 45min-2hr wait at this place, but there are nice perks that you can come in and leave your name and number and they'll call you when your table is ready. But is it worth the wait? Yes and No. I eat a LOT of sushi and find sushi very delicious. However, after traversing many sushi places, I'll have to say that their sushi is very tasty (some of the rolls are really unique in flavor and have a lot of pow in your mouth - i liked the spicy tuna + awesome roll), BUT the fish isn't really that fresh. It tastes at least 1-2 days old. Maybe it was just blip the first time I went, but it didn't have that fresh melt in your mouth sushi taste when it's fresh. Would I go back again? Probably only for the more cooked rolls, which is slightly disappointing as I like sashimi, but you know sometimes you only go with people who liked cooked stuff. What I ordered: Spicy Tuna Roll - Good flavor, nice & spicy finally! Crazy Horse Roll - boring as the description looks and fish wasn't fresh Awesome Roll - Very good, loved the seared blue cheese and of course can't go wrong with the soft shell crab in there Yellow Submarine - Liked the idea of the mango, but it was somewhat sour detracting from the flavor of the roll. Not a favorite. Oh, one more thing, if you love tofu - the Agedashi Tofu was VERY delicious and I would go back for more of that - for sure!

    (3)

  • Bryant C.

    Hands down best sushi around. Yes the wait is long, yes people stare at you when you eat through the windows, and yes people waiting inside accidentally hit the light switch all the time. Despite all this it is worth it. I love this place because it is always fresh and they have innovative rolls. (love the O roll). I live in the neighborhood so I don't mind waiting because I put my name in and wait for a phone call. I can see how it would be annoying if you didn't live in the area and had to wait though. Everyone I have sent here loves this place and it has yet to disappoint.

    (5)

  • Maggie J.

    Mitch is the "master jedi" of sushi. Sushi here is absolutely fresh, and worth the cramped setup of the restaurant. The California Crunch roll is my favorite, but you really can't go wrong with anything. Their lunch and dinner specials are very economical as well.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    Lincoln Park and Lakeview are saturated with so many sushi restaurants that it's tough to find the one that takes the cake. Well, the search stops here at Toro Sushi. Despite looking like a run-of-the-mill sushi joint, the sushi specials at Toro are more inventive than swankier downtown restaurants. Memorable maki rolls included the Three Amigos roll (the spicy favorite of everyone in my group, served with guacamole) and the Three Musketeers roll (superb presentation - decorated in three different colors of roe). We sat at the sushi bar and had the luxury of talking with the sushi chef, a real personable guy who gave us free sashimi samples and explained that the names of his special maki rolls came from customers like us who offered their suggestions. The prices are very reasonable for sushi of this caliber. You can do some damage for around $20 per person. And don't forget...it's BYOB!

    (5)

  • jeremy h.

    This is the best sushi in the city, hands down. We have tried everywhere else and keep coming back. My girlfriend and I went there on our first date 3 years ago, and have been back every week since. The freshest fish, the most creative rolls and its BYOB. Kamikazee is a must try and Mitch should win an Michelin star for creating it. Yes, its a long wait. Yes, the service is slow, while you sit cramped in a crowded dining room. And finally, yes, they don't allow you to sit for hours working through multiple bottles of wine (that they don't make a dime on) BUT I still think its a 5 star place. I plan to keep going back every week and think everyone should give Mitch's spot a go.

    (5)

  • Roxanna L.

    Ughh, most disappointing, tepid, flavorless sushi ever!! I went here on the recommendation of a friend, who clamored about the majesty of "Toro," like the countless other reviewers of said place on Yelp. Excited, I coerced two other gluttonous friends with finely-tuned palettes to join me....I was horrified by the end of the night to be the one who suggested such a terrible place. This place has gotten a lot of good reviews, but I should have known I was shooting myself in the foot by trusting critiques that started with things like "I've never eaten sushi before..." Anywho, among my party that night, we ordered a couple specialty rolls, regular rolls, and a bento box. The fish didn't reek, but it certainly wasn't fresh either. Sushi grade fish must be consumed within 12 hours of filleting, and based on the slight tackiness and squishy-ness of the salmon, you know it probably has been laying around awhile. Fresh fish is supposed to be firm and almost scentless. The tempura-filled rolls also weren't very flavorful or crisp. We had to dunk-tank everything in soy sauce, which made every roll taste like salty rice. The rice in my bento box was also too dry and had no hint of the characteristic japanese rice wine used for flavor. In addition, a couple rolls also fell apart on our plates because it wasn't rolled correctly and was too loose. Most offensively, for a sushi joint that calls itself "Toro," this place had NO TORO on the menu. I've actually had better sushi from a deli. This is especially deplorable because we spent $110+ between the three of us that night. Last but not lease, the furniture is extremely old and rickety (and rivals a dive bar) and due to these "rave reviews" the place is always overcrowded with noobies looking for a taste test. For now, I'll stick to my favorite sushi joint, Blu Coral in Wicker Park. Blu Coral has been rated Chicago's best sushi 2 years in a row. If you think Toro is good, Coral will blow your mind.

    (2)

  • Sophie L.

    There has already been so much written about this place but I thought I would offer a few pointers. 1. Go early or plan on having a pre-drink at Dunley's on Clark (after you give them your cell #) due to the wait. If you bring your own booze they'll allow you to store it in their cooler until you are seated. 2. Try anything with mango. Seriously, it is my favorite sushi ingredient and very underrated since people don't think fruit belongs in sushi. It does!

    (4)

  • S. O.

    4 1/2 to 5 stars...My favorite and standard sushi place...biggest variety in the city with things like the 3 musketeers Roll, Big Ten Roll, Viagra Roll (u read right :) )and they are all good! The fish is fresh and prepared well... Mitch is such a sweetheart! He even gives you your own chopsticks if you go there enough. The only thing anyone can complain about is that the place is very small and there is usually a wait after 7:00... in fact i almost kept the good review to myself so it doesn't get even more popular! The sushi is reasonable priced too and it is BYOB.

    (5)

  • Kitty R.

    I really want to give it 3.5 stars. My husband and I decided to carryout from Toro for New Year's eve. Since the restaurant typically is very busy on weekends and does not take reservations, we didn't feel like we would ever dine-in there. Ordered very early, 6pm, and it was an hour wait for our food. Because we knew this ahead of time, it wasn't a big deal. But when it got to be close to an hour, my husband went in and it seemed like our order kind of slipped through the cracks - it became a hurry up to get it to us. My husband, who is a much more adventurous sushi eater than I am, ordered several of the special rolls, which he said were wonderfully creative and delicious. I don't really love sushi and ordered more standard fare, such as the spicy tuna roll - which was disappointing. It was a tiny roll with very little tuna. Another difficulty for patrons who want to do carryout: the restaurant does not post their special roll selections online or on the carryout menu. So if you are a newbie and don't know what to order, you have to go in and look at the menu. Since my husband really liked his meal, I would say we would order again for his birthday - but otherwise, it won't be on our regular rotation.

    (3)

  • Kalyan M.

    Awesome food and excellent service

    (5)

  • A.S. V.

    This is a brand spanking new sushi place, only a month old. I love trying new sushi places, because they're so excited to make a good impression -- you get great service, great food and it's BYOB.

    (4)

  • Adrienne M.

    This place is so close to my apartment I usually eat here or take-twice a week. I'm a bit of a sushi addict. The sushi is really good and the prices are decent. Plus it's BYOB. The wait can be super long but if you get there right when they open you'll have your pick of tables. Red Dragon roll is my favorite.

    (4)

  • Yujin A.

    It's a small, easy to miss place, but this is the place to go to try different kinds of Maki rolls. I have never had Sashimi here because it didn't seem like their specialty on their menu, so I can't say much about other Japanese dishes than Makis. The chef has traveled to many countries, and he got all sorts of crazy ideas to coordinate into his sushi creation. I think the service here is pretty good compared to what you get in a typical Asian restaurant. (I just think that food comes first in rating a restaurant) The chef is also very personable. And as other yelpers said, their OMG roll is so tasty. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who is willing to try more than a California roll. And it's not pricey at all.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    This should be 4 stars for the service which is attrocious, but the sushi is just SO DAMN GOOD. especially the oh my god roll, which we pretty much always get 2 of, because that's how good it is. If you're not a sushi person, this might help you become one, The only place in town that compares in my opinion is Coast in Bucktown, which is also spectacular. They'd get 6 stars from me if they fired their waitresses and hired professionals. And this coming from a 10 year waiter who has all the sympathy in the world for waitstaff.

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    The food here is amazing, and it's VERY close to where I live! The fish is incredibly fresh, and they have some novel rolls. Unfortunately, the space is TINY and the staff are sometimes less-than-accomodating. The fact that it's BYOB helps a lot, and the prices are reasonable as well.

    (4)

  • N I.

    yummy sushi!! the place is no too big so try to go not at peak times so you can get seated faster.. but everything was great and I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Alex Logan K.

    Toro is outstanding.

    (5)

  • Azaa T.

    Really nice combination on Oh and Oh my God.....It just melts in your mouth and you could feel the tenderness..........Really nice environment and friendly staff .........Almost no bad words to tell about this place except very crowded (good thing..kk ) and most of the fish are frozen fish especially the tuna.....But good as fresh....just love it......but really hard to wait,,,,,,

    (4)

  • Liz P.

    I wish I could give it 6 stars. This place is beyond amazing! My friends would say I'm a sushi snob and this is the only place in Chicago that I eat sushi at. Every roll is fabulous! Just get there early or you will have to wait.

    (5)

  • Kristine L.

    this sushi placed has been raved about around my office, which is an office full of sushi fanatics. So, i was very excited when my friend Mary and I decided to try it out! I will say that the sushi was great and the selection was amazing. My favorite roll so far is the sunny roll... it has everything: sweet, crunchy, spicy! Delicious. However, I would not rave about this being the best sushi around... but a great place to check out if you around the area!!

    (4)

  • penny h.

    the sushi is very fresh and the rolls are amazing. Mitch is really passionate about his creations sometimes the service is so-so

    (4)

  • James S.

    Mitch knows how to make a sushi. This place is an amazing, reasonably priced, sushi joint that just so happens to be BYOB as well. That's like having your birthday on Christmas only you don't get screwed out of presents. The place is small and fills up quickly so take that as you may.

    (5)

  • Abby W.

    Great sushi but always has a LONG wait!! Prices are reasonable.

    (4)

  • Tom E.

    The wait to get a table was worth it! Best sushi I have had in Chicago. We ordered the Edamame, Rainbow roll, Spicy Tuna, Tiger Eye, and lastly, our favorite, the Yum Yum Yummy roll. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Emily B.

    The best value for what you get in the City. There are several reasons why Toro is always doing a booming business. 1) Mitch, 2) Mango is in a number of their rolls, 3) The list of rolls they offer is extensive! 4) BYOB... If you are looking for good sushi, you don't care too much about atmosphere and you can stand eating at the early bird special time (5-6pm) you won't have to wait in line and I know you'll enjoy it!

    (5)

  • Judy L.

    Toro always has a wait list no matter what time you walk in and only the faithful customers know the trick and go in for dinner right when the restaurant opens, 5:30pm. Obviously there's a reason for the long wait and packed restaurant by 6pm and the reason lies with the chef, Mitch, The no corkage fee BYOB policy is also a plus. Although I wouldn't say the sushi is authentic because they don't even sell avocados in Japan, nonetheless put other fruit into a roll...oh the horror! Regardless, Mitch puts his heart and soul into his work and always plays around with new ideas for new rolls. Whether it's mango, rice paper instead of seaweed, sesame seeds, cheese or lettuce, Mitch always finds the perfect combination for all of his rolls resulting in an explosion of fresh fish along with the right amount of ingredients to pair with the freshness. The rice that goes along with the fish is also cooked so that when you place the piece in your mouth, rice doesn't fall out from either side...something that seems so simple but many sushi chefs have not yet mastered. Mitch is also extremely generous and treats returning customers with "extras" such as free dessert or extra tidbits of sushi. The waitresses are also pleasant to work with and are usually on top of things amidst the constant full house. Albeit, the tables may be a little too close together for comfort, but the reasonable prices make up for that. Toro is a great place to start before Friday night parties or a simple date night sushi fix.

    (4)

  • Eva J.

    If you are looking for amazing sushi without having to take a second mortgage on your condo to afford it, this is it! The sushi is great, really fresh and pristine. The rolls are to die for! Make sure you try the OMG roll, and pretty much everything else! An added bonus is that this place is BYO and they let you keep your booze in their refrigerator while you wait. Only drawback is the long wait but it's well worth it. So stop reading this and head over there to put your name on the list. Yes, even if it's Tuesday.

    (5)

  • Dana P.

    The reviews are right on- the tasty sushi rolls makes up for the slow service at Toro. I only go here when I have a lot of time to spare because I know it's going to be a slow (but yummy dinner). I wish they would start delivering, but then again it would probably take 3 hours to arrive.

    (4)

  • J B.

    Super satisified - once we sat down. They don't take reservations and this place is TINY, which means a wait (outside, because there is no lobby area). Once we were in, the sushi was delicious, and service was friendly. BYOB is fabulous, with a liquor store right across the street.

    (4)

  • Melissa G.

    The O Roll and the Sunny Roll. You won't ever be let down - even my non-sushi eating friends love them! Their sushi is great, the staff is pretty friendly, it's BYOB, and a fun but small atmosphere. Randomly, carry-out takes 45 - 50 minutes, so plan ahead if you are dining with Will & Grace or your other Friends!

    (4)

  • Katie A.

    Great Sushi, great price, small dining area and no reservations. Plan to wait on busy nights, and it is BYOB, so be prepared. I ordered take out my first time and was very pleased with the Alaskin and Spicy Tuna roll.

    (5)

  • Olivia R.

    Everyone is raving about Toro so I decided to see what it's all about last night. I think everyone knows how good their sushi is because it was crazy busy! However, there are probably only 10 tables in the whole restaurant so I think they just need to make the place bigger. I got a spider roll and the Oh My god Roll- both were amazing! Service could have been better- seemed like the waitress was a bit overwhelmed.

    (4)

  • H. S.

    we had the chirashi, and the sub zero roll the roll wasn't bad, I'm guessing if we just had rolls, our dinner would've been fine. The roll also wasn't amazing either. the fish in the chirashi wasn't terrible, but it did not taste that fresh. the miso soup, and the agedashi tofu we ordered were pretty bad, especially the agedashi tofu, all the tofu was covered by a chewy jelly like layer, I have no idea what that was supposed to be. service was good, we went early. I'm starting to believe that there is no decent mid range sushi in chicago except for hammamatsu in andersonville

    (2)

  • YR Z.

    The food's pretty good but it didn't make up for the long wait and slow service. There are some interesting sushi that don't usually show up elsewhere, but the items are slightly pricey (but what sushi place isn't?)

    (3)

  • Jay S.

    Finally went there after hearing about how great Mitch's dishes were. My wife & I'll be coming back here regularly. We've been to many sushi restaurants but Toro is by far the best. We weren't even hungry when we got there but ended up stuffing ourselves because we kept wanting more and more. His dishes are creative and delicious and the price? Amazing!

    (5)

  • Kat A.

    Mitch Mitch Mitch . . . . what can you say? amazing food, incredible conversation . . . too packed on a weekend now that everyone's discovered sushi (has anyone else noticed that? it's like the year of the dog, the year of the horse - oh wait 2006 is the year of the raw fish!) - but this is the best, freshest sushi around. And with Mitch behind the sushi counter nothing could be better.

    (5)

  • daniel w.

    Looks like a complete dive when you walk in. I think there are a total of 8 tables in the whole place so I wasn't expecting much. I was proved wrong because the sushi was great. It was so fresh and the rolls were huge! It's right near my apartment so I have a feeling I"ll be eating at Toro pretty often. The best part was the bill...finally an affordable sushi restaurant.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth M.

    The food was absolutely awsesome. Prices are a bit expensive but I think that that is normal for sushi anywhere in the city. The food presentation was very nice but the service was very slow. I had to ask for low sodium soy sauce twice and I don't think they were that busy. Also the servers seemed confused and both were serving us. They tried to take our drink order twice and all we wanted was water. Its a good BYOB spot and in a great location. Little small. Nice and private for couples. On a busy night expect a wait. I went there on a Thursday night and had to wait a half hour. Not bad. We went to oodles of noodles next door for an appetizer while we waited.

    (4)

  • Bruce A.

    This is, bar none, the best sushi i've had in years and the price is decent for the quality of food. Mitch, the cheif, is friendly and informative and get's fresh sushi in every tuesday and thursday. I can't recommend this place enough. I bring friends from out of town just to eat sushi here. Infact, go to your favorite sushi place, then order the same think at Toro and you will never go back to your old sushi haunt again.

    (5)

  • Richard C.

    I had lots of great sushi here tonight all for just $20 a person. My buddies and I tried a bunch of different rolls and the volcano was by far my favorite. The only roll I questioned was the yellowtail because it looked a little pink and i think it's supposed to be yellow. I stayed away from that one and enjoyed the rest of the rolls. We got there pretty early around 6:00 and there was hardly anyone there. However, we left around 7:15 and it was packed so try to get there early if you expect to get a table right away.

    (4)

  • Lozza P.

    What happened to sushi that is actually made with a decent portion of fresh raw fish? You'd think out of the plethora of rolls they have in this book they call a menu, it wouldn't be difficult to find a few with more fresh ingredients instead of tempura. Most of the rolls were fried in some way, made with cream cheese, or made with mayo. My favorite roll of the evening... the Ahi Tuna Salad Roll. Very tasty fresh roll made without any rice, however doused with a mayo sauce. Also, don't forget to bring your own Japanese beer or sake because this restaurant is BYOB. Prices were reasonable.... but if I return to this restaurant I plan on modifying a few of those rolls.

    (3)

  • Victor G.

    Great food at excellent prices. Daily specials are a sure bet.

    (4)

  • Tim M.

    Best sushi in Chicago, no doubt about it. Tight quarters in the actual seating area, but BYOB, and the sushi is absolutely amazing. You won't regret trying Toro, and giving the sushi chef a fist-bump on the way out.

    (5)

  • A M.

    Toro was good. I just expected a wow I must come back the next day kind of deal. There was more rolls then I expected. Wished they had a bigger sashimi/sushi menu. Everything was fresh and good. Just a little on the pricey side.

    (4)

  • Marley F.

    I had dinner at Toro tonight and they are really lucky they make some darn good sushi because the service here is absolutely awful. I realize they have become super popular and are very crowded, but if they want to stay popular they need to hire a few more waitresses. It took them over 20 minutes to bring me water...and I asked a few times. The sushi remains wonderful and I"d probably rank it 5 stars on it's own. We had the oh my god roll and the o roll tonight...so good!

    (3)

  • Eddie O.

    I'm very excited about this new sushi place. It's cheap and really good! The rolls are bigger than any other sushi place I've been to in Chicago and they are also much cheaper! The service is ok...they tend to get overwhelmed by the large crowds that have been coming into their small restaurant lately. Hopefully they'll expand soon because I plan on eating here a lot.

    (4)

  • Mindy S.

    I was very impressed with my first trip to Toro. Love that a good, cheap sushi place opened around the corner from me. The place is kind of small, but I called ahead so we got our table right away. The service wasn't the greatest, but my friend and I were in no rush, so it was no big deal. The rolls were huge and the specials were great!!

    (4)

  • Mark M.

    I enjoy going to Toro at at least once a week. It is absolutely wonderful sushi, and the prices are very, very reasonable. Mitch's own creations are imaginative and a delight to eat. The kamikaze roll was creamy, spicy, and wonderful. The volcano roll, while also being a treat, is a fun presentation that makes an impact on everyone in the restaurant. HIGHLY recommended.

    (5)

  • Corey M.

    Oh my god.

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    This place has fantastic, fresh, innovative sushi. The owner and his staff are really friendly and eager to please. I reccomend the "hot roll" and the tempura ice cream, especially. I hope Toro makes it!

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    GREAT FOR GLUTEN FREE DINERS!!! After reading the Yelp reviews my husband and I went to Toro for my birthday dinner and we were not disappointed! We did head over there on the earlier side, around 6-7 on a weekday night, to avoid a long wait and got a table right away. The dining area is on the smaller side so you're close to your neighboring table but that didn't bother us. The servers were extremely friendly and we could tell who some of the regulars were as they sat at the sushi bar and talked with the head chef while he put together their rolls. I was even more impressed when ordering because I have a gluten allergy and the servers as well as the chef are VERY familiar and knew exactly what changes needed to be made to certain rolls in order for me to have them. I was able to have more unique rolls than I could at other sushi restaurants and I didn't worry about language barriers or misunderstandings about what I could and couldn't eat. Since that first visit we have been back a couple of times, I've gone with friends, and I have recommended it to others who have also loved it! Enjoy...

    (5)

  • Alex X.

    Great sushi. BYOB. What more can you ask for? (maybe the power to get a table right away...)

    (5)

  • D F.

    All I am going to say is, if you're reading these reviews, and you're from LA, don't get your hopes up.

    (3)

  • George S.

    Ive been here twice. The first time with my boyfriend on a first date. He did good. Second time was ironically with his dad and sister visiting from out of town. It was delish both times. i usually just have the sashimi here and all I require is the fish be fresh. The sushi chef is very knowledgeable about sushi grade fish. They had a sashimi prefixe dinner for 2 the fist time i went but not the second time which was disappointing. I had one of the special rolls once and that was very tasty as well. Prices are not cheap but it is nice that it is BYOB. Space is cramped but for good food that is ok.

    (4)

  • Aubrey K.

    I was extremely satisfied after my first tasting at Toro in Lincoln Park and my expectations were exceeded! It was really crowded when we arrived and they were a little slow to serve us, but besides that the food was AWESOME! You don't get that 'not so fresh' worry you get at some of the other smaller sushi hole in the wall spots in Chicago. The fish is really fresh and the price is perfecto. We loved the twin tower roll (spicy tuna with asparagus). Their Maki list is one of the longest I've seen and I cannot wait to go back and try some new stuff!

    (5)

  • Chella G.

    Eat here. Don't ask. Just go. If you're in a hurry, you may want to go early on a weeknight.

    (5)

  • Pooter V.

    The first time I went to Toro, I simply wanted carry-out, but on that particular day they were understaffed and couldnt take take-out orders. Needless to say I was disappointed. However, I recently returned to dine in on a Wednesday night. We were (me and bf) their first diners that night, and upon entering, we were welcomed with a "moshi moshi." We ordered a yellow submarine, hiroshima, spider, and I think the fourth maki we got was called subzero or something like that. Well, let me first say that I love that they used real crab meat in the majority of the rolls we had. I think I only noticed fake crab meat in the hiroshima. Secondly, our bill came out to be like $53 total (after tax, minus tip), which is awesome! In addition to the makis, we also had the green mussels for an appetizer, which were good but nothing spectacular. It was covered in "tiffany sauce," which I think is a combo of sriracha and something else--not sure though. I would describe it's flavor as spicy hot lol. The yellow submarine's main ingredients were salmon, mango, and avocado. I enjoyed it because it was very fresh and light. We followed that up with the spider. Now, the hiroshima. This is something I have never seen before. The maki came out in a saucer with it sitting in a liquid sauce. This maki is the crazy horse deep-fried. If I remember correctly, it also had tiffany sauce on top. I dont know what the liquid sauce was, but it was good. Not salty nor sweet, but it wasnt bland. Just cant describe the taste. Can only say it has flavor. For those who dont really eat raw fish, this would be something you should order, unless you dont like fried food. The hiroshima is something I definitely have never had anywhere else before. I was pretty content after the third roll, but I think I was being a glutton when I decided to order the fourth roll, the subzero. Just had to suffer myself to eat another roll of goodness. It seems that no matter what day of the week it is, this place gets a pretty good dinner crowd. As I said earlier, we were there on a Wednesday night and it filled up pretty quickly and there was a little line by the time we left. I'd say this is one place you cant miss for it's good food and very decent price.

    (4)

  • Miss O.

    this place was okay. out of all the rolls we ordered i really liked one. i can't remember the name of it but it wasn't wrapped in rice but rather the rice paper - mostly used to make fresh spring rolls. i thought the rolls were mostly of the deep fried or tempura kind. which don't get me wrong - i like that most of the time but i thought it lacked a bit of variety of fresh rolls to choose from. i'm not sure if it might be because of the lack of fresh fish available or what. maybe i've been spoiled to have great fish in SF... and the "oh my god" roll wasn't so "oh my god". i will most likely go here again because it's in the neighborhood...

    (3)

  • marisa s.

    there are not many quality places to eat on this stretch of clark - just sub-par lunch spots, bars, etc..so toro is a definite surprise smack dab in the middle of this LP main drag. it's BYOB and CIETPYNI (come in early to put your name in) and they will tell you "2 hours" (if you're lucky, less than 1 hour) and they will take down your cell number and call you when your reservation is ready. i like where their head is at with this concept - obviously they know their restaurant is a shoe box and there is no where to wait, unless you want your ass in someone's sushi and your face in someone's sake (all at the same time). the first time we went there, we brought our booze and thought coming after 8 we might be able to sit down in 30 or so..nah, not until closer to 10! the best bet is to go to dunlay's and have a few drinks and then head back to toro - and if it's the summer, just wait outside or walk around. someone has yet to tap into the other benefits that this long wait and BYOB joint has to offer them - why doesn't someone open up a liquor store near by? or offer a happy hour based around the busiest time of toro? i would get myself a alchy cart and wheel it around clark for peeps waiting and for those who forgot to bring their booze. (if i had a cart...) they had so many specialty rolls named after people - are these real people? hey dan b. - is the spicy salmon with mango really your roll? the only downside is that they dress a lot of their rolls with mayo - ug, come on! what's with the americanized rolls with mayo? i still believe that sushi chefs can make awesome rolls with flavor without mayoooonaise. i don't mind some rolls with it and with a small amount, but every freakin roll - lay off the mayo dude! before i end this review, i have to tell you a story that highlights the downside of dining in a shoebox: a friend of mine came to toro with another couple and put their names in and left to grab a drink while they waited. they came back and we're told their table was almost ready, so they saddled up at the bar and waited for their table. another group of people that were waiting for their name to be called saw that my friend was about to get her table - he seemed territorial about it since he was hovering over the table that he thought was his and began to yell naughty words at my friend and her crew. they yelled back and mind you, since this place is the size of a dorm room, the entire restaurant was subjected to this debacle. the guy who used the f-word about as frequent as "the" was drinking a glass of red wine and as my friend's crew sat in his supposed table, he got fired up and threw his glass of wine across the restaurant, trying to hit them - aiming is a bitch because in-need-of-anger-management-homeboy hit an innocent bystander at another table square in the face and all over her outfit! she was covered and began to cry. hitler, didn't flinch and his buddies with him began to be nervous that he was associated with them and yelled at him. FINALLY the wait staff kicked him out. CAUTION: throwing red wine in a small restaurant might end up covering the entire restaurant when it's 250 sq. feet.

    (4)

  • Christine P.

    YUM! I read the reviews before checking this place out, so my boyfriend and I were there right at 5:00pm on a Thursday afternoon to avoid the crowd. They definitely picked up within 45 minutes of being there. We ordered the fried tofu as an appetizer. It was good but I've had better fried tofu. It's all about the sauce that they serve it with and theirs was just ok. The sushi was another story. It was so good! We ordered the Trixie roll and another roll that I can't remember the name of. The other roll was good but the Trixie...amaaaaazing. I love soft shell crab and tempura shrimp and usually order a roll of each. But Toro had a roll that included both of them! And it was soooo good. The roll was really tall so I was afraid that it would come apart, but they had made sure that I was able to eat it all together. I also ordered the Yellowtail nigri and they give you a very generous portion. This will definitely be a repeat.

    (5)

  • Chloe M.

    I wish this place was bigger because the sushi is so good! I couldn't believe how cheap it was when my boyfriend and I ate here a few weeks ago. I love the "oh my god" roll!

    (4)

  • melinda m.

    Ate at Toro tonight and maybe my expectations were a little too high. First of all I rate a sushi restaurant on the sushi alone and later, I think about everything else. The sushi was okay. First sign was the menu choices. It seemed as though most of the rolls were fried, had tempura, mayo, or something that was heavy. I'm from CA where the seafood is fresh and the sushi is creative and light. I don't like to go to sushi to have a heavy Chicago meal, otherwise I would go get an Italian beef or pizza! Second sign, was that the fish smelled a little fishy. Not okay in my book. I don't want to smell anything when eating sushi. I guess I could comment on the hour wait and cramped seating next to some 20 somethings that talked very loud, about nothing, and on their cell phones (rude! for all of you who have zero manners!) but like I said, it's about the sushi and I was not very impressed.

    (3)

  • Megan G.

    After reading several glowing reviews of Toro on Yelp, my cousin and I went here for a low key Friday night dinner this past weekend. We were seated immediately up at the sushi bar, the only 2 seats left in the tiny dining area. We noticed right away that Mitch, the sushi chef, seemed to know everyone in the restaurant and made it a point to be friendly to everyone. There were a lot of regulars and I can now see why. We were excited to begin trying things as everything on the plates around us looked really yummy. We ordered the OMG rolls first, and honestly I have never had anything more pleasing to my palate. It was like a funky adventure for my taste buds. This would be on my list of last meals for sure. We had a hand roll, some sashimi and a couple other special rolls and everything was fresh and incredibly delicious. The service was a tad slow, but the atmosphere was pleasant so we didn't mind. We also got to watch Mitch work his magic making all of the sushi. By the end of our meal, Mitch had introduced himself to us and he gave us some recommendations for next time. This is going to be my new favorite spot for sure!

    (5)

  • Kelly B.

    At the suggestion of the Yelp folks, I finally made it to Toro Sushi on a Saturday night. We go there at about 7 PM and it was an hour wait. When they took our name down they also took down my cell number and said they'd call me when our table was ready which I thought was really cool. So we walked to a few grocery stores near there and found one that had a bottle of sake since it's BYOB. We went back about 45 min. later and our spots were ready early (we sat at the bar). We had seaweed salad (it was good but the portion was bigger than most places), the sashimi appetizer, a dragon roll, and an OH MY GOD roll. Way too much food for two people as the rolls were HUGE. But it was SO good we ate it all (we were stuffed). We chatted with Mitch and watched him make up rolls and serve them. I asked him, "What's that your making?" And he said, "The kick ass roll." Turns out it wasn't on the menu. He was just making it up as he went along for someone and it looked SO AMAZING. The prices were reasonable. Service was a little slow but they did the best they could considering how busy they were. And they did heat up our sake for us which was really cool. If there wasn't such a long and so very few tables (there were only like 10 of them) wait I would have given it 5 stars. Fantastic sushi.

    (4)

  • Samantha L.

    Fantastic! This little sushi restaurant sure knows how to make some good sushi! I've been about 20 times now and have tried pretty much everything on their menu and all of their rolls are fantastic.

    (4)

  • Hilary L.

    Can anyone here comment on the weekend hours for this place? I went here a few days ago and loved it and would like to bring my friends back but am worried about the 10pm closing time. Do they close on the dot or are they sometimes open later than 10 on Fridays/Saturdays?

    (5)

  • Jasmin W.

    I agree with most of the reviews- great sushi...I love the rolls! The service on the other hand definitely brings this down to a 3 star rating. The waitresses couldn't possibly move slower, but I do feel bad for them because this restaurant is just way too busy for the few waitresses! I had dinner there tonight and almost missed a movie because the service was so slow. However, my rolls were very good as usual. We had the Oh My God Roll, the MJ roll, and the 3 Musketeers- I can't even say which was the best because they were all so good! The spicy sesame salad is also delicious if you are looking for something to start.

    (3)

  • Mary C.

    Ok I know people go nuts for this place cause it's BYOB and the sushi is good. I like those features too. But the atmosphere is really underwhelming and it's teeny-tiny. I just think there are better BYOB sushi places, and since they all use the same purveyor, you're better off going some place with a better atmosphere and less of a wait.

    (3)

  • catharine s.

    delicious! i wanted to try everything. every maki roll was excellent- salmon lovers, crunchy tuna and spicy tuna (spicer than most places which was fine with me), siberian tiger... it's small, but worth the wait. sit at the sushi bar and chat with mitch if you can because he was also wonderful. go here

    (5)

  • wendy p.

    to start with perhaps the most useful bit of info - you can get there at 6 pm and not wait more than 15 minutes on a friday night, which is what i did - although i think a longer wait would have been well worth it. the rest of this review is purely self-indulgence, because let's face it, how many people are going to read it given the several hundred others? but the experience is worth re-living. this happened to be the choice for a first date, because it was close to the movie theater, featured sushi, and, yes, garnered high ratings on yelp. the sushi was wonderful - and the date went well, to boot... especially memorable was a specialty roll which consisted of sunflower seeds, mango, a chunk of tuna, spicy mayo, avocado - and here's the kicker - all tightly rolled in a pack of spring greens (instead of rice!) and drizzled with a sweet ginger dressing. (a delicate rice-based? wrap keeps it together). basically it's a salad roll - dense mouthfuls of lettuce for your inner rabbit! - surprising and unusual but a delight... we also ordered very basic items like sake nigiri, spider roll, and spicy tuna, which were also yummy and fresh, but looking back i wish we'd chosen more innovative items. however, one commonplace offering - the shrimp tempura - was possibly the best *ever*. i was a little skeptical when my friend ordered tempura, because for me, it usually disappoints - either because it's too greasy or not crispy enough. this was light, crunchy, and very tender. so tender, compared to the rest of my experience, i thought it might have been undercooked... but my senses were pleased... i also loved that the hostess took both my name and cell phone number for the wait list. we then waited outside because this place is cozy. very cute, but cozy. she then called my phone when our table was ready. nice service to match the well-crafted offerings.

    (5)

  • MICHAEL M.

    Fabulous! go early when it first opens or during lunch to get a table without much wait. The sushi chef is friendly, will talk to you about any type of sushi you want to know more about, and will give you a few free things here and there once he gets to know you. can't go wrong with this place! wooohooo TORO!

    (5)

  • Jamie P.

    By far the best sushi in Lincoln Park. A great neighborhood place that's always super-packed, and for good reason!

    (5)

  • TeaAddict G.

    One of the few places I've tried the crazy non-traditional rolls which I liked. What I like about it, also, is that the owners seem really to care about the place. Every time I've gone there it's always been the same chef/owner behind the counter. Reasonably priced, and they have the most tasty tofu appetizer. The quality of their sashimi is always very fresh.

    (5)

  • Matt H.

    Good food, lots of food... It did not blow me out of the water but the quality of the fish was very good and the price was good considering it's an all you eat buffet... Overall this place was solid but I have had better sushi, obviously if you want to feast on sushi this is the ideal place.

    (4)

  • Alec C.

    Terrific sushi, friendly service, and good prices. Only drawbacks, its small so get there early or late so you can get a seat. And be ready for some truly wonderful sushi (especially for the mid-west)

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    the sushi is incredible. its progressive and innovative and painfully delicious. the special rolls could be nominated for an award. the "oh my god" roll earns its name 10x's over. just try not to say it once you eat it. you'll say it. the seaweed salad is amazing, be sure to get the spicy sauce (its homemade). something about the miso soup warms my soul. this place does sushi impeccably and it will not break your budget. sun-thurs you can get "sushi for two" for $25, just be sure to experiment with the special rolls...viagra anyone?

    (5)

  • Adrianne B.

    I have heard soooo much hype about this place. Every time we tried to go we could never get in. They do not take reservations so it was killing me to always go and then be turned away because the wait was 2 hours and they usually close at 9 on the week days. So I finally get the chance to go and I was so upset by the whole thing. The great thing is you can go walk around, go to another bar, shop, and they will call you if you're not back when your table is finally ready. This place is also BYOB so that's great and there is a liquor store right across the street. We ordered a ton of stuff since we had heard this was the best place in Chicago....I strongly disagree. The service is horrible, they cram you in a table the size of pizza box and it's just so packed. The sushi and rolls were awful and smelled old. I eat sushi all the time and had a bite form each roll and then passed. The price is normal to any other sushi place but I just didn't feel this place.

    (2)

  • Robin D.

    We went there around 730 on a saturday night and the wait was an hour and a half. They dont take reservations, they only put you in their WAITLIST and you can leave them your number. YOu need to be there physically to be on the waitlist you cant just call (this didnt make sense to me) We got back there an hour and ahalf later and we were seated after 10 mins. There is a reason why this place is packed aside from the fact that there were only 8 tables and can may only accomodate up to 30 people tops. We are avid sushi eaters and have been to different sushi places in the city and you pretty much see the same stuff (rainbow dragon, caterpillar, etc etc). This place has some of that and more. They have some innovative rolls that i was impressed with. We tried OH MY GOD and VOLCANO and they are really good. One thing I noticed is that they dont have rolls with King Crab. They do have crab salad rolls but I didnt really care for it. It took our server awhile before she took our orders and it took another while before the orders came in but it was well worth the wait. I would skip sashimi since they are the same anywhere you go, the key is freshness, if they are fresh then they are good. I definitely would come back to this place again and try their other rolls.

    (4)

  • One T.

    I just went here and loved it!! They are definitely one of my top sushi stops. The price isn't bad and it's BYOB.

    (4)

  • Kristen B.

    Best sushi in the city!!! Mitch and his staff are very attentive and friendly. We always sit up by the counter and chat with the owner (Mitch). I like being able to see the sushi as it is prepared. Highly recommend the goyoza, sunny roll, and Arizona roll. The super white and spicy tuna crunch are also amazing.

    (5)

  • Shelley Z.

    The good first! Both the "O" roll and the Big Tex roll tasted great. The escolar and tuna in O were fresh, as was the sliced avocado on top. Sushi rice was fine and we liked the amount of fish in the roll. I think the escolar made me a bit nauseous after the meal but if you don't mind the trade off for buttery fish, I especially recommend that roll. The soft shell crab in Big Tex tasted delicious too - well portioned, crispy, and was not overpowered by unagi sauce. My salmon teriyaki bento box, though, was disappointing. The salmon was actually decent, loved the texture..but we basically didn't eat anything else in the box. The bento rice was horribly dry, the salad & ginger dressing unremarkable, and my side of sashimi contained three square pieces of meh salmon rather than soft slices. Also, this isn't their fault at all but we were craving toro and thought that a restaurant called Toro sushi would sell, well, toro.. Service wasn't bad. Our waitresses didn't come by after getting us our food and we received our rolls before a dish of ginger and wasabi so by the time the dish was dropped off, we had already eaten the entire roll. We were seated quickly though. I'm not sure how happy I would have been if we had waited at all. From the food we ordered today and the two pages of special roll options, I would say don't come here if you're after simple, no frills, slices of fish. Their fusion-y special rolls are overpriced, but may be worth checking out.

    (3)

  • Rona L.

    I had the green mussels, kamikaze and CRAZY horse. Great tasting sushi and fresh fish. Glad that we came earlier and found street parking as it could get really busy in that area. Sat at the bar and Mitch the main chef was an awesome guy. Really friendly and great at what he does. I'd say that the fish can be more varied, no albacore on the menu, but I'm surprised with the quality in Chicago. Fair price worth the quality. Will definitely come back in the future.

    (4)

  • Uptown G.

    Delicious sushi! I had the California tempura roll, and I loved their spin on this maki roll staple. My friend also tried the Arizona roll and she mentioned it was one of the best rolls she had ever tried. For dessert we tried the fried green tea ice cream. Just superb!! I will definitely be stopping by again! (And will likely order the exact same thing) This place is BYOB also, but only one bottle per two guests.

    (5)

  • Monica H.

    First time trying out this place after looking at the reviews aaaand it was delicious! We had the oh my god roll and the tipsy trixie. I wish we would of taken advantage of the byob! Service was awesome. Definitely trying it again.

    (4)

  • Maya C.

    I've had their food twice, once for takeout for lunch and once for dinner. The takeout lunch was great! I ordered the Oh My God & Kamikaze rolls and they did not disappoint. Takeout as well, they were still fresh when I got home and I loved the Oh My God roll more than Kamikaze. The second time I went, I got about halfway through my roll, walked into the freezer, ran to the bathroom and threw up. It was awkward and awful. The food tasted fine! I had the sashimi appetizer, the red dragon roll and the el fuego roll. Both were phenomenal! The sashimi tasted so fresh but something did not agree with me. I gave 3 stars for both experiences combined. The prices are a bit high, but we had 9 pieces of sushi per order about which was generous! Ambiance is casual, our green tea was not good. Had no flavor. Service was great! Place fills up fast even on a Wednesday !

    (3)

  • Taylor P.

    Not five stars because of coldness in restaurant and wait time. However, keep reading. Supposedly the best sushi in Chicago, you better come when they open or be prepared to drink next door while you wait. It's BYOB, and when the waiters are wearing their Sorels inside you know you will need to keep your coat on. For starters, the salmon sashimi was thicker and smoother than I have ever seen. The O roll, spicy tako, kamikaze... Truly amazing and came out at a fast pace. Word on the street is that the sushi chef gives you extra treats when you sit at the bar. So the end note on Toro: grab your favorite saki from the liquor store across the street and wait it out, the masses agree on this one.

    (4)

  • Claire L.

    There are literally thousands of options for sushi in the city but Toro sets itself apart for a few reasons. Love the quiet, intimate setting of the restaurant - it's a great place for a date or to catch up with friends. I also love all the different sushi options they have and combinations of things I've never see anywhere (cream cheese, jalapeño, fish eggs, etc). I've also tried the chicken teriyaki and it was fabulous, super moist and great flavoring. The service is on point and the waitresses are attentive, I never have to wait for my water to be refilled or to order more edamame. Final tip - come early or be prepared to wait, it's small and they don't take reservations.

    (4)

  • Eric C.

    Excellent all-around no-frills sushi/sashimi/maki place. Reasonably priced, high-quality, creative rolls with complex flavors and ingredients (e.g. try the grilled octopus roll). Come with at least 3 or 4 people to maximize the number of dishes you can order. NOTE: they will not seat you until all members in your party has arrived

    (5)

  • Radha K.

    I was in the area and ordered from Toro for pick-up and was not disappointed! I ordered the El Fuego (w/ jalapeno) and the Spicy Crunchy Tuna. Both were pretty dang good, even after waiting about an hour to eat after I got home. I definitely want to come back here for dinner!

    (4)

  • Nanny G.

    Kamikaze and El fuego! WOW! Great customer service. Thank you so so much, Mitch! We had a fantastic time! We'll see you after our wedding :)

    (5)

  • The Sushi Legend ..

    I don't know much about sushi's history in Chicago. And growing up in Toronto and London (Ontario, not England), followed by moves to Atlanta and New York, the question surfaces - can you really blame me? One of the most difficult things in life is to step outside a comfort zone, especially with something as deeply personal as a meal. Characters like Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern are some of my biggest inspirations; part of their appeal is how frequently they invest in uniqueness during all of their (incredible) dining experiences. I'm the first to admit that I'm nowhere near that point in my culinary journey, and that - frankly - is a regret. New York has incredible sushi, in all likelihood the best outside Tokyo. But the standard bearers are all fairly similar in appearance, with just a few really differentiating themselves. If I'm to reach anywhere close to the uniqueness that Bourdain and Zimmern experience in their meals, eating outside New York City once in a while will be a big part of that. I'm not exactly sure how unique one can be when focusing strictly on sushi, but we'll leave that aside for now. Toro Sushi is located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, and is a popular spot for locals living in and around that area. The chef is friends with everyone, similar to what you will see with Chef David at Sushi Dojo in NYC. Does that make the meal any better? Well, when you get free Hamachi (pictured right on the blog - thesushilegend.com ) even though you just walked in for the first time, that certainly helps the impression. ​The Food That same chef is also the owner of the restaurant, which immensely helps the food on offer. I've made that comment before, but having the person in charge of purchasing decisions also preparing the food ensuring a menu aligned with the customer's desires. What impressed me most about the food was the quality of the rice - despite the fact that it was close to closing time, the rice in my salmon avocado maki (pictured right) was perfectly at room temperature, right at the intersection of crunch and soft. Other highlights included the Hamachi, which had a quality that completely belied the price I was charged. Soft and buttery, I wouldn't have been surprised if it came from the stomach of the Amberjack (or whatever member of theYellowtail family it was). The Atmosphere The one drawback to Toro Sushi was the quality of the service. Now, to be fair, they were about to close. But it was also 9:30, so not greeting me when I walked in...(completed on my blog).

    (5)

  • Rebecca C.

    Most unique and best sushi I've come across. We got to chat with the owner Mitch who was a great compliment to our delicious dinner. We ordered the Awesome and El Fuego rolls. I will definitely recommend to others and return for my next sushi craving!

    (5)

  • Becky P.

    I had heard this place has amazing sushi. I was fairly let down. We ordered sashimi and the salmon was still slightly frozen. I also think the rolls have far too much going on. We decided to try a roll that had bacon and scallops thinking it sounded interesting. Bacon just didn't go well with sushi and there were large pieces of carrot in the roll which destroyed the texture once you started chewing. I would probably go back, but order simpler rolls and not sashimi. If you have to wait more than 20 minutes, I don't think it's worth it.

    (3)

  • Sara P.

    Very disappointed in my last meal here. I came here on a Saturday at 8 p.m. and was quoted an hour for the wait. 50 minutes later we call to see if we will be seated soon and are told it will be another 15 minutes. We go back to the restaurant and we are finally seated at about 9:45 p.m. Horrible. Had I known the wait would be an hour and 45 minutes, I would have gone elsewhere. The food left much to be desired. We were given a complimentary portion of agedashi tofu, and I am glad we did not pay for it because it was vomitrocious. Cold and gummy, just bad. We ordered a Boston roll, spicy tuna roll, and an eel roll (the rock and roll). First, the rolls are very small. Generally not a problem, as long as they are filled with whatever is supposed to go in the roll. However, our Boston roll--just avocado and salmon--was also stuffed on the inside with rice. This is basic sushi-making 101--create the roll properly so there isn't rice stuffed on the inside of the roll. There were miniscule slivers of avocado and salmon and big chunks of rice. At that point we were starving and just ate it. The spicy tuna roll was too spicy--could not taste the fish at all. The eel roll was good. We also had the tempura, which was good. Overall, this was a bad experience. I waited a few days to write this to let the "hangry" side of me calm down, but I am still just very unhappy with my meal and I will not return. Maybe the experience was poor because we were one of the last tables to be seated for the night (not by my choice), but if the food can't be prepared correctly at the end of the night, stop taking paying customers.

    (2)

  • Lesia C.

    I had no choice but to eventually come here after hearing all the hype. Small space, but we managed to get a table. FYI, they don't take reservations, and even if you do show up early to try and grab one for your friends, they won't seat you at one until your entire party is there. This was my only complaint: we came with a group of 3 and were waiting for the fourth, and the wait staff made us stand in a corner while we waited 30 mins for him and wouldn't let us sit down. The sushi was so good that I still give this place 5 stars. Ordered basically half the menu, you really can't go wrong. More expensive than sushi para too down the street, and no all you can eat options, but I would choose this place if you are going for more variety or a specialty roll versus sushi para. All in all: - go to sushi para too if you want a lot of sushi at a reasonable price, good too -go to toro if you want one or two specialty rolls that sushi para doesn't offer

    (5)

  • Regina G.

    Best sushi in the city ! Mitch always makes you try something new and it never disappoints .. Must try if your a sushi lover in Chicago !!

    (5)

  • Caralyn O.

    We had an incredible night at Toro Sushi - well worth the wait. Mitch was wonderful, the fish was super fresh, and as it's BYOB it was a great value. We tried a mixture of special and regular rolls - even the basic salmon skin was memorable. Definitely worth a try! A new favorite.

    (5)

  • Mary S.

    Total let down. For years I've heard about how great this sushi place is, how fresh the fish is, blah blah blah. Came by right at opening on a Saturday night (with a short wait in line outside, you'd have thought you were going into the hippest new club downtown) and quickly got a seat and was greeted with menus. Tried four different rolls and honestly didn't think any of them had much of a taste (the husband agreed and he can be a sushi snob). You do get a decent sized roll for the price you're paying, and they're fairly quick in getting it to your table, but nothing had a taste! I think this place has a lot of hype because it's so small and doesn't take reservations, so by the time you sit down you think you've made it and automatically begin thinking the food is better. Almost like people who think the more expensive a bottle of wine the better the taste. Save yourself some time and try Wakamono up the street from here instead.

    (2)

  • Svilena B.

    This place is really worth the wait to get seated. I came with a group of 6 on a Thursday night and the wait was about an hour. The sushi is delicious and you can tell that the ingredients are fresh. However, our waitress was not very friendly, did not answer our questions about the menu very well, and we had to wait a while for her to take our order. I would go back because the food was worth it but don't expect amazing service.

    (4)

  • Matt D.

    Toro Sushi is easily one of my favorite restaurants of all-time. The rolls are all incredibly creative and delicious, although spicy tako, kamikaze, and best of both worlds are on an entirely different level. And for the sushi purists, the sashimi and nigiri preparations are also noteworthy. Make sure to get a seat at the bar because Mitch, the owner and head sushi chef, is one of the most friendly and personable people you'll ever meet. On top of all that, the restaurant is BYOB, and who doesn't love that? They don't take reservations, but the waits are usually not too long and worth every second. Do yourself a favor and try this place out immediately.

    (5)

  • Emma K.

    I've only eaten from here once, and it was takeout, but I can already tell you it's one of the best if not my favorite sushi place in the city. Everything was absolutely delicious. Fresh fish, good size rolls, rice that wasn't dry in the slightest. I thought it was extremely reasonably priced, and the takeout was ready when I arrived. Chicago has a lot of OK sushi, but this sushi is amazing. It's dangerous how close I live to this place, so I know I'll be back soon & often!

    (5)

  • Hana M.

    Love this place. I only come here for lunch since dinner here is always packed. I normally get their lunch option and a special maki. Lunch is only served on Fridays and Saturdays. Lunch options are all served with miso, salad, and rice Bento Lunch A = $6 2 side dish Bento Lunch B = $7 1 side dish 1 main dish Bento Lunch C= $ 8 1 main dish and 2 side dish Their side dish can be sashimi!!! worth the cheap lunch cost! The super white crunch is amazing and their hand rolls are great! Place is small so get here right when they open!

    (5)

  • Lei L.

    Awuful bad service. Sooo rude! Both the manager and the waitress. Unbelievable ridiculous!!!

    (1)

  • Jialing L.

    My favorite sushi place in Chicago. One of my college friends was back in town visiting and we decided to come here since I'd heard so many great reviews. It did not disappoint. We ordered 4 rolls (the names are a little out there so I can't remember exactly what) but they were all so good. The fish is all really fresh and the other fillings matched and complemented the fish perfectly. We also each ordered the tempura green tea ice cream and it was both filling and light. Absolutely loved it. We came for a Friday night dinner around 6:30pm and was seated very quickly. The service was also great. The one thing is that the restaurant was kind of small so you don't really have much room to move. But the food trumps everything. Definitely worth a visit!

    (5)

  • Winnie T.

    The sushi I ordered are all delicious here and the chef Mitch always be nice to his customers... And, it's BYOB, but I forget to bring my wine there... Ahhhh, i want to talk to Chef Mitch: could u plz don't make your sushi too salty next time? I am an Asian from China, in my taste, I think the sushi is a little bit salty.. Maybe other American like it to be more salty... Anyway, I will inform to the server next time... And I give 5 stars, because they got really good sushi here... Thanks chef Mitch again~

    (5)

  • Chuck S.

    came here basically off the yelp reviews cause I had a sushi craving and wanted to go somewhere new. Not disappointed! Delicious. Got there early enough that there were plenty of seats (7p.m.) but by the time we were finished there was a line. we eat at the bar, but it didn't bother me. we had a great time just watching the main guy make the sushi and talk to us around the bar. When we walked in, he wanted a fist bump, which I obliged, by the end of the night everyone was doing it. So that was cool! As for the rolls, I don't remember LOL. I know I had the spicy tuna, which had a kick to it but was not too spicy, loved it. I tried the roll with 3 pieces of fish, which was amazing. Had one of my dates rolls and it was also good. Would definitely go back here. Obviously by previous reviews we got there early, so should you.

    (4)

  • Amanda T.

    I have worked in the service Industry for over 10 years. I was appalled at the customer service at this restaurant. Stopped in to this place to grab some dinner with a couple friends. One was on his way. Maybe 5-10 min away. We were STARVING and ready to throw down on some sushi. There were at least 7 open seats at the bar and 3 empty tables. They refused to seat us even though we wanted to order right away. They would not even let us sit at the bar and order anything. Can't tell you how good their sushi is however if you are looking for a pleasant dining experience this is not the place for you. I will probably never return here because of the bad taste left in my mouth.

    (1)

  • Rosalie S.

    The atmosphere and food are simply put, unique and fun. It's perfect for a casual but "try something new" date or a girls night out. They don't rush you even though the wait builds up. The rolls are extremely unique and I wish I could try more! Oh my God roll was my favorite. Sashimi was very fresh. Hopefully I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Coco Y.

    Very bad service. Very rude attitude. Nobody served us water ever and nobody checked if we are doing alright. In the end, they asked "do u want to order more?" We said no cuz we were still working on what we had. Right away they were like "ok here's the check plz pay now". And they automatically added 20% tip already. We questioned "why u so rushing???!!!!" They said oh you see so many customers are waiting. After we expressed our anger, they're like "you see, we had so many Chinese customers before and they never complained". Plz tell me WHAT THE HELL THAT WAS????? Plus one, very plain good, nothing special.

    (1)

  • Ada H.

    Best Sushi in Chicago There's nothing I can say that hasn't been said before. But seriously there's a reason that Toro has such a great rating. The food is amazing and Mitch (owner and head sushi sensei). My favorite rolls: spicy tako, ahi salad roll, kamikaze roll, and the hot finger roll appetizer. I've tried most of the menu and you can't go wrong with any selection. No matter how long the wait is, trust me it's worth it!

    (5)

  • A. J.

    Would give zero stars if I could! This place is ridiculously overrated. I came at 5:05 to insure I'd get a table, and was one of the first tables here. Fast forward to almost 50 mins later, I've had excuse after excuse why my simple order hadn't arrived (2 hand rolls, 2 pcs nigiri, and one small roll)... even after I asked the server to please stop making excuses, and just bring my food when it was ready. She ignored me, and just repeated, at length, the same excuse, 3 or 4 times: somehow a hand roll can only be rolled by the main chef, but 4 people work on the rolls, which was, of course, not mentioned when I made my order. Though I didn't say so, that doesn't even make sense: then have these four guys do the myriad rolls being delivered, and have the main chef do only the things only he can! After all this, I was treated as if I was the problem for not being satisfied with the situation and the excuses. Lack of listening & customer service were the issue, but she was completely oblivious. Meanwhile everyone around me is happily eating. When my order finally came 5 minutes later, it wasn't even correct: I ordered mackerel nigiri and they gave me salmon. I was done... I just asked them to bring the mackerel I ordered, a box, and the check. They couldn't even do that right... bringing a box that would hold barely one hand roll. When I protested, they took my food, packed it up, but didn't correct the incorrect nigiri. Now I had no nigiri in my box, had to reorder it and pay for it separately, adding further to my negative experience. I waited tables for years, and would never treat anyone the way I was treated! I guess they don't care, because this place is packed, but it would have been nice for someone, anyone, a manager perhaps(?) to try to make my experience better. Guess that's just not in Toro's DNA. Went home and am glad I have my own chopsticks, because there were none in the bag. See my pics of the broken looking mackerel and falling apart negi maki... nothing tasted fresh, it even smelled fishy, and I live right around the corner. I will never never eat here again! SIDE NOTE: After I left I couldn't shake the thought that the Escolar they were touting as "Super White Tuna" on the menu was something I'd heard about on the news... a quick Google search confirms it: several sushi places have been outed in Minneapolis for passing Escolar off as Super White Tuna, however it is not, and those in the know call it the "ex-lax" fish... Even the non-GMO regulating FDA warns about eating Escolar, as it contains a non-digestible compound that can cause "nausea, diarrhea, and cramping..." Thanks but no thanks!

    (1)

  • James T.

    Food = 5 Price = 5 Experience = 5 Great sushi... menus could have been a little cleaner... but, my bento box for $8 was so good.

    (5)

  • Veronica K.

    The hubby and I were in town for the weekend and craving some sushi. We looked on Yelp and and Toro happened to be nearby with fairly good reviews, so we took a chance. It was crowded and the prices looked reasonable. It's a pretty small place and kind of cramped inside. The server was friendly. They didn't have pork gyoza, which we thought was kind of strange. They only had vegetable gyoza that came deep fat fried. So we passed on that. I had a side salad that was drowning in ginger dressing. Hubs had miso soup. It's still hard to get used to the BYOB policy that a lot of restaurants in Chicago have. Being from Des Moines, we don't have that rule. It's kind of annoying if you don't want to bring your own liquor. I got a Philadelphia roll and a crunchy and spicy California roll, which were both pretty good but not anything better than I could have gotten in Des Moines. My husband got a Crazy Horse roll and some mackerel nigiri which he thought were just ok; nothing special. We've had some really great sushi in Des Moines that we expect better quality sushi when we go to a bigger city like Chicago. Toro's sushi wasn't bad, but it wasn't great, either. We probably wouldn't come back here again just because we thought we could probably find some place better.

    (3)

  • Jackie M.

    Bigger does not mean better .. the sashimi and nigiri is very generous In portion. Too generous to a point where it's just too much raw and it's not balancing with the rice. Fish is quite fresh and there is an extensive choice of Maki. I'll pass on the Miso soup because it's too salty. This is a very small place with prob about 10 seat counter and able 8 small tables. This would be one of the better choices for sushi fix if you are looking for generous portion. I'm seeking for a nigiri that gives me the orgasmic bite!

    (3)

  • Meena A.

    LOVE this place! This is by far the best sushi place in Chicago. We ordered five rolls and each one of them is amazing. Make sure you try southern gals best sushi roll I've ever had!

    (5)

  • Kara E.

    Came here on Friday with a friend at 6:30. We waited about 20 minutes for a table. Brought a bottle of wine and they had glasses for us right away. I expected the service to be at least pretty slow but the waitresses were great, our food was brought out quickly and we never felt rushed. The sushi itself was good. Nothing amazing, not the best I have ever had, but what we did have tasted fresh. We got I believe two simple rolls and one specialty roll (the sun one or something?). We enjoyed our sushi and our wine. I'd recommend trying once, but its not a must-try.

    (4)

  • Melissa M.

    Toro was the first sushi place in Chicago I tried, and it was outstanding. Every meal here is presented with the utmost care in aesthetics and taste. The rainbow roll was my favorite, but everything here is great. Make sure to bring your own wine! It can get a little loud here when it's packed, so I wouldn't recommend coming here for a date. But regardless, it's a fun, relatively standard spot for good sushi in Lincoln Park. Also of particular note: I REALLY appreciate the fact that Toro is closed on Sundays. Any sushi place that is open on a Sunday just makes me confused. (You don't receive deliveries on Sundays, so why would you serve day-old raw fish?) Anyway, thanks, Toro, for doing it right!

    (4)

  • Minh D.

    Get the nigiri sushi or sashimi. You won't regret it. This restaurant serves top notch fish and their fish slices are abundant. Rice is expertly packed with the right amount. The rolls (i.e. maki rolls) are ok. Unlike most suhi joints in the city, they do not skim on the fish of your nigiri pieces. This is easily one of the better and more reasonable sushi spots in the city. The restaurant is very small and always packed to the rim.... it is almost certain that you will have to wait for your table when coming here. Despite the wait for table, we will definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Rachel R.

    One of the best meals I've ever had. A bit of a wait, but the food is well worth the wait. We sat at the bar and got to talking with Mitch - the man behind it all. We ended up asking for his recommendation, but ultimately we asked him to just give us whatever he wanted too. We were not disappointed. Each roll was better then the last, and Mitch's friendly conversation & attitude amplified the experience. I would recommend this place to any sushi lover in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Zip T.

    When it comes to sushi, it can be very difficult to find a restaurant with a creative menu and prices that are not out of sight. Toro sushi is a Lincoln Park treasure that dishes out some of the best and tastiest sushi rolls I have had in the city! Some highlights from the menu were the Big Tex ,Kamikaze, and Best of Both worlds. The restaurant is located in a bustling part of Lincoln Park and seats around 40-50 people. Wait times can vary anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour I've been told. Fortunately for me the wait was minimal on a Tuesday night. Service is very fast in spite of the constant influx of customers waiting by the door. There isn't a designated "waiting area" because the restaurant is a little small, so it might get a tad bit uncomfortable at times when there are people standing and the door swings open constantly as you are trying to enjoy your dinner. The sushi at Toro is exquisite and definitely a bargain compared to other sushi places in the city that charge an arm and a leg for something half as good (Looking at you Roka Akor). I definitely recommend Toro and can't wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Christopher V.

    Solid sushi. Volcano & This is How we Roll were probably the best. Nothing was amazing, but worth checking out if you're in the area. Skip the chicken teriyaki. Not marinated..just grilled chicken doused in sauce.

    (3)

  • James I.

    Why 5- stars ? Because at the end of the day, the fish is so darn fresh and tasty that the annoying niggles are overcome. I swear that my studio apt in Chicago was bigger than the dining area. Also, I would recommend coming here on a weekday and early b/c it suffers from popular restaurant syndrome- i.e insanely popular+ tiny interior. Groups larger than 4 may find it difficult to get seating. The fish is VERY fresh and melts in your mouth like butter. I've had the Spicy Tako, OMG, and Crazy Horse. All excellent IMO. Service is decent, but nothing to write about. They have BYOB like so many Chitown restaurants. This is a few feet from Molly's Cupcakes, so it makes it a special end to your night in Lincoln Park. This is a restaurant where you would bring someone who HATES fish and watch them convert to the Synagogue of Sushi. It's moderately priced too which is nice. :) A Chicago staple. Run, don't walk to this gem.

    (5)

  • Sushi Q.

    I love this place. I have ordered sushi from almost every place in Lakeview and no one come close. Dining in is always crowded so go early. Sashimi, Maki, hand rolls...Super fresh. I just wish you delivered.

    (5)

  • Diane G.

    I'm saying "A-OK" because the sushi was fresh and delicious, and the service was friendly, but I don't understand the 2-hour wait..My friends and I had no problem getting at seat around 5pm, but the last time I tried to come here the wait was literally 2 hours. With so many options that are up to par (Green Tea Japanese restaurant, or Kai Zan or Yuzu if you're out West), I don't understand the hype. I had scallop nigiri and the salmon crunch roll, both of which were fresh and good, but nothing outstanding. If I were in the area and there was little to no wait, I'd go, but I wouldn't wait for an obscene amount of time to go here!

    (3)

  • Avery A.

    I took my girlfriend here for Valentines day. The wait got up to 2 hours, though we put our name in early. It's a small, quaint, Japanese restaurant, though I would surmise that most only come here for the sushi as their menu isn't extensive otherwise. For Chicago, this is pretty good sushi for the price. They have great speciality rolls with beautiful presentation (see pic). Not the best sushi (even for its price) that I have had in Chicago, but I think it's a solid place that is worth coming to if you don't have too long of a wait. I really thought they did a great job with the artistry and sushi combinations. If you're from New York, Japan, or somewhere with truly great sushi, this may not be fulfilling to you.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    My husband and I had received a gift card to toro sushi for a wedding present from some family friends that LOVE IT! Let me just say- We are so happy we did, because now we have our go-to sushi spot! If you have the chance- sit at the sushi bar! The owner, Mitch- He is so down to earth, and wonderful to chat with. I love that he makes sure to say hello and goodbye to everyone that comes in. Although Toro is small, totally worth the wait! Plus it's BYOB and there is a little beer/ wine store down the street for convenience, which is great. We started with, edamame followed by Scallop, Hamachi, Maguro, and Salmon Nigiri - these are large portions and melt in your mouth. It was our first time ever trying scallop nigiri for some reason and it was SO GOOD! So good, we ordered another round of it (and the Maguro.) Then, we had the Oh My God Roll and the Holla Hollapeño. While, I'm pregnant and didn't get to partake in the all the raw deliciousness we we're ordering, my oh my god roll- which is fully cooked was delicious. And my husband loved the Holla Hollapeño. At the end of our already, delicious dinner- Mitch knows the way to a pregnant ladies heart and sent us some fried ice cream- my husband doesn't even care for ice cream too much and loved this. Can't say enough wonderful things about the place, the owner and the service. We will def. be back!!!

    (5)

  • Anthony B.

    I don't care what anybody says, this is by far the best sushi in the city. I have had sushi at almost every sushi place with their salt in Chicago and none even come close to Toro. Fish is always fresh, the octopus is phenomenal, and Mitch is the man. Whatever you order here it's going to be great. Treat yourself. It's worth the wait to get a table.

    (5)

  • Blaine T.

    Great BYOB sushi place! There's so many good rolls to choose from! Any spicy crunch roll is good and the yellow submarine roll is one of my favs

    (4)

  • H L.

    I used to like this place, but the last time I ordered take-out, one "special" roll cost $20!!!! The rolls taste good (although too much sauce on some) and the fish is fresh, but the past few times I went, food preparation has been lacking (i.e. rolls have fallen apart, fish pieces very sloppily cut). I get that this place has a loyal following, but for the service, wait, and price, there are better options. The waitresses are running around like headless chickens. The place overall just feels sloppy and dirty.

    (2)

  • Andy S.

    This is a very good sushi place and from what I understand is an extremely popular one. Luckily we chose to go on a day when it was slightly easier to get in. Still had a 30-45 minute wait but you just go down the street to somewhere else and they call you when table is ready. I would definitely consider this in the class of quality sushi restaurants, and it has a large number of unique rolls that can definitely have you coming back several times to try different ones. Only criticism is that some of the pieces they give you are a bit on the small side. Occasionally felt like they were skirting a little bit. But all in all it is definitely a place worth checking out.

    (4)

  • Chris T.

    Ok I have to be a little bit of a snotty spoiled Californian... ready? Here we go: this place is good, for Chicago. I haven't had the most luck in terms of sushi here so far, but this place was decent. Yes there is a looong wait and the location is small, but coming from San Francisco I expect that. The wait for 4 was an hour and 20 mins. What's good: My fave was the Super White Crunch Roll My friend loved the Tipsy Trixie roll, I thought it was good too. Decent: Kamikaze roll Oh My God Roll Spicy Tako roll (you better like octopus) I wouldn't rush back to this place, but I wouldn't mind going if someone was dying to try.

    (4)

  • Sam V.

    Mitch is the man. Right when you walk in the door Mitch always greets you with a happy hello and a fist bump before whipping up some of the best sushi in Chicago. Although from the outside it does not look like much, Toro Sushi is phenomenal. By 5:30 there will most likely be an hour wait but it is very worth it. I am not sure if I can endorse one dish because all of his rolls are great. The place is also BYOB so you can bring the drink of your choice to compliment your meal :)

    (5)

  • Hen H.

    I read about this place on Thrillist. It was voted one Best Chicago Sushi restaurants so as a sushi lover I had to go and check it out. What a disappointment! I wouldn't even put it as the top 50. The service was absolutely atrocious. I can't even stress how bad the service was other then by saying I shouldn't have to wait 20 minutes for my check if there is about 10 tables in the whole restaurant. The restaurant seemed to be understaff and everyone seemed overwhelmed. The sushi was subpar. I would not return and I would not recommend.

    (1)

  • Tian Y.

    Mitch: AWESOME Food: Delicious! Service - ...meh. Like really below average. Overall: 4.5 stars! Mitch asked me how I heard of his restaurant. Thanks to communal seating, I had overheard people saying how this is the best sushi place in Chicago. He said he wasn't the best (how humble!) but he says what they do there is try to have the fish be as fresh as possible. I mean, that's what sushi is all about! So go for some reasonably priced sashimi. But they also have a huge menu of creative rolls, though Mitch insists they aren't the best in that regard. The three rolls he picked for us that highlight fish were: Crazy horse, cherry blossom, and spicy tako. Crazy horse was probably my favorite. The ahi tuna roll makes for a great appetizer, because even though the fish isn't the star, it's super clean tasting - lots of greens, the ginger dressing that every Japanese restaurant uses, and a touch of tuna on top. It's what you'd have as an appetizer to a meal like this, except in roll form. My only complaint is the service. Really awkward, and a bit negligent/rude. It was probably the one day in the year that they wouldn't be busy, too... so I wonder what it's like normally when the wait is 1hr+... But the best part is that the price isn't outrageous for the quality you find in this city. I've looked at the menus of some comparable joints in the city and gawked at how much money I'd have to spend to have a satisfying meal, and Toro is a fraction of that. I definitely walked in with some reservations about the hype over this place, but I think it's pretty justified. I'd wait the hour nearby (I mean, it's Clark St. for goodness sake, not like there's nowhere to go) to eat here again!

    (5)

  • Daniel W.

    Pretty big fan. Went here for the first time a couple weeks ago. Figured we could take advantage of a night when most Chicagoans were at places with tvs to watch the Blackhawks beat on the Bruins!! WOOOO WOO! Back to food, I am normally a Sushi Para guy and love getting my money's worth...(55 pieces is my PR). But I will always be willing to spend the extra money to get the delicious tasting Toro sushi rolls! Once you put the piece in your mouth you can instantly taste the difference in quality. The sushi melts in your mouth! The menu is loaded with different types of rolls and the selection is quite appealing. There were so many choices and the combinations all sounded mouthwatering. I will definitely be back to try other rolls. BYOB! No corkage fee. The wait was 20 minutes and the hostess was nice enough to allow me to keep my six pack in the cooler while we strolled down to the bar to get a drink and even during our entire meal. Awesome service! What more could you ask for?

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    Best value Chirashi! Toro and I got off on the wrong foot this past year. Got turned away three times (wait times were ridic), and one drive-by later, finally got seated. Yatta! They kept the hot green tea coming as we snacked on tempura. I got the sashimi dinner while my date got the chirashi. Basically it's the same cuts but without all the rice. While nothing quite compares to Katsu, their selections are fresh, with no fishy business. Definitely wouldn't mind coming back to get my sashimi fix! That is, if I can nab a table. BYOB!

    (4)

  • Rhody B.

    We went here over a work event and it was one of the best sushi dinners of my life. Byob so plan ahead!

    (5)

  • Craig E.

    My personal favorite for sushi to date. The food was plentiful for the price tag and BYOB is always appreciated. They have a minimum on alcohol ( wine is one bottle per pair ). The service was great. My main recommendation... Clean your bathrooms better! Everything else was great and I will be going back in the very near future.

    (4)

  • Bri D.

    Place is bomb diggity. Fish is great, can't beat BYOB. Only reason why I gave it 4 stars is due to the hole they call a bathroom. When they do not resemble that of a middle america gas station bathroom I will up my stars to 5.

    (4)

  • Marka L.

    Well not only is this the best decently priced sushi in all of Chicago, it is also BYOB. After having sushi all over the west coast and in Florida I have been struggling to find a good sushi place in Chicago, not just an over the top fancy place like most. Toro is the spot and well worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Kazu N.

    How could this sushi spot be such popular？If you would like to wait for a long time to get some average supermarket sushi and sashimi, go to this place and you will be satisfied. Best sushi in chicago? haha are you guys kidding me? Warn every one. If you are a sushi person, don't expect too much at this place. If you really knows nothing about sushi, don't recommend this to a sushi lover. Your friend will be sad.

    (2)

  • Eugene S.

    Following a slightly overzealous viewing of "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," I had gradually become more excited over the course of several weeks and was by the first major defrost of the roads, chomping at the bit for some of my own. (By the way, the aforementioned documentary is first-class and, if I'm not mistaken, is still available on Netflix streaming. Although, I would probably not use it to work up your sushi hopes too much.) This place was packed when we arrived for dinner, so we left our names and opted for a little walk around the neighborhood during an ~20 minute wait. Upon returning, we were seated at a narrow table by the wall. Following some indecision, we settled on uni, super white tuna, and mackerel sashimi, burdock root maki, a handroll, and some of the special rolls including my first experience with deep fried maki - which was unfortunately not a good one. In general, the quality of the traditional sashimi was good: texture of the uni was amazing and the mackerel was discernibly fresher than a some other places in town that have it on their AYCE. Having said that, the special maki definitely left me mildly scarred. I had ordered them initially to bulk out the meal, but, having tried them, found this to be terrible mistake; for several months following (as it is now late summer), I even avoided sushi altogether, and, upon reintroduction, I continued to suffer from general suspicion and mild terror whenever a dining companion at a sushi bar would ask me if I wanted a taste of the weird roll they had ordered. (Aside: For anyone who feels unsafe upon reading this, thinking that there are rabid lolcats out roving the streets of Chicago ready to lash out violently at the prospect of being confronted with a California roll, I can thankfully declare that I am now mostly recovered with the help of some SSRI-laced Cat Chow and twice weekly cognitive behavioral therapy.) Service was quite slow, as could be expected due to the popularity. In the end, I was perhaps a little overeager to get out of there as I saw the check as the only thing standing between me and the McDonald's down the road. Maybe for those living in the area, it would be worth a pleasant albeit expensive visit to bridge the long, hungry minutes between dinner and supper, but between the drive, the wait, and the veterinary CBT expenses I can't see myself returning.

    (3)

  • Samantha B.

    Sad to say I just wan't wow-ed. The long wait wasn't a problem and the waitresses were so kind and attentive but I just wasn't satisfied after my meal. Honestly, I went next door to fill up so I wouldn't get hungry on the drive home. The rolls (both traditional and chef specials) were not so exciting for me. But I really liked how sunflower seeds were incorporated into some dishes. Sad to say this place just didn't live up to the hype for me. Better luck to you!

    (3)

  • Kristen D.

    Everything people's reviews say is true: 1. Mitch is awesome and unbelievably nice. He fist bumps guys bc he doesn't want to touch people's hands after he's touched all the fish. He "tickles the rock" for girls bc he doesn't believe it's right to hit a girl in any way. (Melt.) 2. This place is SMALL. Come early during the week and be seated, but be prepared for a very long wait on the weekends! My suggestions for rolls, in order of preference: Super White Crunchy (probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite roll out of any sushi place in the city) Crazy Horse Sunny Volcano Southern Galz (wasn't a huge fan of this one, but I'm not a big spicy food eater) I will update with my other favorites as I frequent Toro more often! Best sushi in Chicago, hands down.

    (5)

  • Tina M.

    I've heard raving reviews about this place for a few years and finally had a chance to check it out. I wish they took reservations, because there's really not anywhere inside you can wait - thankfully they let me sit in the back by the bathrooms since I have a broken foot. The wait ended up longer than expected, but it was worth it. The food was pretty delicious. They give you a very healthy serving of edamame, and the specialty rolls are all 8-10 pieces each. For two hungry girls, 3 rolls was sufficient. We sat at the bar and the sushi chef (perhaps the owner) was totally in his element and enjoying making the sushi. The place has several regulars who all briefly stopped by to say hi to the chef, and I can tell why - when we left, he shouted across the small restaurant "Bye! Thanks for coming!" How refreshing - someone who enjoys serving food and makes you feel good about stopping in.

    (3)

  • Stefan L.

    Continues to be consistently great. Mitch is awesome and would recommend this place to anyone visiting Chicago. BYOB!

    (5)

  • Kabir S.

    The best sushi restaurant in Chicago! I have been going there since it opened and personally know the chef (Mitch)! Everything on the menu is fantastic and the only downside is that there is always a wait but that's a good thing I reckon! Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Catherine P.

    Toro is a great neighborhood sushi restaurant. My reasoning for the three stars have nothing to do with the food. I think the sushi there is great. However, the rolls are small. I recently spent 26$ on a California roll, Philadelphia, and a super white tuna roll with mango. I was still hungry after I ate it but it was exceptionally fresh. The restaurant is SO small. The service is great but the wait for seating and for take out is always close to an hour. Toro should consider expanding so I don't elbow the table next to me when diving into my caterpillar roll. For the amount of food that you get for the price, it's hard to not justify going to a restaurant with a little more "oomph" to it like sushi X, sunda, or butterfly. Zero points for ambiance at toro. Yes, it's Byob, which saves some $$ but the rolls are over priced.

    (3)

  • Maria A.

    Real fresh fish and the chief is very enthusiastic about creating his masterpieces. The restaurant itself is kinda of small, so seating feels a bit crowded. I would definitely recommend this place. Try the kimacha roll. It was delicious!

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    Good price for good sushi. A rare combination for Chicago. There are many good rolls to choose from, but I always order a lot of simple sushi and handrolls, they are just as great with the fresh fish! And Mitch is very friendly. Say hi and talk to him if the place is not completely packed. Line gets long after 6. You can order takeout but be prepared for 45 min before your order is ready. Tip: Open for lunch on saturday too and have very cheap bento box

    (4)

  • Kim L.

    Great sushi but erratic service. We got the gyoza, spicy tuna (always so good!), dragon, rainbow and the volcano. The unagi is so fresh and can't complain about their BYOB policy!

    (5)

  • Jason G.

    Super tiny restaurant, but really good sushi.

    (4)

  • Sarah H.

    Went here on Saturday for lunch and was sorely disappointed. We were a party of 5, they would not seat us until we were all there (understandable, it's a small space). We all arrived at around 12:20 and ordered around 12:30. The place was less than half full at the time we ordered. It took us, no joke, half an hour to get our food. People who arrived later than us received their orders before we did. Service was slow and terrible, waitresses never came to fill our water until I flagged them down asking for more ginger and wasabi (which they stingily gave us maybe 1 more teaspoon of). I'm paying $16 for a roll, you better give me a big tablespoon of wasabi and at least 100g of ginger - not 3 pieces. I've worked in food service before; management clearly needs to retrain their waitstaff. It's not rocket science! Rolls here are not worth the price; I know you're in prime real estate, but jeez! The rolls are tiny and quite honestly not that special. I've had better, much better, even at H-Mart. Atmosphere 5/10; nothing special. nothing terrible. Food 3/10; I've had better sushi out in the suburbs - come on; docked off two points because the rolls are the smallest things I've ever seen. Service 3/10 because you took away our plates before even asking if we wanted the rest of the ginger. We had to run over to Molly's and gorge ourselves on cupcakes to fill our stomachs. TL;DR Overrated, don't waste your time or money on this place.

    (1)

  • Allison C.

    Great sushi! Nearly always a long wait (at least as long as they quote if not longer) and they usually stop taking names on the weekend around 7:30. Weird timing/spacing on our last trip here as our miso soup came right away but the other couple we were with had to ask for their edamame after we had finished our soup. The other couple's sushi rolls and nigiri all came at once but we got 1-2 rolls or our nigiri at a time. However the quality was great. Definitely recommend this place and will be returning!

    (4)

  • Carolina N.

    YES! This place is excellent. My favorite sushi in all the city. The prices are reasonable and it's also BYOB. It's a bit crammed in there and the wait can be long but fairly so. Some of my favorite rolls include the sunshine roll, the OMG roll, and the ninja!

    (5)

  • Vicki L.

    Toro is hands down my all around favorite go-to BYOB sushi place. Yes, the lines can be long for sure - and that's a pain if you're not local or are on a schedule. I used to live for 5 years right around the corner so is go and out my name in and then they call when a table is ready so it was perfect, but you can head to a local bar and do the same. I don't live in the neighborhood anymore but I still come back to Toro - wait or not. The quality of the fish plus the price and the awesomeness of Mitch can't be matched. His fish is always incredibly fresh and I love sitting at the bar when he's working to chat with him a bit and find out what's just come in, etc. He has often times comped us sashimi or let us try something new on the house. Probably my favorite sushi roll of all time is the Sunny - something about the sunflower seeds in there adds a great crunch with just the right amount of saltiness. Also love the Holla Jalapeño, Arizona, Ahi salad and spicy Tako rolls. The octopus there is flavored so well - delicious. Toro has a special place in my heart and always will - it's worth the wait if you plan it right - you won't be sorry. And give Mitch a fist pump for me.

    (5)

  • Kelly P.

    I went to this place 3 days ago the food was good but I have tried something better. I will be back to this place for sure

    (3)

  • Marianne A.

    Before this past weekend I've tried coming here twice before only to be dissuaded by the wait. Showed up at 7pm on a Saturday night and waited an hour. I understand the hype. Higher quality seafood, good location on a busy strip of Clark in LP, BYOB, and decent service. Other than that I'd say this place is a tad overhyped. The best things we had were the Mussels Josephine - broiled in Tiffany sauce (sauce was delicious!!). Only $5 for 4 of those yummy mussels- we had to get another order. Tuna and salmon sashimi and nigiri were incredible. Fresh, perfectly cut and buttery. We also ordered 2 maki rolls- the Best of Both Worlds and the spider roll. The simpler roll was better than the speciality roll. You could actually taste the ingredients when they aren't all smashed together. So go for the quality of simpler sushi. Service was fine. BYOB option is great. The decor and ambiance could've been a lot nicer. As in a bigger space, dimmer lighting, some semblance if decor. And honestly, you don't know to hear the details of a conversation between swingers couples so having tables further apart would be terrific. I'd say Toro is ok. Yuzu and Coast still win out over this place.

    (3)

  • Danielle R.

    The BEST sushi you will ever eat. Mitch is an artist! The rolls are so creative and delicious - and they have fun names :) The freshest fish I have ever tasted hands down, try the sashimi. We have never had to wait more than 10 mins and it's BYOB so that makes it fun. Try these rolls: This Is How We Roll, Southern Galz, and Oh My God.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    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 : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Toro Sushi

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