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Name: Tokio Sake Japanese Restaurant
Address: Deer Park Town Center,20530 N Rand Rd, Ste 112, Deer Park, IL, 60010
Telephone: (847) 438-0400
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.83

Tokio Sake Japanese Restaurant

Deer Park Town Center,20530 N Rand Rd, Ste 112, Deer Park, IL, 60010

(847) 438-0400
Store is closed

Tokio Sake Japanese Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Sashimi Appetizer

Kani Su

Ebi Su

Unagi Su

Soft Shell Crab
Soup

Seafood Miso Soup
Salad

Tokio House Salad

Cucumber Salad

Cucumber & Avocado Salad

Wakame Salad
Tempura

Shrimp Only (4pcs)

Shrimp Only (6pcs)

Veggie Only
Tokio Specialty Rolls

Salmon Crunch

Tempura Crunch

Santa Fe

Crazy Eel

Spicy Tuna Crunch

Rainbow

Sunrise
Sushi & Sashimi

Tuna Sashimi

Salmon Sashimi

Hamachi (yellow Tail)

Sashimi Moriawase

Sushi & Sashimi Combo

House Deluxe
Kitchen Entree - Seafood

Shrimp Teriyaki

Shrimp & Scallop Teriyaki

Salmon Teriyaki

Seabass Teriyaki

Unagi Teriyaki

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tokio Sake Japanese Restaurant

Appetizers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shrimp Only (4pcs) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Only (6pcs) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Only [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tokio Specialty Rolls

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

House Deluxe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Kitchen Entree - Seafood

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

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

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

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

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

Visit below restaurant in Deer Park for healthy meals suggestion.

Panera Bread ( 20530 Rand Rd. Suite 448 )

Panera Bread ( 20530 Rand Rd,Ste 448 )

Starbucks ( 20530 N Rand Rd,Unit 438 )

Visit below restaurant in Deer Park for healthy meals suggestion.

Cold Stone Creamery ( 20330 Deer Park Blvd,Space 106 )

Jamba Juice ( 21690 West Long Grove Rd., Unit B,Ste B )

Panera Bread ( 20530 Rand Rd. Suite 448 )

Panera Bread ( 20530 Rand Rd,Ste 448 )

Write An Anonymous Review

Tim L.

The sushi is here is great. The rolls are awesome and have been expanded to include some pretty unique roll ingredients. My wife and I were pretty spoiled with incredible sushi in downtown Chicago for a few years, so we needed to find a place that could take the Pepsi challenge of sushi. Tokio Sake fits right in near the top. We have been eating here since they opened in 2008. The wait staff is sometimes not the quality you see in a white linen table cloth establishment. I come here for the sushi, not to make friends with the staff as other reviewers seem to be looking for.
(5)
Nina B.

Decided to check this place out on a Thursday after an afternoon movie with a friend. Loved all the beauyiful dark wood decor. I had a wonderful glass of the 2012 Mason Sauvignon Blanc which went perfectly with the sashimi combo. The combo had 3 LARGE pieces each of several different fish plus a couple of surf clams which I had never tried before. I am now a surf clam devotee! My friend enjoyed the miso soup that came with my combo and she shared her cucumber salad, which was nicely crispy and tart. My meal came to $50 with tax and generous tip for our excellent server. I wish my husband liked sushi so I could visit Tokio more often but I will definitely be back with the girls!
(5)
Brian F.

Classy place with delicious food and great service. I had a special menu item, the Korean Bulgogi. It was served over rice and had shredded carrots mixed in... at first I was unsure of this combo, having never seen it prepared this way, but after tasting it I was pleasantly surprised at the mixture of textures and flavors. My co-worker had the dragon roll, which was visually stunning and full of flavor. The prices are on the high side, but not unreasonable. I will come back again to try more sushi and hope that I can update my review to 5 stars!
(4)
Martin R.

Have done lunch here twice recently. Both times very good food and great service.
(5)
Lia T.

Not a huge fan of tokio sake. I went here with a friend for sushi and we both ordered a few rolls. My california roll tasted fishy. I also had the scallop roll and that tasted even more fishy.. I'm a frequent sushi eater I would say I go out for sushi 2x/week at least and this sushi just tasted pungent, this place does not use fresh fish. And for the prices they are asking for gourmet rolls, we're talking 18-22 dollar rolls, the fish should be out of the water fresh. Really disappointed -_-
(2)
Carl F.

I found another hidden gem of a sushi place. I say hidden as this is on the back side of a strip mall and unless you're made aware of its existence, you can miss it. Again, thanks to Yelp in helping me find this place. It is actually large, has plenty of table seating, some private areas and of course the sushi bar/counter itself. The ambiance is decorated as one would hope for a sushi place and playing traditional, Japanese music. (it bothers me when I'm listening to some acid rock at a sushi place... it just kills it for me) On the menu you'll find the normal assortment and familiar names, along with several uniquely named / combinations. I always like going with some of my familiar roles as this is how I gauge sushi place to sushi place to which I typically select something along the lines of a Philly, Spicy Tuna, and Spider. Then, if they have something unique I'll try that too! Coming here on at least three occasions, I've NOT had a bad experience yet. I usually make it here in mid afternoon, so I can't comment how good the service is when they are packed, but for me the service has always been great. I've also been lucky and my order comes out rather quickly. The roles are packed nicely and don't fall apart on the way from plate to mouth as some places do. The ingredients are always very fresh and cut just right for the role. I personally favor their salmon & tuna. This is not to say the other fish is bad, as I've yet to have anything tasting "fishy" or off base. The only thing I would comment on is that their "spicy" is not overly spicy. Even when you make this clear to them, they still don't adjust it by that much. I've resorted to asking for more wasabe and even there I have to prod for a larger portion. I don't live near this location, and it has become my lunch spot when I get over in this direction to stop by the Apple store. So, it's almost becoming a tradition, when I go to the Apple store here, the kinds know we're having sushi for lunch!
(4)
Zaya B.

I love this place. The service is really good and the sushi is ok
(2)
Mic D.

Very clean place. Good is well done and tasty. Spicy tuna crunch is our favorite. The wait staff is wonderful and polite. I recommend this place for good food and a pleasant atmosphere.
(4)
Brian B.

Nothing special from the outside, but the food and service were excellent. Ginger Dressing Salad to start that was crisp, calamari appetizer that was lightly fried and some of the best I have ever had, and rolls that my wife and I both thought were great.
(5)
T B.

We haven't been here in a while and decided to go last night. What a mistake, we usually had this spicy calamari app and ordered again and it was about half the size for the same price. Served on a bed of cabbage to hide the fact that it was 1/2 the size. We had 2 more apps and 2 rolls that were so thin. $58.00 later, we were still hungry and will never be back.
(2)
Lilo 8.

The sushi at Tokio Sake is hands down the best in the area. They have the food part down cold, never a complaint there. Well done Tokio Sake. Service on the other hand could be better. The staff is very nice, they're just so....very.......slow....... Usually I wouldn't be terribly bothered, but when you come in to eat with two small children and have to wait ten minutes to order drinks, let alone food, it tends to pose a problem. It's like this every time we've been there, even if there are only two other tables. Also, the tables on the main floor are very close together. I can't take my 5 yr old to the bathroom without bumping a chair or table on the way there and I'm not even a large person. The seating poses a problem if you bring kids with. It just does. It's a very tight situation. I can always hear what the person at the next table is saying and so can my kids, the seating is that intimate. This can lead to very awkward questions from my little ones. I would suggest saving the main floor tables for couples and put people with kids in the alcove seating or by the windows. That will keep kids contained while they anxiously await ordering and help keep parents calm. I know the staff doesn't like to use the alcove seating very often, but when we are a party of four and we are paying $80 + for a meal, I think an alcove is warranted. I'm sure the other patrons would appreciate it too.
(4)
Susan S.

My first time going to a Sushi place and not ordering sushi. I actually made up my own dish with sweet and spicy scallops rather than shrimp as it states on the menu. It was exactly what I was looking for taste wise. The salad before the meal was great and I enjoyed the dressing. I had to take away a star because they didn't have everything in stock that was on their menu and the waitress was slow to refill our water glasses on a very warm and humid day. I would return to try the sushi.
(4)
Sarah M.

Great food great service! Sushi was top quality and we love our sushi! Proportions were big as well
(5)
Chris S.

The sushi is wonderful but the service is what makes Tokio Sake truely outstanding. The waitress I usually have for lunch and the manager/owner woman are both wonderful.
(5)
Masha Y.

really great sushi.. a little overpriced and not nice staff. But great decor, nice place for dinner.
(4)
Stephanie B.

This was my third time there. The first time I was unimpressed with the flavor or quality of the sushi. When I gave them a second chance, I was more pleasantly surprised. After my visit last night I am no longer torn between whether I like it or not, I will not return again. Upon entering we were not greeted for at least 5 minutes, even though the hostess was right there packing a to go order. Then she told us she would be right with us, another 5 minutes passed. A woman entered after us to purchase a gift certificate, and we were told to wait again. Had there been a wait for tables, I would have been more understanding, however several tables were open. Also several other servers who were not busy with tables and were chatting with each other made eye contact with us but did not bother to seat us. Finally, we were seated and waited approximately 10 more minutes until we were greeted by a server. We had planned for an hour for dinner, as we were catching a movie next door. We were now down to 35 minutes to order and eat. The server finally arrived then told us that the sushi bar was backed up and there was no way our food would be prepared in time. Ended up going to another place for a quick bite, and will end up satisfying any future sushi cravings elsewhere.
(1)
Andrew F.

My wife and I tried this for a late lunch and we were impressed. Our waiter, Tony, was attentive, friendly and professional. We had the Deep Fried Tofu as an appetizer, she had the Beef Bulgogi while I had the Chicken Teriyaki for entrees. The taste, quality and presentation of all three dishes was excellent. I will highly recommend it to friends and family.
(5)
Liz S.

My mouth is watering just writing this review. This has to be the best suburb sushi I've ever had if not the best sushi of all time. It's incredible. If you're going to get anything, get the Deer Park Crazy. I swear you'll be in heaven after one bite. This is without a doubt my favorite roll of all time. Go for the Spicy Tuna Crunch, too. I get these two every time I come with no fail. They're a great balance. The restaurant is hip but still relatively casual. I never feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed. The waitresses are all so cute and helpful. This is some of the highest quality sashimi you can find in the area as well. When you're looking for moderately priced sushi that packs freshness, flavor, and variety, you don't have to look any further. Tokio Sake is the best.
(5)
Brooke A.

I really wanted to like Tokio Sake. The quality is good, but its crowded and the atmosphere at dinner on the weekends is way too hectic. The place is jam packed full of hipsters and loud music. The prices are also a little steep. There are so many good sushi places within 15 minutes of Tokio Sake, its tough to recommend it. It is a little trendier, so if you and your hipster lady are looking for a place to sit down, admire each other's black rimmed glasses, s/m tee shirts, and have J-Pop blasted in your ear while the couple next to you is screaming about how great the new Coheed and Cambria album is, Tokio Sake is your place. If you are just looking to relax and eat great sushi, read some of my other reviews.
(3)
Eric F.

Don't get me wrong! If I were rating the sushi, 5 stars all the way! But the service.... Usually there aren't too many customers in the restaurant, and the service is quite fast. Though occasionally there will be around 7 customers in the store, and then it slows. It drops the speed from about 15 minutes to 45 minutes.
(3)
Jeff S.

We were planning on seeing a movie Friday night and decided to eat at Tokio Sake next door. What a mistake. The waiter seemed like he had somewhere to go the entire time and tried to take our food before we were even halfway done with the dish. After the second time, I just said take it. The sushi chefs never acknowledged us once. We sat in front of their miserable looking faces for a little more than an hour. When I ordered a roll from one of the chefs, he glared at me with the "How dare you order directly from the king" look and told me to order it from the waiter. Who, simply repeated the order to the chef. Should have taken a hint when we walked in on a Friday night and the place was empty. Good luck surviving in deer park with that kind of service.
(1)
Madison Z.

My personal favorite sushi place in the deer park/palatine/Arlington heights area. The patio is nice, while it doesn't have a view. The sushi is GREAT! The women at the hostess stand are super sweet. The inside is nice and when it's busy it has a great ambience. I love the shrimp shumai. They have a pretty good wine selection. My favorite rolls are the coconut shrimp and tempura crunch rolls! Definitely can't go wrong here !
(5)
Fabio H.

Amazing place. We go to try many sushi places, and this place by far is one of the best. From their rolls, you can taste every single ingredient in them, and the rice is in perfect shape. We tried a few rolls, the Philly, and the spicy tuna rolls are simply excellent. I got the sushi and rolls combo, and the nigiri rolls were so fresh. Simply amazing. One of the best places for sure.
(5)
Amanda D.

Bummed!! Tried the sushi for the first time tonight. Had a dragon roll or something like that with tempura, scallop, crab meat etc. The sushi tasted awful!! Spicy mayo was not good as well. Only giving two stars for customer service, they are fast and very nice. BUT I'll stick to Fuji Thai for my sushi!
(2)
Megan T.

I sat at the bar tonight and the service was good. I ordered the Amazon roll and it was great! Service was pretty bad. Waited 10 min for my server to bring the check. When I still had no check I finally asked the manager/hostess for it. I really enjoyed my sushi (5star), but service was (3star). Wish they would staff the restaurant properly.
(4)
Ronald H.

My wife and I really enjoyed the sushi here. There were several things that we had not seen at the "typical" sushi restaurant, and we always like trying something different. If we still lived in the area, it would probably be our "regular" sushi restaurant. We'll certainly be back next time we're in the area. Original review done February 2010. Now at end of August, just found my notes (sigh) showing what we had: Maguro Salad, Tempura shrimp and veg banana asperagus, Spicy grilled calamari, Tokio King roll. Yummy stuff!
(4)
G T.

My girlfriend and I came here on a Thursday evening for some sushi and drinks. The staff was good, and the place looks great inside. Unfortunately I can't say the same for their sushi. We both ordered drinks and our Martinis which our server made were SOO strong and so improperly made that we only drank half. We ordered a couple appetizers and they were pretty good but then when we got our sushi we were definitely disappointed. The California roll was mediocre at best and the philly roll was HORRIBLE, the salmon was so rubbery that we couldn't even eat it. Our other rolls which included the shrimp tempura and the ebi tempura were okay but not good. We are both in out late 20's and were looking for a good sushi place where we can go to on a weekly basis but this place is definitely not it.
(2)
Ashley A.

Cute little Japanese restaurant, somewhat hidden in the Deer Park mall over near the theater. We were a little rushed considering we a bit under an hour to get in & out. Waitress was very nice & friendly. Props to her after we ordering a combo & didn't realize until it came to our table that it included nigiri, which my boyfriend didn't want, so we asked if we could substitute it for maki rolls. She spoke with the chef & did the exchange. We felt really bad, but I guess everyone makes mistakes. Sushi was pretty good, but I think costs a little more than your average sushi dish. Nice decor; a pretty cozy place.
(3)
Sandra S.

Visiting Tokio Sake is a matter of convenience because it's located right next to Century Theatres. However, it is a pretty decent sushi restaurant. I'm a little addicted to their veggie dumplings, which are a bit unique. Although the menu says "pan fried" they look more deep fried and have a wonderful golden crunch. The filling is delicious, and they are also a bit larger than most other dumplings I have tried. Many times I have wanted to make a meal of these all on their own. I usually order the same maki rolls at every sushi restaurant: negi hamachi, Alaska, Boston and Philly (not all at once, obviously). I'm not one for specialty rolls. Tokio Sake does all of these well and the portions are quite large, 2 rolls are enough for me. I also enjoy the super white tuna appetizer, which is just super white tuna nigiri with a slice of jalapeno and ponzu sauce drizzle. Simple, but delicious. The prices are very typical of suburban sushi places, around $5-8 for simple rolls. Overall quite good.
(4)
DB A.

My 2010 nominee for fallen so far, so fast. Any restaurant can overcook a meal, but a good one will fix things and make them right. These people compounded a small preparation problem with excuses, arguments, and hostility. They used to be OK. Now I'd rather go anywhere else. Or skip a meal. Possibly the worst restaurant experience I've had in years.
(1)
Rick V.

This is now our favorite sushi spot. Great selection, attentive service, thoughtful presentation and reasonably priced. Only thing I would change is the music.
(5)
rin b.

I'm an admitted sushi hater, lol. So it's saying something that I enjoyed myself at Tokio Sake. I had the Deer Park Crazy sushi and the salmon teriyaki. Some say the dishes are overpriced, but I think everyone will agree the sushi rolls at Tokio Sake are huge. One sushi roll's about the size of a buffalo wing, to give you a frame of reference. The $14-16 are rolls that include tuna, etc. If you intend to eat mainly fish, prepare to spend more. Their specialty rolls are also quite creative, if that's what you're looking for. I loved the Deer Park Crazy. The avocado was beautiful, and I recommend anyone unfamiliar with sushi try one of the avocado items. It's gentler and less raw to the Western palate, lol. I also enjoyed my salmon teriyaki. My salmon was pink, moist, tender and sparingly, freshly seasoned (and I'm nowhere near a newb when it comes to salmon). Wonderful. I wouldn't mind coming back at all. Service was good. The waitress wasn't too talkative, knowledgeable or helpful, but she was polite, and all the staff welcomed us. It's nice to be greeted by the entire staff upon entering a restaurant, even though I'm sure it must get tedious for them to repeat for each customer, lol. The atmosphere actually impressed me, not because of the passable decor, but because of the intimacy of the place, helped by dim lighting and covered windows. These days, it's rare that a restaurant doesn't try to fit as many tables -and customers- into their real estate as possible. We didn't have to shout to be heard, but it wasn't because the restaurant was empty. In fact, everyone around us enjoyed private conversations, no booths or bars necessary. That's sort of rare in the US. There's a wood theme to the decor, so it's not hideous, but it wouldn't stand up to the modern restaurants downtown, and it's not meant to. For the suburbs, casual and intimate little Tokio Sake is impressive and well worth a visit if you're in the area. This sushi convert would. ;) ETA: Okay, it was not the Deer Park Crazy, lol. Spicy. Curses! Now I have to find that dish again!
(4)
bob t.

We go at least 2-3 times a month. Service has improved since opening and the sushi is MUCH better IMO compared to another place in Barrington. The wine list sure needs improvement but the few they offer are ok.
(4)
Jackie P.

I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in. The decor was clean yet plain and had a great sushi bar. For being in the mall, the food was pretty good. Our server even gave us 2 specialty rolls on the house. We were definitely over dressed; most people in the restaurant were under 20 and in shorts and tee shirts. Good place for lunch or a quick dinner but not a date spot.
(4)
Deborah P.

Wasn't bad by any means, but nothing just out of this world. We had a spicy california, spicy tuna and the orange dragon rolls. The orange dragon roll was really good- fresh salmon on top of a shrimp tempura style roll. The girls had a kids orange chicken bento box, and for the price ($7.95) it was a LOT of food for one kid, and our two 6-yr olds shared and still had food left. They were completely empty when we arrived (Sunday around 1pm), and were really busy by the time we left (2-ish). The service was good compared to other sushi spots, and we would definitely return. Average roll is $12-15, but they do have the basic california rolls for $6.
(4)
Liz B.

Took my friend out to Tokio for a last lunch before a big surgical procedure today. The place was not jumping for lunch, that's for sure; maybe had 15 people in there, including us. There was only one server so the hostess/owner was helping her out. We were starving so I went balls out and got the Take lunch special while my friend opted for the Momotaro special and a Ebi roll. I would like to point out that they use plastic reusable chopsticks-I learned today that I am not a fan of plastic chopsticks. I was having a horrible time trying to get a grasp on stuff with them. While the food was really good, it took forever to come out. The fish was fresh and delicious, but we were there longer than anticipated for our lunch hour. This is more of a place to take your time to enjoy so be forwarned. Also, they forgot to get my friend her Ebi roll, so she took it to go and they didn't charge us for it. Tokio took their time, but I totally dig them.
(4)
D H.

It is an OK Sushi restaurant. The fish was very fresh, always a good start :) I prefer a good amount of rice with my Nigiri (the fish should rest on the rice) and each piece I had here was a small ball of rice that was dwarfed by the fish. Each to their own, this was just not my style. Enjoy
(3)
Kat A.

Cozy, comfortable, and deliciously fresh sushi. Everytime we go in here we have impeccable service, whether it's just us or a restaurant full of people. Come try it out!!
(4)
Erin P.

My boyfriend and I are avid sushi fans but have not found any sushi places in the greater Barrington area that we have particularly loved. After a movie at the Deer Park Town Center we noticed a new sushi place next and walked in to give it a try. It had just opened one week before and it was apparent they were still working out some kinks: The place is on the smaller side but not cramped and it is decorated with a Japanese themes that looks nice not tacky. We sat at the sushi bar. The manager ended up waiting on us and while he was nice and friendly he was a little over anxious and asked us how we were doing almost annoyingly- but I have to attribute that to them trying to make a good impression for being a new restaurant. When my boyfriend tried to order hot sake we were informed that they did not have any yet but they had cold sake, and that hot sake is not good anyway. (This I actually knew- originally sake was served hot since to over the bad taste but now that they are developing cold sake flavor is becoming a bigger factor, but I was a little put off that they told my boyfriend that what he tried to order was not good.) The manager came over and did a brief presentation about their cold sakes; they had three and the cheapest was $18 he said he had selected only the best cold sakes for the restaurant. I was a little shocked at the prices since it's a sushi place in a strip mall but we did end up ordering the $18 unfiltered cold sake and it was very good. I think they will have to offer cheaper selections in the future to make a good business on their alcohol. They gave us normal shot glasses to drink it out of, and although it came cold, we here not given and ice bucket to keep it cold as we ate- I do not know if that is procedure for cold sake since I am accustomed to hot, but it would make since because by the time we finished the bottle at the end of the meal it was warm. I had green tea, which came with a tea cup and a tea bag which was a surprise at sushi restaurant rather than a pot of tea or a mug with pre-steeped tea- but they were very good about getting me hot water when I needed it which was nice since I tend to swill down hot green tea at Japanese restaurants. To start we ordered house salads with sesame ginger dressing and miso soup that came out right away and both flavorful and good. During our salad and soup course we were give an amazing appetizer from the sushi bar which was another small green salad with spicy dressing and fresh chopped up sashimi on top- the treat from the sushi bar was amazing but I would not have ordered a house salad if I knew I was getting that. They also brought us the beef and asparagus roll on the house, which was a nice treat. We had the spicy salmon roll, the SS501 roll and the Boston roll. They were all really good and fresh. The sushi chefs were really nice and friendly and it was fun to watch them making the sushi and artistically plating it. We asked that they sushi chefs be creative and make us a surprise roll, which turned into a bigger deal that I expected when the manager tried to convey this to the chefs, but what we got was tuna over asparagus, crab and avocado and tempura crumbs for $10 and it was great! (I appreciate that they did not throw together a $20 roll for us when we gave them that leeway.) Currently the sushi chefs are making the sushi and passing the plates over the sushi bar to the waiters to take to the tables . Which meant that we were very close to having sushi passed over our heads. I think that if they get busier they are going to need to figure out a more efficient system that does not happen near customer's seat (like at one end of the bar or on the side of the bar). We also got the toweletts (that usually come hot before the meal) cold and halfway through the meal. The rest of the wait staff was friendly also. The food was fresh and good and not too expensive as far as sushi goes. There were also some interesting entrÃ©e sized salads with sashimi and some creative appetizers and entrees on the menu, which was nice to see. If I could ever get over my sushi addiction maybe I will try something new won the menu. Other than the "new business" kinks this place was pretty good. We will be back and hopefully they will have over come their initial problems and this will be my new suburb sushi place.
(3)
Liberty F.

Great food and ambiance, had the Tokio Volcano which was tasty. A little pricey, but good quality. Green Tea ice cream is awesome with great Green Tea flavor and a buttery undertone, only complaint is that they would not sell a big take-home container of the ice cream, and were coy in revealing what distributor sells/makes it. It's hard to find good green tea ice cream, Trader Joes used to carry Gelatto Classico Green Tea ice cream, but no longer, and that was awesome.
(4)
Brandon B.

Treid a little bit of everything here. Everything I ordered was good. Service seemed a little slow, but its a new place. I did noticed that the food was being passed over those at the sushi bar. The Tempora shrimp was great, and the tuna fresh. Service was the only thing I noticed off.
(3)
Sarah N.

I think this place is probably the best sushi in the Northwest burbs, and everyone I've taken here agrees. The service is excellent, nice ambiance, and very cool presentation. I've been here several times between lunch and dinner, and gotten take out once and I've never been disappointed!
(5)
Megan B.

We had two of the specialty rolls (Santa fe, samba fire) and two "normal" rolls (spicy tuna and California). All were delicious. Wait staff was helpful and attentive and there was a good selection of veggie rolls for the non-meat eater as well. We will definitely be back. Only giving it four stars because specialty rolls were a bit on the expensive side for the number of pieces you actually received.
(4)
Yane Y.

FYI: This review is for their weekday lunch. Their rolls looked awesome. Spicy Tuna was fine (some individual pieces fell apart) but the crunchy items they had on it was tasty! Their Spicy Beef Lunch Box! was my dish. Whoa! Talk about a lot of food. Their spicy beef was plentiful! I couldn't believe how much beef they gave. It was an awesome, tender steak that they had spiced up with some chili sauce and whatever else they used. I didn't mind paying the $12 bucks because it was more than beef, it was STEAK. For this, I am a fan! The sauce was fine, too. (Honestly, I can't tell...my mouth was burning, but ... the little that I could actually taste? Was great!) The box also came with tempura (green bean, shrimp, potato); salad; miso soup; a handful of california rolls, a small cucumber salad (i mean, one or two forkfuls small!), ...and! that's all I can remember. It was quite a lot of food. I shouldn't have eaten the whole box, but...it was so good. I will go back again. I am looking forward to trying their chicken teriyaki and all of their rolls! Their rolls looked very tasty. I was feeling ... too cheap that day to order some rolls. Soooo, maybe next time. =)
(3)
Howard C.

My wife just had a baby and hasn't had sushi is quite a while so I offered up the idea and she was all over it. I had to run around Deer Park so decided to go with Tokio Sake. I did pickup for whatever it's worth, but my experience was solid. The staff was one of the most friendly groups of people I'd dealt with in a restaurant in a while, well minus those places where I'm a known regular (not tooting a horn here). I got a bunch of happy smiles and at least 4 hello's and goodbyes, even from employees not personally assisting me. The sushi was solid. By no means am I a sushi connoisseur, but it was tasty and satisfied the sushi craving. I laugh at those who complain about price at a sushi restaurant because sushi isn't the cheapest thing to eat and I don't know about you, but I expect to pay approx $6 for my spicy tuna rolls which is exactly what it was. Does it drive me nuts that I have to spend $20 to fill up on sushi? Sure it does, but I also accept that if I want sushi then that's normally what I'm going to pay. Either way, I can say that I recommend this place, plus the guy I work with really likes it but isn't a big reviewer. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
(4)
Day C.

Always a reliable go-to. This place is close to my house and I rely on it for all of my quick sushi cravings. That said I've sat inside quite a bit, and in my last visit, I really enjoyed the change in the menu. It's very simple to look and understand (not like many other sushi restaurants). Also, the service was very caring. My smallest sister began to feel sick during the meal (it was not attributed to the meal at all), but the service was quick to offer assistance and voiced their concern and wanted to make sure the meal was not the reason behind the sickness (and it wasnt). We had the amazon, ocean drive, and melt crunch (or crunch melt idk im not sure), but it was all delicious and just what I and many Americans look for in sushi.
(4)
Franklin D.

Went for lunch the other day. They have a house special "dragon roll" for $15 that was a meal in itself. The service was fast & friendly, although the place was failry empty since we were having an early lunch. The dining room here looks great!
(4)
G T.

My girlfriend and I came here on a Thursday evening for some sushi and drinks. The staff was good, and the place looks great inside. Unfortunately I can't say the same for their sushi. We both ordered drinks and our Martinis which our server made were SOO strong and so improperly made that we only drank half. We ordered a couple appetizers and they were pretty good but then when we got our sushi we were definitely disappointed. The California roll was mediocre at best and the philly roll was HORRIBLE, the salmon was so rubbery that we couldn't even eat it. Our other rolls which included the shrimp tempura and the ebi tempura were okay but not good. We are both in out late 20's and were looking for a good sushi place where we can go to on a weekly basis but this place is definitely not it.
(2)
Ashley A.

Cute little Japanese restaurant, somewhat hidden in the Deer Park mall over near the theater. We were a little rushed considering we a bit under an hour to get in & out. Waitress was very nice & friendly. Props to her after we ordering a combo & didn't realize until it came to our table that it included nigiri, which my boyfriend didn't want, so we asked if we could substitute it for maki rolls. She spoke with the chef & did the exchange. We felt really bad, but I guess everyone makes mistakes. Sushi was pretty good, but I think costs a little more than your average sushi dish. Nice decor; a pretty cozy place.
(3)
Sandra S.

Visiting Tokio Sake is a matter of convenience because it's located right next to Century Theatres. However, it is a pretty decent sushi restaurant. I'm a little addicted to their veggie dumplings, which are a bit unique. Although the menu says "pan fried" they look more deep fried and have a wonderful golden crunch. The filling is delicious, and they are also a bit larger than most other dumplings I have tried. Many times I have wanted to make a meal of these all on their own. I usually order the same maki rolls at every sushi restaurant: negi hamachi, Alaska, Boston and Philly (not all at once, obviously). I'm not one for specialty rolls. Tokio Sake does all of these well and the portions are quite large, 2 rolls are enough for me. I also enjoy the super white tuna appetizer, which is just super white tuna nigiri with a slice of jalapeno and ponzu sauce drizzle. Simple, but delicious. The prices are very typical of suburban sushi places, around $5-8 for simple rolls. Overall quite good.
(4)
Katy S.

My husband and I ate here recently, and it was a nice experience. We are not big sushi eaters, occasionally we'll go out for sushi, but it's not our go-to cuisine. We got to Tokio Sake at about 6:30 on a Saturday, there was no wait for a table. We were sat next to the bar, which was fine by us because it was quiet. The waitress was friendly, though not annoyingly so. It was very business like and quick. We both ordered iced tea and found it tasted a bit sour. We got the shrimp dumplings for an appetizer, which were perfectly fried and delicious with a yummy sauce. My husband got two rolls, a spicy salmon and a special roll- the spicy tuna crunch, and he was happy with both. I got a spider roll and a tempura crunch roll. Both were delicious. Next time we're in the mood for sushi I would have no qualms about going back.
(4)
DB A.

My 2010 nominee for fallen so far, so fast. Any restaurant can overcook a meal, but a good one will fix things and make them right. These people compounded a small preparation problem with excuses, arguments, and hostility. They used to be OK. Now I'd rather go anywhere else. Or skip a meal. Possibly the worst restaurant experience I've had in years.
(1)
Rick V.

This is now our favorite sushi spot. Great selection, attentive service, thoughtful presentation and reasonably priced. Only thing I would change is the music.
(5)
Suzanne T.

Perfect service--attentive, listened and made recommendations based upon our personal preferences and what they had fresh or unique. Refreshing sake-tini-mixed and garnished with cucumbers; we had edamame, tempura shrimp, unagi, himache, sashimi, ame ebe, sweet egg and miso soup all fresh and delicious. Adequate portions, sushi chef served us treats-quail eggs and uni. Will go back again and again.
(4)
Steven M.

After reading several reviews of this restaurant on here, I'm honestly quite confused. Although I understand that the same restaurant can offer different experiences at times, I did not find this to be the case here. The atmosphere inside is very nice and even has a darker, romantic feel to it. Not a single employee was rude or even seemed to be in a bad mood - everyone was so cheery and helpful. Their menu is very smartly designed because for all of their specialty rolls, they have a photo. This is great when you want to see what you are going to order, instead of being surprised with something different. We usually get the ginger house salads wherever we go, and I can honestly say that this biggest one we've ever been served is here. The ingredients were extremely fresh, and the dressing was served on the side which was a nice touch. As for the rolls, we decided to go with the Spicy Tuna Tataki and Salmon Crunch, after getting recommendations from out waitress. They were absolutely amazing and everything was perfect. There are not many places around here with such fresh fish, but this hidden gem is not one of them. Overall, we really enjoyed this restaurant and are definitely looking forward to coming back. Everything was great which just goes to show that not all reviews on here should be paid any attention - some just aren't true and unfortunately affect nice establishments such as this one.
(5)
Lauren F.

One reviewer mentioned hipsters - and may I just say I have never seen one "hipster" (aside from the bartender) at this restaurant - ever. Not saying that hipsters are a bad thing, but that is just not the atmosphere of this place at all. It's low key, dim lights which offer a nice vibe, and the staff is soft spoken and friendly. Go on a Friday or Saturday night, and this place will be full. But in my mind that just speaks volumes about the staff, atmosphere and their great food. Spicy Tuna Crunch is my favorite roll ever, and Tokio Dragon comes in at a close second. I live a good 30 minutes from Tokio Sake, but it's my main pick whenever I am craving sushi. If you like sake, try the Saketini. Very smooth and refreshing. :)
(5)
Sean M.

My boss introduced me to this place. I really love it. The food is great and the two guys that prepare the meals are funny and easy to talk to. I really like this place.
(4)
Dana H.

We had the massive boat and loved it. The fish was fresh, the portions large. The staff was flexible with ordering. Yep, we'll go back!
(4)
Karen T.

Our favorite place for Sushi. The atmosphere is beautiful and relaxing and so conveniently located in Deer park. Great for before a movie, after shopping or as it's own destination. The owner, Julia is gracious, kind and always smiling. Her staff is incredibly polite and eager to make the experience enjoyable. I love sitting at the sushi bar but I also love the table set-ups. The food is outstanding. So many diverse choices, everyone is happy. My sons don't care for sushi, my daughter and I love it, but they love the meat entrees and the plethora of appetizers and the Japanese fizzy soda is a treat. The shumai, golden shrimp, asparagus beef rolls, all the cucumber salads, the tuna nachos...all my favorites. The rolls are delicious - the cherry blossom is my all time favorite - and I love how they separate them in the menu by spice (heat) level. All the entrees we've had when we can tear ourselves away from the rolls have been outstanding. There is a Korean meat and rice bowl dish that I cant remember the name but wow was it amazingly good. Desserts - if you have even a corner of space in your belly go for it. The chocolate desserts and the mocha balls make you close your eyes and smile.... The quality of the seafood, the meat, all of it is top notch. In fact - jumped online to get the phone number to call for a reservation and thought - I need to let everyone know how great this place is. Enjoy!
(5)
Caroline B.

I almost always call ahead of time and get my sushi to go, so I can't comment on the staff or the restaurant itself, but the sushi is phenomenal every time. I constantly make up excuses to eat here, and it's my favorite sushi place in the area by far!
(5)
Jill L.

We just ate there for the first time. I think it's our favorite place for Japanese! My husband had one of their combo sushi platters and said it was his best ever. (his fav meal is sushi). I ate the orange chicken (currently can't eat sushi) and it was amazing! There are a ton of sushi choices and a lot of dinner choices. Our 3 year old enjoyed her children's menu, chicken teriyaki, shrimp tempura, rice, she tried a California roll, but loved the Swedish fish they put with it. We will definitely go back!
(5)
Madison Z.

My personal favorite sushi place in the deer park/palatine/Arlington heights area. The patio is nice, while it doesn't have a view. The sushi is GREAT! The women at the hostess stand are super sweet. The inside is nice and when it's busy it has a great ambience. I love the shrimp shumai. They have a pretty good wine selection. My favorite rolls are the coconut shrimp and tempura crunch rolls! Definitely can't go wrong here !
(5)
Fabio H.

Amazing place. We go to try many sushi places, and this place by far is one of the best. From their rolls, you can taste every single ingredient in them, and the rice is in perfect shape. We tried a few rolls, the Philly, and the spicy tuna rolls are simply excellent. I got the sushi and rolls combo, and the nigiri rolls were so fresh. Simply amazing. One of the best places for sure.
(5)
Amanda D.

Bummed!! Tried the sushi for the first time tonight. Had a dragon roll or something like that with tempura, scallop, crab meat etc. The sushi tasted awful!! Spicy mayo was not good as well. Only giving two stars for customer service, they are fast and very nice. BUT I'll stick to Fuji Thai for my sushi!
(2)
Carl F.

I found another hidden gem of a sushi place. I say hidden as this is on the back side of a strip mall and unless you're made aware of its existence, you can miss it. Again, thanks to Yelp in helping me find this place. It is actually large, has plenty of table seating, some private areas and of course the sushi bar/counter itself. The ambiance is decorated as one would hope for a sushi place and playing traditional, Japanese music. (it bothers me when I'm listening to some acid rock at a sushi place... it just kills it for me) On the menu you'll find the normal assortment and familiar names, along with several uniquely named / combinations. I always like going with some of my familiar roles as this is how I gauge sushi place to sushi place to which I typically select something along the lines of a Philly, Spicy Tuna, and Spider. Then, if they have something unique I'll try that too! Coming here on at least three occasions, I've NOT had a bad experience yet. I usually make it here in mid afternoon, so I can't comment how good the service is when they are packed, but for me the service has always been great. I've also been lucky and my order comes out rather quickly. The roles are packed nicely and don't fall apart on the way from plate to mouth as some places do. The ingredients are always very fresh and cut just right for the role. I personally favor their salmon & tuna. This is not to say the other fish is bad, as I've yet to have anything tasting "fishy" or off base. The only thing I would comment on is that their "spicy" is not overly spicy. Even when you make this clear to them, they still don't adjust it by that much. I've resorted to asking for more wasabe and even there I have to prod for a larger portion. I don't live near this location, and it has become my lunch spot when I get over in this direction to stop by the Apple store. So, it's almost becoming a tradition, when I go to the Apple store here, the kinds know we're having sushi for lunch!
(4)
Zaya B.

I love this place. The service is really good and the sushi is ok
(2)
Mic D.

Very clean place. Good is well done and tasty. Spicy tuna crunch is our favorite. The wait staff is wonderful and polite. I recommend this place for good food and a pleasant atmosphere.
(4)
Jaclyn L.

Fresh fish and nice atmosphere
(5)
Megan T.

I sat at the bar tonight and the service was good. I ordered the Amazon roll and it was great! Service was pretty bad. Waited 10 min for my server to bring the check. When I still had no check I finally asked the manager/hostess for it. I really enjoyed my sushi (5star), but service was (3star). Wish they would staff the restaurant properly.
(4)
Sarah N.

I think this place is probably the best sushi in the Northwest burbs, and everyone I've taken here agrees. The service is excellent, nice ambiance, and very cool presentation. I've been here several times between lunch and dinner, and gotten take out once and I've never been disappointed!
(5)
Lilo 8.

The sushi at Tokio Sake is hands down the best in the area. They have the food part down cold, never a complaint there. Well done Tokio Sake. Service on the other hand could be better. The staff is very nice, they're just so....very.......slow....... Usually I wouldn't be terribly bothered, but when you come in to eat with two small children and have to wait ten minutes to order drinks, let alone food, it tends to pose a problem. It's like this every time we've been there, even if there are only two other tables. Also, the tables on the main floor are very close together. I can't take my 5 yr old to the bathroom without bumping a chair or table on the way there and I'm not even a large person. The seating poses a problem if you bring kids with. It just does. It's a very tight situation. I can always hear what the person at the next table is saying and so can my kids, the seating is that intimate. This can lead to very awkward questions from my little ones. I would suggest saving the main floor tables for couples and put people with kids in the alcove seating or by the windows. That will keep kids contained while they anxiously await ordering and help keep parents calm. I know the staff doesn't like to use the alcove seating very often, but when we are a party of four and we are paying $80 + for a meal, I think an alcove is warranted. I'm sure the other patrons would appreciate it too.
(4)
Susan S.

My first time going to a Sushi place and not ordering sushi. I actually made up my own dish with sweet and spicy scallops rather than shrimp as it states on the menu. It was exactly what I was looking for taste wise. The salad before the meal was great and I enjoyed the dressing. I had to take away a star because they didn't have everything in stock that was on their menu and the waitress was slow to refill our water glasses on a very warm and humid day. I would return to try the sushi.
(4)
Sarah M.

Great food great service! Sushi was top quality and we love our sushi! Proportions were big as well
(5)
Chris S.

The sushi is wonderful but the service is what makes Tokio Sake truely outstanding. The waitress I usually have for lunch and the manager/owner woman are both wonderful.
(5)
Masha Y.

really great sushi.. a little overpriced and not nice staff. But great decor, nice place for dinner.
(4)
Tim L.

The sushi is here is great. The rolls are awesome and have been expanded to include some pretty unique roll ingredients. My wife and I were pretty spoiled with incredible sushi in downtown Chicago for a few years, so we needed to find a place that could take the Pepsi challenge of sushi. Tokio Sake fits right in near the top. We have been eating here since they opened in 2008. The wait staff is sometimes not the quality you see in a white linen table cloth establishment. I come here for the sushi, not to make friends with the staff as other reviewers seem to be looking for.
(5)
Nina B.

Decided to check this place out on a Thursday after an afternoon movie with a friend. Loved all the beauyiful dark wood decor. I had a wonderful glass of the 2012 Mason Sauvignon Blanc which went perfectly with the sashimi combo. The combo had 3 LARGE pieces each of several different fish plus a couple of surf clams which I had never tried before. I am now a surf clam devotee! My friend enjoyed the miso soup that came with my combo and she shared her cucumber salad, which was nicely crispy and tart. My meal came to $50 with tax and generous tip for our excellent server. I wish my husband liked sushi so I could visit Tokio more often but I will definitely be back with the girls!
(5)
Brian F.

Classy place with delicious food and great service. I had a special menu item, the Korean Bulgogi. It was served over rice and had shredded carrots mixed in... at first I was unsure of this combo, having never seen it prepared this way, but after tasting it I was pleasantly surprised at the mixture of textures and flavors. My co-worker had the dragon roll, which was visually stunning and full of flavor. The prices are on the high side, but not unreasonable. I will come back again to try more sushi and hope that I can update my review to 5 stars!
(4)
Martin R.

Have done lunch here twice recently. Both times very good food and great service.
(5)
Lia T.

Not a huge fan of tokio sake. I went here with a friend for sushi and we both ordered a few rolls. My california roll tasted fishy. I also had the scallop roll and that tasted even more fishy.. I'm a frequent sushi eater I would say I go out for sushi 2x/week at least and this sushi just tasted pungent, this place does not use fresh fish. And for the prices they are asking for gourmet rolls, we're talking 18-22 dollar rolls, the fish should be out of the water fresh. Really disappointed -_-
(2)
Eric F.

Don't get me wrong! If I were rating the sushi, 5 stars all the way! But the service.... Usually there aren't too many customers in the restaurant, and the service is quite fast. Though occasionally there will be around 7 customers in the store, and then it slows. It drops the speed from about 15 minutes to 45 minutes.
(3)
Stephanie B.

This was my third time there. The first time I was unimpressed with the flavor or quality of the sushi. When I gave them a second chance, I was more pleasantly surprised. After my visit last night I am no longer torn between whether I like it or not, I will not return again. Upon entering we were not greeted for at least 5 minutes, even though the hostess was right there packing a to go order. Then she told us she would be right with us, another 5 minutes passed. A woman entered after us to purchase a gift certificate, and we were told to wait again. Had there been a wait for tables, I would have been more understanding, however several tables were open. Also several other servers who were not busy with tables and were chatting with each other made eye contact with us but did not bother to seat us. Finally, we were seated and waited approximately 10 more minutes until we were greeted by a server. We had planned for an hour for dinner, as we were catching a movie next door. We were now down to 35 minutes to order and eat. The server finally arrived then told us that the sushi bar was backed up and there was no way our food would be prepared in time. Ended up going to another place for a quick bite, and will end up satisfying any future sushi cravings elsewhere.
(1)
Brian B.

Nothing special from the outside, but the food and service were excellent. Ginger Dressing Salad to start that was crisp, calamari appetizer that was lightly fried and some of the best I have ever had, and rolls that my wife and I both thought were great.
(5)
T B.

We haven't been here in a while and decided to go last night. What a mistake, we usually had this spicy calamari app and ordered again and it was about half the size for the same price. Served on a bed of cabbage to hide the fact that it was 1/2 the size. We had 2 more apps and 2 rolls that were so thin. $58.00 later, we were still hungry and will never be back.
(2)
Andrew F.

My wife and I tried this for a late lunch and we were impressed. Our waiter, Tony, was attentive, friendly and professional. We had the Deep Fried Tofu as an appetizer, she had the Beef Bulgogi while I had the Chicken Teriyaki for entrees. The taste, quality and presentation of all three dishes was excellent. I will highly recommend it to friends and family.
(5)
Brooke A.

I really wanted to like Tokio Sake. The quality is good, but its crowded and the atmosphere at dinner on the weekends is way too hectic. The place is jam packed full of hipsters and loud music. The prices are also a little steep. There are so many good sushi places within 15 minutes of Tokio Sake, its tough to recommend it. It is a little trendier, so if you and your hipster lady are looking for a place to sit down, admire each other's black rimmed glasses, s/m tee shirts, and have J-Pop blasted in your ear while the couple next to you is screaming about how great the new Coheed and Cambria album is, Tokio Sake is your place. If you are just looking to relax and eat great sushi, read some of my other reviews.
(3)
Jeff S.

We were planning on seeing a movie Friday night and decided to eat at Tokio Sake next door. What a mistake. The waiter seemed like he had somewhere to go the entire time and tried to take our food before we were even halfway done with the dish. After the second time, I just said take it. The sushi chefs never acknowledged us once. We sat in front of their miserable looking faces for a little more than an hour. When I ordered a roll from one of the chefs, he glared at me with the "How dare you order directly from the king" look and told me to order it from the waiter. Who, simply repeated the order to the chef. Should have taken a hint when we walked in on a Friday night and the place was empty. Good luck surviving in deer park with that kind of service.
(1)
Liz S.

My mouth is watering just writing this review. This has to be the best suburb sushi I've ever had if not the best sushi of all time. It's incredible. If you're going to get anything, get the Deer Park Crazy. I swear you'll be in heaven after one bite. This is without a doubt my favorite roll of all time. Go for the Spicy Tuna Crunch, too. I get these two every time I come with no fail. They're a great balance. The restaurant is hip but still relatively casual. I never feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed. The waitresses are all so cute and helpful. This is some of the highest quality sashimi you can find in the area as well. When you're looking for moderately priced sushi that packs freshness, flavor, and variety, you don't have to look any further. Tokio Sake is the best.
(5)
Suzanne T.

Perfect service--attentive, listened and made recommendations based upon our personal preferences and what they had fresh or unique. Refreshing sake-tini-mixed and garnished with cucumbers; we had edamame, tempura shrimp, unagi, himache, sashimi, ame ebe, sweet egg and miso soup all fresh and delicious. Adequate portions, sushi chef served us treats-quail eggs and uni. Will go back again and again.
(4)
Steven M.

After reading several reviews of this restaurant on here, I'm honestly quite confused. Although I understand that the same restaurant can offer different experiences at times, I did not find this to be the case here. The atmosphere inside is very nice and even has a darker, romantic feel to it. Not a single employee was rude or even seemed to be in a bad mood - everyone was so cheery and helpful. Their menu is very smartly designed because for all of their specialty rolls, they have a photo. This is great when you want to see what you are going to order, instead of being surprised with something different. We usually get the ginger house salads wherever we go, and I can honestly say that this biggest one we've ever been served is here. The ingredients were extremely fresh, and the dressing was served on the side which was a nice touch. As for the rolls, we decided to go with the Spicy Tuna Tataki and Salmon Crunch, after getting recommendations from out waitress. They were absolutely amazing and everything was perfect. There are not many places around here with such fresh fish, but this hidden gem is not one of them. Overall, we really enjoyed this restaurant and are definitely looking forward to coming back. Everything was great which just goes to show that not all reviews on here should be paid any attention - some just aren't true and unfortunately affect nice establishments such as this one.
(5)
Lauren F.

One reviewer mentioned hipsters - and may I just say I have never seen one "hipster" (aside from the bartender) at this restaurant - ever. Not saying that hipsters are a bad thing, but that is just not the atmosphere of this place at all. It's low key, dim lights which offer a nice vibe, and the staff is soft spoken and friendly. Go on a Friday or Saturday night, and this place will be full. But in my mind that just speaks volumes about the staff, atmosphere and their great food. Spicy Tuna Crunch is my favorite roll ever, and Tokio Dragon comes in at a close second. I live a good 30 minutes from Tokio Sake, but it's my main pick whenever I am craving sushi. If you like sake, try the Saketini. Very smooth and refreshing. :)
(5)
Karen T.

Our favorite place for Sushi. The atmosphere is beautiful and relaxing and so conveniently located in Deer park. Great for before a movie, after shopping or as it's own destination. The owner, Julia is gracious, kind and always smiling. Her staff is incredibly polite and eager to make the experience enjoyable. I love sitting at the sushi bar but I also love the table set-ups. The food is outstanding. So many diverse choices, everyone is happy. My sons don't care for sushi, my daughter and I love it, but they love the meat entrees and the plethora of appetizers and the Japanese fizzy soda is a treat. The shumai, golden shrimp, asparagus beef rolls, all the cucumber salads, the tuna nachos...all my favorites. The rolls are delicious - the cherry blossom is my all time favorite - and I love how they separate them in the menu by spice (heat) level. All the entrees we've had when we can tear ourselves away from the rolls have been outstanding. There is a Korean meat and rice bowl dish that I cant remember the name but wow was it amazingly good. Desserts - if you have even a corner of space in your belly go for it. The chocolate desserts and the mocha balls make you close your eyes and smile.... The quality of the seafood, the meat, all of it is top notch. In fact - jumped online to get the phone number to call for a reservation and thought - I need to let everyone know how great this place is. Enjoy!
(5)
Caroline B.

I almost always call ahead of time and get my sushi to go, so I can't comment on the staff or the restaurant itself, but the sushi is phenomenal every time. I constantly make up excuses to eat here, and it's my favorite sushi place in the area by far!
(5)
Jill L.

We just ate there for the first time. I think it's our favorite place for Japanese! My husband had one of their combo sushi platters and said it was his best ever. (his fav meal is sushi). I ate the orange chicken (currently can't eat sushi) and it was amazing! There are a ton of sushi choices and a lot of dinner choices. Our 3 year old enjoyed her children's menu, chicken teriyaki, shrimp tempura, rice, she tried a California roll, but loved the Swedish fish they put with it. We will definitely go back!
(5)
Yane Y.

FYI: This review is for their weekday lunch. Their rolls looked awesome. Spicy Tuna was fine (some individual pieces fell apart) but the crunchy items they had on it was tasty! Their Spicy Beef Lunch Box! was my dish. Whoa! Talk about a lot of food. Their spicy beef was plentiful! I couldn't believe how much beef they gave. It was an awesome, tender steak that they had spiced up with some chili sauce and whatever else they used. I didn't mind paying the $12 bucks because it was more than beef, it was STEAK. For this, I am a fan! The sauce was fine, too. (Honestly, I can't tell...my mouth was burning, but ... the little that I could actually taste? Was great!) The box also came with tempura (green bean, shrimp, potato); salad; miso soup; a handful of california rolls, a small cucumber salad (i mean, one or two forkfuls small!), ...and! that's all I can remember. It was quite a lot of food. I shouldn't have eaten the whole box, but...it was so good. I will go back again. I am looking forward to trying their chicken teriyaki and all of their rolls! Their rolls looked very tasty. I was feeling ... too cheap that day to order some rolls. Soooo, maybe next time. =)
(3)
Howard C.

My wife just had a baby and hasn't had sushi is quite a while so I offered up the idea and she was all over it. I had to run around Deer Park so decided to go with Tokio Sake. I did pickup for whatever it's worth, but my experience was solid. The staff was one of the most friendly groups of people I'd dealt with in a restaurant in a while, well minus those places where I'm a known regular (not tooting a horn here). I got a bunch of happy smiles and at least 4 hello's and goodbyes, even from employees not personally assisting me. The sushi was solid. By no means am I a sushi connoisseur, but it was tasty and satisfied the sushi craving. I laugh at those who complain about price at a sushi restaurant because sushi isn't the cheapest thing to eat and I don't know about you, but I expect to pay approx $6 for my spicy tuna rolls which is exactly what it was. Does it drive me nuts that I have to spend $20 to fill up on sushi? Sure it does, but I also accept that if I want sushi then that's normally what I'm going to pay. Either way, I can say that I recommend this place, plus the guy I work with really likes it but isn't a big reviewer. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
(4)
Day C.

Always a reliable go-to. This place is close to my house and I rely on it for all of my quick sushi cravings. That said I've sat inside quite a bit, and in my last visit, I really enjoyed the change in the menu. It's very simple to look and understand (not like many other sushi restaurants). Also, the service was very caring. My smallest sister began to feel sick during the meal (it was not attributed to the meal at all), but the service was quick to offer assistance and voiced their concern and wanted to make sure the meal was not the reason behind the sickness (and it wasnt). We had the amazon, ocean drive, and melt crunch (or crunch melt idk im not sure), but it was all delicious and just what I and many Americans look for in sushi.
(4)
Franklin D.

Went for lunch the other day. They have a house special "dragon roll" for $15 that was a meal in itself. The service was fast & friendly, although the place was failry empty since we were having an early lunch. The dining room here looks great!
(4)
Katy S.

My husband and I ate here recently, and it was a nice experience. We are not big sushi eaters, occasionally we'll go out for sushi, but it's not our go-to cuisine. We got to Tokio Sake at about 6:30 on a Saturday, there was no wait for a table. We were sat next to the bar, which was fine by us because it was quiet. The waitress was friendly, though not annoyingly so. It was very business like and quick. We both ordered iced tea and found it tasted a bit sour. We got the shrimp dumplings for an appetizer, which were perfectly fried and delicious with a yummy sauce. My husband got two rolls, a spicy salmon and a special roll- the spicy tuna crunch, and he was happy with both. I got a spider roll and a tempura crunch roll. Both were delicious. Next time we're in the mood for sushi I would have no qualms about going back.
(4)
Marlo P.

So I came here for the first time today and I gotta say, it's not too bad. It was a very nice intimate setting. There was only one server there and she was very nice. They have a pretty large sushi menu and I think that their "specialty" rolls are a normal price (I'm used to paying 12 - 15 per roll and I eat sushi all over the place!). I wouldn't come here if you were just a california roll eater because they were pretty bland (but can you expect much? It's a California Roll!). I tried the Pandora and the Samba Fire and they were very tasty. We ordered two kids meals and they were REALLY BIG MEALS! They came with two pieces of shrimp tempura, 3 california rolls, veggie chips, grapes, one piece of swedish fish candy, rice, and the entree dish. I was quite jealous when I saw the amount of food they received because they were about $8 bucks each and I coul've gotten full off of a kids meal! The spotlight of our meal had to go to the calamari. I'm a sucker for fried calamari.They were crispy, tenticly, and the sauce was spicy and smokey... You could give me two orders of it and some white rice and I'd be happy! Oh man... I just got hungry again.
(4)
Carolyn L.

I really liked the selection of the sushis at this place. My dad and I ordered some sushi takeout last night and they definitely have some innovative rolls. They were delicious and the food came out pretty quickly. The prices were a bit much (about $33 for 3 types of rolls. They should have been about $8 each, not $11). But it was nice to try a new sushi joint in my neighborhood!
(4)
Chrisa H.

My husband and I have been here for sushi before and, I must say, great selection, very fresh fish, and their specialty rolls are interesting and tasty. This past weekend we went with our teenagers and our daughter is NOT a fan of sushi. So while we ordered the spider roll, spicy tuna, and the Deer Park specialty rolls, she ordered Yaki Udon noodles with chicken. And oh my goodness - the udon was FABULOUS. It was gingery and just a tad spicy with big, doughy noodles cooked to perfection and really fresh and crunchy veggies. Lunch for the 4 of us was about $44 before tip - you can't beat that for great sushi and really, really great noodles.
(4)
Lindsey B.

Such friendly staff and yummy sushi! Good for lunch and dinner-carryout or dine-in!
(5)
Luke K.

I eat here more then i should to be honest. The food is okay for the price. In my opinion the "specialty" rolls are not that unique and way over priced. The staff is friendly and helpful. they have great lunch specials. Over all a decent sushi place.
(4)
Megan M.

I went there for lunch yesterday with my friend and it was delish!! It was on the more expensive side, but If you're in the mood to spoil yourself, then this is a great place to go. I had a Spicy Tuna Tataki roll and the Matsh lunch special.. It was soo much food but it was so good too!! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 beacuse of the price, otherwise it would have been a 5.
(4)
Sean M.

My boss introduced me to this place. I really love it. The food is great and the two guys that prepare the meals are funny and easy to talk to. I really like this place.
(4)
Dana H.

We had the massive boat and loved it. The fish was fresh, the portions large. The staff was flexible with ordering. Yep, we'll go back!
(4)
Alan N.

OK - I was craving sushi but I neglected to think it through since we were close. Sushi here is mediocre at best. I tried the deluxe plate and the rolls (cali and spicy tuna) were pretty flavorless and the fish on the Nigiri was barely middle quality. That being said it is probably the best in the area since there really isn't much out here. Also, the Tonkatsu was weird strips of deep fried pork - never seen that before! Gotta learn to stick with my instincts.
(2)
Wade S.

Somewhat dissapointing...which really bothers me because this place is so close to my home...I'm rooting for them to get better, but I've tried it 3 times and each time I regret going there. It's not horrible, but there are so many better sushi places...even in the suburbs. Wait staff needs some work as they are often slow and forget things you've ordered. On the positive side it's not terribly expensive so if you just need sushi and you are close...give it a go.
(2)
Megan B.

We had two of the specialty rolls (Santa fe, samba fire) and two "normal" rolls (spicy tuna and California). All were delicious. Wait staff was helpful and attentive and there was a good selection of veggie rolls for the non-meat eater as well. We will definitely be back. Only giving it four stars because specialty rolls were a bit on the expensive side for the number of pieces you actually received.
(4)
Ronald H.

My wife and I really enjoyed the sushi here. There were several things that we had not seen at the "typical" sushi restaurant, and we always like trying something different. If we still lived in the area, it would probably be our "regular" sushi restaurant. We'll certainly be back next time we're in the area. Original review done February 2010. Now at end of August, just found my notes (sigh) showing what we had: Maguro Salad, Tempura shrimp and veg banana asperagus, Spicy grilled calamari, Tokio King roll. Yummy stuff!
(4)
Marlo P.

So I came here for the first time today and I gotta say, it's not too bad. It was a very nice intimate setting. There was only one server there and she was very nice. They have a pretty large sushi menu and I think that their "specialty" rolls are a normal price (I'm used to paying 12 - 15 per roll and I eat sushi all over the place!). I wouldn't come here if you were just a california roll eater because they were pretty bland (but can you expect much? It's a California Roll!). I tried the Pandora and the Samba Fire and they were very tasty. We ordered two kids meals and they were REALLY BIG MEALS! They came with two pieces of shrimp tempura, 3 california rolls, veggie chips, grapes, one piece of swedish fish candy, rice, and the entree dish. I was quite jealous when I saw the amount of food they received because they were about $8 bucks each and I coul've gotten full off of a kids meal! The spotlight of our meal had to go to the calamari. I'm a sucker for fried calamari.They were crispy, tenticly, and the sauce was spicy and smokey... You could give me two orders of it and some white rice and I'd be happy! Oh man... I just got hungry again.
(4)
Carolyn L.

I really liked the selection of the sushis at this place. My dad and I ordered some sushi takeout last night and they definitely have some innovative rolls. They were delicious and the food came out pretty quickly. The prices were a bit much (about $33 for 3 types of rolls. They should have been about $8 each, not $11). But it was nice to try a new sushi joint in my neighborhood!
(4)
Chrisa H.

My husband and I have been here for sushi before and, I must say, great selection, very fresh fish, and their specialty rolls are interesting and tasty. This past weekend we went with our teenagers and our daughter is NOT a fan of sushi. So while we ordered the spider roll, spicy tuna, and the Deer Park specialty rolls, she ordered Yaki Udon noodles with chicken. And oh my goodness - the udon was FABULOUS. It was gingery and just a tad spicy with big, doughy noodles cooked to perfection and really fresh and crunchy veggies. Lunch for the 4 of us was about $44 before tip - you can't beat that for great sushi and really, really great noodles.
(4)
Lindsey B.

Such friendly staff and yummy sushi! Good for lunch and dinner-carryout or dine-in!
(5)
Jaclyn L.

Fresh fish and nice atmosphere
(5)
Luke K.

I eat here more then i should to be honest. The food is okay for the price. In my opinion the "specialty" rolls are not that unique and way over priced. The staff is friendly and helpful. they have great lunch specials. Over all a decent sushi place.
(4)
Megan M.

I went there for lunch yesterday with my friend and it was delish!! It was on the more expensive side, but If you're in the mood to spoil yourself, then this is a great place to go. I had a Spicy Tuna Tataki roll and the Matsh lunch special.. It was soo much food but it was so good too!! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 beacuse of the price, otherwise it would have been a 5.
(4)
Alan N.

OK - I was craving sushi but I neglected to think it through since we were close. Sushi here is mediocre at best. I tried the deluxe plate and the rolls (cali and spicy tuna) were pretty flavorless and the fish on the Nigiri was barely middle quality. That being said it is probably the best in the area since there really isn't much out here. Also, the Tonkatsu was weird strips of deep fried pork - never seen that before! Gotta learn to stick with my instincts.
(2)
Wade S.

Somewhat dissapointing...which really bothers me because this place is so close to my home...I'm rooting for them to get better, but I've tried it 3 times and each time I regret going there. It's not horrible, but there are so many better sushi places...even in the suburbs. Wait staff needs some work as they are often slow and forget things you've ordered. On the positive side it's not terribly expensive so if you just need sushi and you are close...give it a go.
(2)
rin b.

I'm an admitted sushi hater, lol. So it's saying something that I enjoyed myself at Tokio Sake. I had the Deer Park Crazy sushi and the salmon teriyaki. Some say the dishes are overpriced, but I think everyone will agree the sushi rolls at Tokio Sake are huge. One sushi roll's about the size of a buffalo wing, to give you a frame of reference. The $14-16 are rolls that include tuna, etc. If you intend to eat mainly fish, prepare to spend more. Their specialty rolls are also quite creative, if that's what you're looking for. I loved the Deer Park Crazy. The avocado was beautiful, and I recommend anyone unfamiliar with sushi try one of the avocado items. It's gentler and less raw to the Western palate, lol. I also enjoyed my salmon teriyaki. My salmon was pink, moist, tender and sparingly, freshly seasoned (and I'm nowhere near a newb when it comes to salmon). Wonderful. I wouldn't mind coming back at all. Service was good. The waitress wasn't too talkative, knowledgeable or helpful, but she was polite, and all the staff welcomed us. It's nice to be greeted by the entire staff upon entering a restaurant, even though I'm sure it must get tedious for them to repeat for each customer, lol. The atmosphere actually impressed me, not because of the passable decor, but because of the intimacy of the place, helped by dim lighting and covered windows. These days, it's rare that a restaurant doesn't try to fit as many tables -and customers- into their real estate as possible. We didn't have to shout to be heard, but it wasn't because the restaurant was empty. In fact, everyone around us enjoyed private conversations, no booths or bars necessary. That's sort of rare in the US. There's a wood theme to the decor, so it's not hideous, but it wouldn't stand up to the modern restaurants downtown, and it's not meant to. For the suburbs, casual and intimate little Tokio Sake is impressive and well worth a visit if you're in the area. This sushi convert would. ;) ETA: Okay, it was not the Deer Park Crazy, lol. Spicy. Curses! Now I have to find that dish again!
(4)
bob t.

We go at least 2-3 times a month. Service has improved since opening and the sushi is MUCH better IMO compared to another place in Barrington. The wine list sure needs improvement but the few they offer are ok.
(4)
Jackie P.

I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in. The decor was clean yet plain and had a great sushi bar. For being in the mall, the food was pretty good. Our server even gave us 2 specialty rolls on the house. We were definitely over dressed; most people in the restaurant were under 20 and in shorts and tee shirts. Good place for lunch or a quick dinner but not a date spot.
(4)
Deborah P.

Wasn't bad by any means, but nothing just out of this world. We had a spicy california, spicy tuna and the orange dragon rolls. The orange dragon roll was really good- fresh salmon on top of a shrimp tempura style roll. The girls had a kids orange chicken bento box, and for the price ($7.95) it was a LOT of food for one kid, and our two 6-yr olds shared and still had food left. They were completely empty when we arrived (Sunday around 1pm), and were really busy by the time we left (2-ish). The service was good compared to other sushi spots, and we would definitely return. Average roll is $12-15, but they do have the basic california rolls for $6.
(4)
Liz B.

Took my friend out to Tokio for a last lunch before a big surgical procedure today. The place was not jumping for lunch, that's for sure; maybe had 15 people in there, including us. There was only one server so the hostess/owner was helping her out. We were starving so I went balls out and got the Take lunch special while my friend opted for the Momotaro special and a Ebi roll. I would like to point out that they use plastic reusable chopsticks-I learned today that I am not a fan of plastic chopsticks. I was having a horrible time trying to get a grasp on stuff with them. While the food was really good, it took forever to come out. The fish was fresh and delicious, but we were there longer than anticipated for our lunch hour. This is more of a place to take your time to enjoy so be forwarned. Also, they forgot to get my friend her Ebi roll, so she took it to go and they didn't charge us for it. Tokio took their time, but I totally dig them.
(4)
D H.

It is an OK Sushi restaurant. The fish was very fresh, always a good start :) I prefer a good amount of rice with my Nigiri (the fish should rest on the rice) and each piece I had here was a small ball of rice that was dwarfed by the fish. Each to their own, this was just not my style. Enjoy
(3)
Kat A.

Cozy, comfortable, and deliciously fresh sushi. Everytime we go in here we have impeccable service, whether it's just us or a restaurant full of people. Come try it out!!
(4)
Erin P.

My boyfriend and I are avid sushi fans but have not found any sushi places in the greater Barrington area that we have particularly loved. After a movie at the Deer Park Town Center we noticed a new sushi place next and walked in to give it a try. It had just opened one week before and it was apparent they were still working out some kinks: The place is on the smaller side but not cramped and it is decorated with a Japanese themes that looks nice not tacky. We sat at the sushi bar. The manager ended up waiting on us and while he was nice and friendly he was a little over anxious and asked us how we were doing almost annoyingly- but I have to attribute that to them trying to make a good impression for being a new restaurant. When my boyfriend tried to order hot sake we were informed that they did not have any yet but they had cold sake, and that hot sake is not good anyway. (This I actually knew- originally sake was served hot since to over the bad taste but now that they are developing cold sake flavor is becoming a bigger factor, but I was a little put off that they told my boyfriend that what he tried to order was not good.) The manager came over and did a brief presentation about their cold sakes; they had three and the cheapest was $18 he said he had selected only the best cold sakes for the restaurant. I was a little shocked at the prices since it's a sushi place in a strip mall but we did end up ordering the $18 unfiltered cold sake and it was very good. I think they will have to offer cheaper selections in the future to make a good business on their alcohol. They gave us normal shot glasses to drink it out of, and although it came cold, we here not given and ice bucket to keep it cold as we ate- I do not know if that is procedure for cold sake since I am accustomed to hot, but it would make since because by the time we finished the bottle at the end of the meal it was warm. I had green tea, which came with a tea cup and a tea bag which was a surprise at sushi restaurant rather than a pot of tea or a mug with pre-steeped tea- but they were very good about getting me hot water when I needed it which was nice since I tend to swill down hot green tea at Japanese restaurants. To start we ordered house salads with sesame ginger dressing and miso soup that came out right away and both flavorful and good. During our salad and soup course we were give an amazing appetizer from the sushi bar which was another small green salad with spicy dressing and fresh chopped up sashimi on top- the treat from the sushi bar was amazing but I would not have ordered a house salad if I knew I was getting that. They also brought us the beef and asparagus roll on the house, which was a nice treat. We had the spicy salmon roll, the SS501 roll and the Boston roll. They were all really good and fresh. The sushi chefs were really nice and friendly and it was fun to watch them making the sushi and artistically plating it. We asked that they sushi chefs be creative and make us a surprise roll, which turned into a bigger deal that I expected when the manager tried to convey this to the chefs, but what we got was tuna over asparagus, crab and avocado and tempura crumbs for $10 and it was great! (I appreciate that they did not throw together a $20 roll for us when we gave them that leeway.) Currently the sushi chefs are making the sushi and passing the plates over the sushi bar to the waiters to take to the tables . Which meant that we were very close to having sushi passed over our heads. I think that if they get busier they are going to need to figure out a more efficient system that does not happen near customer's seat (like at one end of the bar or on the side of the bar). We also got the toweletts (that usually come hot before the meal) cold and halfway through the meal. The rest of the wait staff was friendly also. The food was fresh and good and not too expensive as far as sushi goes. There were also some interesting entrÃ©e sized salads with sashimi and some creative appetizers and entrees on the menu, which was nice to see. If I could ever get over my sushi addiction maybe I will try something new won the menu. Other than the "new business" kinks this place was pretty good. We will be back and hopefully they will have over come their initial problems and this will be my new suburb sushi place.
(3)
Liberty F.

Great food and ambiance, had the Tokio Volcano which was tasty. A little pricey, but good quality. Green Tea ice cream is awesome with great Green Tea flavor and a buttery undertone, only complaint is that they would not sell a big take-home container of the ice cream, and were coy in revealing what distributor sells/makes it. It's hard to find good green tea ice cream, Trader Joes used to carry Gelatto Classico Green Tea ice cream, but no longer, and that was awesome.
(4)
Brandon B.

Treid a little bit of everything here. Everything I ordered was good. Service seemed a little slow, but its a new place. I did noticed that the food was being passed over those at the sushi bar. The Tempora shrimp was great, and the tuna fresh. Service was the only thing I noticed off.
(3)
Fabio H.

Amazing place. We go to try many sushi places, and this place by far is one of the best. From their rolls, you can taste every single ingredient in them, and the rice is in perfect shape. We tried a few rolls, the Philly, and the spicy tuna rolls are simply excellent. I got the sushi and rolls combo, and the nigiri rolls were so fresh. Simply amazing. One of the best places for sure.
(5)
Amanda D.

Bummed!! Tried the sushi for the first time tonight. Had a dragon roll or something like that with tempura, scallop, crab meat etc. The sushi tasted awful!! Spicy mayo was not good as well. Only giving two stars for customer service, they are fast and very nice. BUT I'll stick to Fuji Thai for my sushi!
(2)
Carl F.

I found another hidden gem of a sushi place. I say hidden as this is on the back side of a strip mall and unless you're made aware of its existence, you can miss it. Again, thanks to Yelp in helping me find this place. It is actually large, has plenty of table seating, some private areas and of course the sushi bar/counter itself. The ambiance is decorated as one would hope for a sushi place and playing traditional, Japanese music. (it bothers me when I'm listening to some acid rock at a sushi place... it just kills it for me) On the menu you'll find the normal assortment and familiar names, along with several uniquely named / combinations. I always like going with some of my familiar roles as this is how I gauge sushi place to sushi place to which I typically select something along the lines of a Philly, Spicy Tuna, and Spider. Then, if they have something unique I'll try that too! Coming here on at least three occasions, I've NOT had a bad experience yet. I usually make it here in mid afternoon, so I can't comment how good the service is when they are packed, but for me the service has always been great. I've also been lucky and my order comes out rather quickly. The roles are packed nicely and don't fall apart on the way from plate to mouth as some places do. The ingredients are always very fresh and cut just right for the role. I personally favor their salmon & tuna. This is not to say the other fish is bad, as I've yet to have anything tasting "fishy" or off base. The only thing I would comment on is that their "spicy" is not overly spicy. Even when you make this clear to them, they still don't adjust it by that much. I've resorted to asking for more wasabe and even there I have to prod for a larger portion. I don't live near this location, and it has become my lunch spot when I get over in this direction to stop by the Apple store. So, it's almost becoming a tradition, when I go to the Apple store here, the kinds know we're having sushi for lunch!
(4)
Zaya B.

I love this place. The service is really good and the sushi is ok
(2)
Mic D.

Very clean place. Good is well done and tasty. Spicy tuna crunch is our favorite. The wait staff is wonderful and polite. I recommend this place for good food and a pleasant atmosphere.
(4)
Nina B.

Decided to check this place out on a Thursday after an afternoon movie with a friend. Loved all the beauyiful dark wood decor. I had a wonderful glass of the 2012 Mason Sauvignon Blanc which went perfectly with the sashimi combo. The combo had 3 LARGE pieces each of several different fish plus a couple of surf clams which I had never tried before. I am now a surf clam devotee! My friend enjoyed the miso soup that came with my combo and she shared her cucumber salad, which was nicely crispy and tart. My meal came to $50 with tax and generous tip for our excellent server. I wish my husband liked sushi so I could visit Tokio more often but I will definitely be back with the girls!
(5)
Lilo 8.

The sushi at Tokio Sake is hands down the best in the area. They have the food part down cold, never a complaint there. Well done Tokio Sake. Service on the other hand could be better. The staff is very nice, they're just so....very.......slow....... Usually I wouldn't be terribly bothered, but when you come in to eat with two small children and have to wait ten minutes to order drinks, let alone food, it tends to pose a problem. It's like this every time we've been there, even if there are only two other tables. Also, the tables on the main floor are very close together. I can't take my 5 yr old to the bathroom without bumping a chair or table on the way there and I'm not even a large person. The seating poses a problem if you bring kids with. It just does. It's a very tight situation. I can always hear what the person at the next table is saying and so can my kids, the seating is that intimate. This can lead to very awkward questions from my little ones. I would suggest saving the main floor tables for couples and put people with kids in the alcove seating or by the windows. That will keep kids contained while they anxiously await ordering and help keep parents calm. I know the staff doesn't like to use the alcove seating very often, but when we are a party of four and we are paying $80 + for a meal, I think an alcove is warranted. I'm sure the other patrons would appreciate it too.
(4)
Susan S.

My first time going to a Sushi place and not ordering sushi. I actually made up my own dish with sweet and spicy scallops rather than shrimp as it states on the menu. It was exactly what I was looking for taste wise. The salad before the meal was great and I enjoyed the dressing. I had to take away a star because they didn't have everything in stock that was on their menu and the waitress was slow to refill our water glasses on a very warm and humid day. I would return to try the sushi.
(4)
Sarah M.

Great food great service! Sushi was top quality and we love our sushi! Proportions were big as well
(5)
Chris S.

The sushi is wonderful but the service is what makes Tokio Sake truely outstanding. The waitress I usually have for lunch and the manager/owner woman are both wonderful.
(5)
Masha Y.

really great sushi.. a little overpriced and not nice staff. But great decor, nice place for dinner.
(4)
Madison Z.

My personal favorite sushi place in the deer park/palatine/Arlington heights area. The patio is nice, while it doesn't have a view. The sushi is GREAT! The women at the hostess stand are super sweet. The inside is nice and when it's busy it has a great ambience. I love the shrimp shumai. They have a pretty good wine selection. My favorite rolls are the coconut shrimp and tempura crunch rolls! Definitely can't go wrong here !
(5)
Megan T.

I sat at the bar tonight and the service was good. I ordered the Amazon roll and it was great! Service was pretty bad. Waited 10 min for my server to bring the check. When I still had no check I finally asked the manager/hostess for it. I really enjoyed my sushi (5star), but service was (3star). Wish they would staff the restaurant properly.
(4)
Tim L.

The sushi is here is great. The rolls are awesome and have been expanded to include some pretty unique roll ingredients. My wife and I were pretty spoiled with incredible sushi in downtown Chicago for a few years, so we needed to find a place that could take the Pepsi challenge of sushi. Tokio Sake fits right in near the top. We have been eating here since they opened in 2008. The wait staff is sometimes not the quality you see in a white linen table cloth establishment. I come here for the sushi, not to make friends with the staff as other reviewers seem to be looking for.
(5)
Brian F.

Classy place with delicious food and great service. I had a special menu item, the Korean Bulgogi. It was served over rice and had shredded carrots mixed in... at first I was unsure of this combo, having never seen it prepared this way, but after tasting it I was pleasantly surprised at the mixture of textures and flavors. My co-worker had the dragon roll, which was visually stunning and full of flavor. The prices are on the high side, but not unreasonable. I will come back again to try more sushi and hope that I can update my review to 5 stars!
(4)
Martin R.

Have done lunch here twice recently. Both times very good food and great service.
(5)
Lia T.

Not a huge fan of tokio sake. I went here with a friend for sushi and we both ordered a few rolls. My california roll tasted fishy. I also had the scallop roll and that tasted even more fishy.. I'm a frequent sushi eater I would say I go out for sushi 2x/week at least and this sushi just tasted pungent, this place does not use fresh fish. And for the prices they are asking for gourmet rolls, we're talking 18-22 dollar rolls, the fish should be out of the water fresh. Really disappointed -_-
(2)
Stephanie B.

This was my third time there. The first time I was unimpressed with the flavor or quality of the sushi. When I gave them a second chance, I was more pleasantly surprised. After my visit last night I am no longer torn between whether I like it or not, I will not return again. Upon entering we were not greeted for at least 5 minutes, even though the hostess was right there packing a to go order. Then she told us she would be right with us, another 5 minutes passed. A woman entered after us to purchase a gift certificate, and we were told to wait again. Had there been a wait for tables, I would have been more understanding, however several tables were open. Also several other servers who were not busy with tables and were chatting with each other made eye contact with us but did not bother to seat us. Finally, we were seated and waited approximately 10 more minutes until we were greeted by a server. We had planned for an hour for dinner, as we were catching a movie next door. We were now down to 35 minutes to order and eat. The server finally arrived then told us that the sushi bar was backed up and there was no way our food would be prepared in time. Ended up going to another place for a quick bite, and will end up satisfying any future sushi cravings elsewhere.
(1)
Liz S.

My mouth is watering just writing this review. This has to be the best suburb sushi I've ever had if not the best sushi of all time. It's incredible. If you're going to get anything, get the Deer Park Crazy. I swear you'll be in heaven after one bite. This is without a doubt my favorite roll of all time. Go for the Spicy Tuna Crunch, too. I get these two every time I come with no fail. They're a great balance. The restaurant is hip but still relatively casual. I never feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed. The waitresses are all so cute and helpful. This is some of the highest quality sashimi you can find in the area as well. When you're looking for moderately priced sushi that packs freshness, flavor, and variety, you don't have to look any further. Tokio Sake is the best.
(5)
Suzanne T.

Perfect service--attentive, listened and made recommendations based upon our personal preferences and what they had fresh or unique. Refreshing sake-tini-mixed and garnished with cucumbers; we had edamame, tempura shrimp, unagi, himache, sashimi, ame ebe, sweet egg and miso soup all fresh and delicious. Adequate portions, sushi chef served us treats-quail eggs and uni. Will go back again and again.
(4)
Steven M.

After reading several reviews of this restaurant on here, I'm honestly quite confused. Although I understand that the same restaurant can offer different experiences at times, I did not find this to be the case here. The atmosphere inside is very nice and even has a darker, romantic feel to it. Not a single employee was rude or even seemed to be in a bad mood - everyone was so cheery and helpful. Their menu is very smartly designed because for all of their specialty rolls, they have a photo. This is great when you want to see what you are going to order, instead of being surprised with something different. We usually get the ginger house salads wherever we go, and I can honestly say that this biggest one we've ever been served is here. The ingredients were extremely fresh, and the dressing was served on the side which was a nice touch. As for the rolls, we decided to go with the Spicy Tuna Tataki and Salmon Crunch, after getting recommendations from out waitress. They were absolutely amazing and everything was perfect. There are not many places around here with such fresh fish, but this hidden gem is not one of them. Overall, we really enjoyed this restaurant and are definitely looking forward to coming back. Everything was great which just goes to show that not all reviews on here should be paid any attention - some just aren't true and unfortunately affect nice establishments such as this one.
(5)
Brian B.

Nothing special from the outside, but the food and service were excellent. Ginger Dressing Salad to start that was crisp, calamari appetizer that was lightly fried and some of the best I have ever had, and rolls that my wife and I both thought were great.
(5)
T B.

We haven't been here in a while and decided to go last night. What a mistake, we usually had this spicy calamari app and ordered again and it was about half the size for the same price. Served on a bed of cabbage to hide the fact that it was 1/2 the size. We had 2 more apps and 2 rolls that were so thin. $58.00 later, we were still hungry and will never be back.
(2)
Andrew F.

My wife and I tried this for a late lunch and we were impressed. Our waiter, Tony, was attentive, friendly and professional. We had the Deep Fried Tofu as an appetizer, she had the Beef Bulgogi while I had the Chicken Teriyaki for entrees. The taste, quality and presentation of all three dishes was excellent. I will highly recommend it to friends and family.
(5)
Brooke A.

I really wanted to like Tokio Sake. The quality is good, but its crowded and the atmosphere at dinner on the weekends is way too hectic. The place is jam packed full of hipsters and loud music. The prices are also a little steep. There are so many good sushi places within 15 minutes of Tokio Sake, its tough to recommend it. It is a little trendier, so if you and your hipster lady are looking for a place to sit down, admire each other's black rimmed glasses, s/m tee shirts, and have J-Pop blasted in your ear while the couple next to you is screaming about how great the new Coheed and Cambria album is, Tokio Sake is your place. If you are just looking to relax and eat great sushi, read some of my other reviews.
(3)
Eric F.

Don't get me wrong! If I were rating the sushi, 5 stars all the way! But the service.... Usually there aren't too many customers in the restaurant, and the service is quite fast. Though occasionally there will be around 7 customers in the store, and then it slows. It drops the speed from about 15 minutes to 45 minutes.
(3)
Jeff S.

We were planning on seeing a movie Friday night and decided to eat at Tokio Sake next door. What a mistake. The waiter seemed like he had somewhere to go the entire time and tried to take our food before we were even halfway done with the dish. After the second time, I just said take it. The sushi chefs never acknowledged us once. We sat in front of their miserable looking faces for a little more than an hour. When I ordered a roll from one of the chefs, he glared at me with the "How dare you order directly from the king" look and told me to order it from the waiter. Who, simply repeated the order to the chef. Should have taken a hint when we walked in on a Friday night and the place was empty. Good luck surviving in deer park with that kind of service.
(1)
Lauren F.

One reviewer mentioned hipsters - and may I just say I have never seen one "hipster" (aside from the bartender) at this restaurant - ever. Not saying that hipsters are a bad thing, but that is just not the atmosphere of this place at all. It's low key, dim lights which offer a nice vibe, and the staff is soft spoken and friendly. Go on a Friday or Saturday night, and this place will be full. But in my mind that just speaks volumes about the staff, atmosphere and their great food. Spicy Tuna Crunch is my favorite roll ever, and Tokio Dragon comes in at a close second. I live a good 30 minutes from Tokio Sake, but it's my main pick whenever I am craving sushi. If you like sake, try the Saketini. Very smooth and refreshing. :)
(5)
Sean M.

My boss introduced me to this place. I really love it. The food is great and the two guys that prepare the meals are funny and easy to talk to. I really like this place.
(4)
Dana H.

We had the massive boat and loved it. The fish was fresh, the portions large. The staff was flexible with ordering. Yep, we'll go back!
(4)
Karen T.

Our favorite place for Sushi. The atmosphere is beautiful and relaxing and so conveniently located in Deer park. Great for before a movie, after shopping or as it's own destination. The owner, Julia is gracious, kind and always smiling. Her staff is incredibly polite and eager to make the experience enjoyable. I love sitting at the sushi bar but I also love the table set-ups. The food is outstanding. So many diverse choices, everyone is happy. My sons don't care for sushi, my daughter and I love it, but they love the meat entrees and the plethora of appetizers and the Japanese fizzy soda is a treat. The shumai, golden shrimp, asparagus beef rolls, all the cucumber salads, the tuna nachos...all my favorites. The rolls are delicious - the cherry blossom is my all time favorite - and I love how they separate them in the menu by spice (heat) level. All the entrees we've had when we can tear ourselves away from the rolls have been outstanding. There is a Korean meat and rice bowl dish that I cant remember the name but wow was it amazingly good. Desserts - if you have even a corner of space in your belly go for it. The chocolate desserts and the mocha balls make you close your eyes and smile.... The quality of the seafood, the meat, all of it is top notch. In fact - jumped online to get the phone number to call for a reservation and thought - I need to let everyone know how great this place is. Enjoy!
(5)
Caroline B.

I almost always call ahead of time and get my sushi to go, so I can't comment on the staff or the restaurant itself, but the sushi is phenomenal every time. I constantly make up excuses to eat here, and it's my favorite sushi place in the area by far!
(5)
Jill L.

We just ate there for the first time. I think it's our favorite place for Japanese! My husband had one of their combo sushi platters and said it was his best ever. (his fav meal is sushi). I ate the orange chicken (currently can't eat sushi) and it was amazing! There are a ton of sushi choices and a lot of dinner choices. Our 3 year old enjoyed her children's menu, chicken teriyaki, shrimp tempura, rice, she tried a California roll, but loved the Swedish fish they put with it. We will definitely go back!
(5)
Yane Y.

FYI: This review is for their weekday lunch. Their rolls looked awesome. Spicy Tuna was fine (some individual pieces fell apart) but the crunchy items they had on it was tasty! Their Spicy Beef Lunch Box! was my dish. Whoa! Talk about a lot of food. Their spicy beef was plentiful! I couldn't believe how much beef they gave. It was an awesome, tender steak that they had spiced up with some chili sauce and whatever else they used. I didn't mind paying the $12 bucks because it was more than beef, it was STEAK. For this, I am a fan! The sauce was fine, too. (Honestly, I can't tell...my mouth was burning, but ... the little that I could actually taste? Was great!) The box also came with tempura (green bean, shrimp, potato); salad; miso soup; a handful of california rolls, a small cucumber salad (i mean, one or two forkfuls small!), ...and! that's all I can remember. It was quite a lot of food. I shouldn't have eaten the whole box, but...it was so good. I will go back again. I am looking forward to trying their chicken teriyaki and all of their rolls! Their rolls looked very tasty. I was feeling ... too cheap that day to order some rolls. Soooo, maybe next time. =)
(3)
Howard C.

My wife just had a baby and hasn't had sushi is quite a while so I offered up the idea and she was all over it. I had to run around Deer Park so decided to go with Tokio Sake. I did pickup for whatever it's worth, but my experience was solid. The staff was one of the most friendly groups of people I'd dealt with in a restaurant in a while, well minus those places where I'm a known regular (not tooting a horn here). I got a bunch of happy smiles and at least 4 hello's and goodbyes, even from employees not personally assisting me. The sushi was solid. By no means am I a sushi connoisseur, but it was tasty and satisfied the sushi craving. I laugh at those who complain about price at a sushi restaurant because sushi isn't the cheapest thing to eat and I don't know about you, but I expect to pay approx $6 for my spicy tuna rolls which is exactly what it was. Does it drive me nuts that I have to spend $20 to fill up on sushi? Sure it does, but I also accept that if I want sushi then that's normally what I'm going to pay. Either way, I can say that I recommend this place, plus the guy I work with really likes it but isn't a big reviewer. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
(4)
Day C.

Always a reliable go-to. This place is close to my house and I rely on it for all of my quick sushi cravings. That said I've sat inside quite a bit, and in my last visit, I really enjoyed the change in the menu. It's very simple to look and understand (not like many other sushi restaurants). Also, the service was very caring. My smallest sister began to feel sick during the meal (it was not attributed to the meal at all), but the service was quick to offer assistance and voiced their concern and wanted to make sure the meal was not the reason behind the sickness (and it wasnt). We had the amazon, ocean drive, and melt crunch (or crunch melt idk im not sure), but it was all delicious and just what I and many Americans look for in sushi.
(4)
Franklin D.

Went for lunch the other day. They have a house special "dragon roll" for $15 that was a meal in itself. The service was fast & friendly, although the place was failry empty since we were having an early lunch. The dining room here looks great!
(4)
Ronald H.

My wife and I really enjoyed the sushi here. There were several things that we had not seen at the "typical" sushi restaurant, and we always like trying something different. If we still lived in the area, it would probably be our "regular" sushi restaurant. We'll certainly be back next time we're in the area. Original review done February 2010. Now at end of August, just found my notes (sigh) showing what we had: Maguro Salad, Tempura shrimp and veg banana asperagus, Spicy grilled calamari, Tokio King roll. Yummy stuff!
(4)
Sarah N.

I think this place is probably the best sushi in the Northwest burbs, and everyone I've taken here agrees. The service is excellent, nice ambiance, and very cool presentation. I've been here several times between lunch and dinner, and gotten take out once and I've never been disappointed!
(5)
Megan B.

We had two of the specialty rolls (Santa fe, samba fire) and two "normal" rolls (spicy tuna and California). All were delicious. Wait staff was helpful and attentive and there was a good selection of veggie rolls for the non-meat eater as well. We will definitely be back. Only giving it four stars because specialty rolls were a bit on the expensive side for the number of pieces you actually received.
(4)
DB A.

My 2010 nominee for fallen so far, so fast. Any restaurant can overcook a meal, but a good one will fix things and make them right. These people compounded a small preparation problem with excuses, arguments, and hostility. They used to be OK. Now I'd rather go anywhere else. Or skip a meal. Possibly the worst restaurant experience I've had in years.
(1)
Rick V.

This is now our favorite sushi spot. Great selection, attentive service, thoughtful presentation and reasonably priced. Only thing I would change is the music.
(5)
Liberty F.

Great food and ambiance, had the Tokio Volcano which was tasty. A little pricey, but good quality. Green Tea ice cream is awesome with great Green Tea flavor and a buttery undertone, only complaint is that they would not sell a big take-home container of the ice cream, and were coy in revealing what distributor sells/makes it. It's hard to find good green tea ice cream, Trader Joes used to carry Gelatto Classico Green Tea ice cream, but no longer, and that was awesome.
(4)
Brandon B.

Treid a little bit of everything here. Everything I ordered was good. Service seemed a little slow, but its a new place. I did noticed that the food was being passed over those at the sushi bar. The Tempora shrimp was great, and the tuna fresh. Service was the only thing I noticed off.
(3)
rin b.

I'm an admitted sushi hater, lol. So it's saying something that I enjoyed myself at Tokio Sake. I had the Deer Park Crazy sushi and the salmon teriyaki. Some say the dishes are overpriced, but I think everyone will agree the sushi rolls at Tokio Sake are huge. One sushi roll's about the size of a buffalo wing, to give you a frame of reference. The $14-16 are rolls that include tuna, etc. If you intend to eat mainly fish, prepare to spend more. Their specialty rolls are also quite creative, if that's what you're looking for. I loved the Deer Park Crazy. The avocado was beautiful, and I recommend anyone unfamiliar with sushi try one of the avocado items. It's gentler and less raw to the Western palate, lol. I also enjoyed my salmon teriyaki. My salmon was pink, moist, tender and sparingly, freshly seasoned (and I'm nowhere near a newb when it comes to salmon). Wonderful. I wouldn't mind coming back at all. Service was good. The waitress wasn't too talkative, knowledgeable or helpful, but she was polite, and all the staff welcomed us. It's nice to be greeted by the entire staff upon entering a restaurant, even though I'm sure it must get tedious for them to repeat for each customer, lol. The atmosphere actually impressed me, not because of the passable decor, but because of the intimacy of the place, helped by dim lighting and covered windows. These days, it's rare that a restaurant doesn't try to fit as many tables -and customers- into their real estate as possible. We didn't have to shout to be heard, but it wasn't because the restaurant was empty. In fact, everyone around us enjoyed private conversations, no booths or bars necessary. That's sort of rare in the US. There's a wood theme to the decor, so it's not hideous, but it wouldn't stand up to the modern restaurants downtown, and it's not meant to. For the suburbs, casual and intimate little Tokio Sake is impressive and well worth a visit if you're in the area. This sushi convert would. ;) ETA: Okay, it was not the Deer Park Crazy, lol. Spicy. Curses! Now I have to find that dish again!
(4)
bob t.

We go at least 2-3 times a month. Service has improved since opening and the sushi is MUCH better IMO compared to another place in Barrington. The wine list sure needs improvement but the few they offer are ok.
(4)
Jackie P.

I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in. The decor was clean yet plain and had a great sushi bar. For being in the mall, the food was pretty good. Our server even gave us 2 specialty rolls on the house. We were definitely over dressed; most people in the restaurant were under 20 and in shorts and tee shirts. Good place for lunch or a quick dinner but not a date spot.
(4)
Deborah P.

Wasn't bad by any means, but nothing just out of this world. We had a spicy california, spicy tuna and the orange dragon rolls. The orange dragon roll was really good- fresh salmon on top of a shrimp tempura style roll. The girls had a kids orange chicken bento box, and for the price ($7.95) it was a LOT of food for one kid, and our two 6-yr olds shared and still had food left. They were completely empty when we arrived (Sunday around 1pm), and were really busy by the time we left (2-ish). The service was good compared to other sushi spots, and we would definitely return. Average roll is $12-15, but they do have the basic california rolls for $6.
(4)
G T.

My girlfriend and I came here on a Thursday evening for some sushi and drinks. The staff was good, and the place looks great inside. Unfortunately I can't say the same for their sushi. We both ordered drinks and our Martinis which our server made were SOO strong and so improperly made that we only drank half. We ordered a couple appetizers and they were pretty good but then when we got our sushi we were definitely disappointed. The California roll was mediocre at best and the philly roll was HORRIBLE, the salmon was so rubbery that we couldn't even eat it. Our other rolls which included the shrimp tempura and the ebi tempura were okay but not good. We are both in out late 20's and were looking for a good sushi place where we can go to on a weekly basis but this place is definitely not it.
(2)
Ashley A.

Cute little Japanese restaurant, somewhat hidden in the Deer Park mall over near the theater. We were a little rushed considering we a bit under an hour to get in & out. Waitress was very nice & friendly. Props to her after we ordering a combo & didn't realize until it came to our table that it included nigiri, which my boyfriend didn't want, so we asked if we could substitute it for maki rolls. She spoke with the chef & did the exchange. We felt really bad, but I guess everyone makes mistakes. Sushi was pretty good, but I think costs a little more than your average sushi dish. Nice decor; a pretty cozy place.
(3)
Sandra S.

Visiting Tokio Sake is a matter of convenience because it's located right next to Century Theatres. However, it is a pretty decent sushi restaurant. I'm a little addicted to their veggie dumplings, which are a bit unique. Although the menu says "pan fried" they look more deep fried and have a wonderful golden crunch. The filling is delicious, and they are also a bit larger than most other dumplings I have tried. Many times I have wanted to make a meal of these all on their own. I usually order the same maki rolls at every sushi restaurant: negi hamachi, Alaska, Boston and Philly (not all at once, obviously). I'm not one for specialty rolls. Tokio Sake does all of these well and the portions are quite large, 2 rolls are enough for me. I also enjoy the super white tuna appetizer, which is just super white tuna nigiri with a slice of jalapeno and ponzu sauce drizzle. Simple, but delicious. The prices are very typical of suburban sushi places, around $5-8 for simple rolls. Overall quite good.
(4)
Katy S.

My husband and I ate here recently, and it was a nice experience. We are not big sushi eaters, occasionally we'll go out for sushi, but it's not our go-to cuisine. We got to Tokio Sake at about 6:30 on a Saturday, there was no wait for a table. We were sat next to the bar, which was fine by us because it was quiet. The waitress was friendly, though not annoyingly so. It was very business like and quick. We both ordered iced tea and found it tasted a bit sour. We got the shrimp dumplings for an appetizer, which were perfectly fried and delicious with a yummy sauce. My husband got two rolls, a spicy salmon and a special roll- the spicy tuna crunch, and he was happy with both. I got a spider roll and a tempura crunch roll. Both were delicious. Next time we're in the mood for sushi I would have no qualms about going back.
(4)
Alan N.

OK - I was craving sushi but I neglected to think it through since we were close. Sushi here is mediocre at best. I tried the deluxe plate and the rolls (cali and spicy tuna) were pretty flavorless and the fish on the Nigiri was barely middle quality. That being said it is probably the best in the area since there really isn't much out here. Also, the Tonkatsu was weird strips of deep fried pork - never seen that before! Gotta learn to stick with my instincts.
(2)
Marlo P.

So I came here for the first time today and I gotta say, it's not too bad. It was a very nice intimate setting. There was only one server there and she was very nice. They have a pretty large sushi menu and I think that their "specialty" rolls are a normal price (I'm used to paying 12 - 15 per roll and I eat sushi all over the place!). I wouldn't come here if you were just a california roll eater because they were pretty bland (but can you expect much? It's a California Roll!). I tried the Pandora and the Samba Fire and they were very tasty. We ordered two kids meals and they were REALLY BIG MEALS! They came with two pieces of shrimp tempura, 3 california rolls, veggie chips, grapes, one piece of swedish fish candy, rice, and the entree dish. I was quite jealous when I saw the amount of food they received because they were about $8 bucks each and I coul've gotten full off of a kids meal! The spotlight of our meal had to go to the calamari. I'm a sucker for fried calamari.They were crispy, tenticly, and the sauce was spicy and smokey... You could give me two orders of it and some white rice and I'd be happy! Oh man... I just got hungry again.
(4)
Carolyn L.

I really liked the selection of the sushis at this place. My dad and I ordered some sushi takeout last night and they definitely have some innovative rolls. They were delicious and the food came out pretty quickly. The prices were a bit much (about $33 for 3 types of rolls. They should have been about $8 each, not $11). But it was nice to try a new sushi joint in my neighborhood!
(4)
Chrisa H.

My husband and I have been here for sushi before and, I must say, great selection, very fresh fish, and their specialty rolls are interesting and tasty. This past weekend we went with our teenagers and our daughter is NOT a fan of sushi. So while we ordered the spider roll, spicy tuna, and the Deer Park specialty rolls, she ordered Yaki Udon noodles with chicken. And oh my goodness - the udon was FABULOUS. It was gingery and just a tad spicy with big, doughy noodles cooked to perfection and really fresh and crunchy veggies. Lunch for the 4 of us was about $44 before tip - you can't beat that for great sushi and really, really great noodles.
(4)
Lindsey B.

Such friendly staff and yummy sushi! Good for lunch and dinner-carryout or dine-in!
(5)
Jaclyn L.

Fresh fish and nice atmosphere
(5)
Luke K.

I eat here more then i should to be honest. The food is okay for the price. In my opinion the "specialty" rolls are not that unique and way over priced. The staff is friendly and helpful. they have great lunch specials. Over all a decent sushi place.
(4)
Megan M.

I went there for lunch yesterday with my friend and it was delish!! It was on the more expensive side, but If you're in the mood to spoil yourself, then this is a great place to go. I had a Spicy Tuna Tataki roll and the Matsh lunch special.. It was soo much food but it was so good too!! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 beacuse of the price, otherwise it would have been a 5.
(4)
Wade S.

Somewhat dissapointing...which really bothers me because this place is so close to my home...I'm rooting for them to get better, but I've tried it 3 times and each time I regret going there. It's not horrible, but there are so many better sushi places...even in the suburbs. Wait staff needs some work as they are often slow and forget things you've ordered. On the positive side it's not terribly expensive so if you just need sushi and you are close...give it a go.
(2)
D H.

It is an OK Sushi restaurant. The fish was very fresh, always a good start :) I prefer a good amount of rice with my Nigiri (the fish should rest on the rice) and each piece I had here was a small ball of rice that was dwarfed by the fish. Each to their own, this was just not my style. Enjoy
(3)
Kat A.

Cozy, comfortable, and deliciously fresh sushi. Everytime we go in here we have impeccable service, whether it's just us or a restaurant full of people. Come try it out!!
(4)
Erin P.

My boyfriend and I are avid sushi fans but have not found any sushi places in the greater Barrington area that we have particularly loved. After a movie at the Deer Park Town Center we noticed a new sushi place next and walked in to give it a try. It had just opened one week before and it was apparent they were still working out some kinks: The place is on the smaller side but not cramped and it is decorated with a Japanese themes that looks nice not tacky. We sat at the sushi bar. The manager ended up waiting on us and while he was nice and friendly he was a little over anxious and asked us how we were doing almost annoyingly- but I have to attribute that to them trying to make a good impression for being a new restaurant. When my boyfriend tried to order hot sake we were informed that they did not have any yet but they had cold sake, and that hot sake is not good anyway. (This I actually knew- originally sake was served hot since to over the bad taste but now that they are developing cold sake flavor is becoming a bigger factor, but I was a little put off that they told my boyfriend that what he tried to order was not good.) The manager came over and did a brief presentation about their cold sakes; they had three and the cheapest was $18 he said he had selected only the best cold sakes for the restaurant. I was a little shocked at the prices since it's a sushi place in a strip mall but we did end up ordering the $18 unfiltered cold sake and it was very good. I think they will have to offer cheaper selections in the future to make a good business on their alcohol. They gave us normal shot glasses to drink it out of, and although it came cold, we here not given and ice bucket to keep it cold as we ate- I do not know if that is procedure for cold sake since I am accustomed to hot, but it would make since because by the time we finished the bottle at the end of the meal it was warm. I had green tea, which came with a tea cup and a tea bag which was a surprise at sushi restaurant rather than a pot of tea or a mug with pre-steeped tea- but they were very good about getting me hot water when I needed it which was nice since I tend to swill down hot green tea at Japanese restaurants. To start we ordered house salads with sesame ginger dressing and miso soup that came out right away and both flavorful and good. During our salad and soup course we were give an amazing appetizer from the sushi bar which was another small green salad with spicy dressing and fresh chopped up sashimi on top- the treat from the sushi bar was amazing but I would not have ordered a house salad if I knew I was getting that. They also brought us the beef and asparagus roll on the house, which was a nice treat. We had the spicy salmon roll, the SS501 roll and the Boston roll. They were all really good and fresh. The sushi chefs were really nice and friendly and it was fun to watch them making the sushi and artistically plating it. We asked that they sushi chefs be creative and make us a surprise roll, which turned into a bigger deal that I expected when the manager tried to convey this to the chefs, but what we got was tuna over asparagus, crab and avocado and tempura crumbs for $10 and it was great! (I appreciate that they did not throw together a $20 roll for us when we gave them that leeway.) Currently the sushi chefs are making the sushi and passing the plates over the sushi bar to the waiters to take to the tables . Which meant that we were very close to having sushi passed over our heads. I think that if they get busier they are going to need to figure out a more efficient system that does not happen near customer's seat (like at one end of the bar or on the side of the bar). We also got the toweletts (that usually come hot before the meal) cold and halfway through the meal. The rest of the wait staff was friendly also. The food was fresh and good and not too expensive as far as sushi goes. There were also some interesting entrÃ©e sized salads with sashimi and some creative appetizers and entrees on the menu, which was nice to see. If I could ever get over my sushi addiction maybe I will try something new won the menu. Other than the "new business" kinks this place was pretty good. We will be back and hopefully they will have over come their initial problems and this will be my new suburb sushi place.
(3)
Liz B.

Took my friend out to Tokio for a last lunch before a big surgical procedure today. The place was not jumping for lunch, that's for sure; maybe had 15 people in there, including us. There was only one server so the hostess/owner was helping her out. We were starving so I went balls out and got the Take lunch special while my friend opted for the Momotaro special and a Ebi roll. I would like to point out that they use plastic reusable chopsticks-I learned today that I am not a fan of plastic chopsticks. I was having a horrible time trying to get a grasp on stuff with them. While the food was really good, it took forever to come out. The fish was fresh and delicious, but we were there longer than anticipated for our lunch hour. This is more of a place to take your time to enjoy so be forwarned. Also, they forgot to get my friend her Ebi roll, so she took it to go and they didn't charge us for it. Tokio took their time, but I totally dig them.
(4)

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Address : Deer Park Town Center,20530 N Rand Rd, Ste 112
Deer Park, IL, 60010
Phone (847) 438-0400
Website https://www.tokiosake.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

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

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Tokio Sake Japanese Restaurant

Deer Park Town Center,20530 N Rand Rd, Ste 112, Deer Park, IL, 60010

Tokio Sake Japanese Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Soup

Salad

Tempura

Tokio Specialty Rolls

Sushi & Sashimi

Kitchen Entree - Seafood

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tokio Sake Japanese Restaurant

Appetizers

Soup

Salad

Tempura

Tokio Specialty Rolls

Sushi & Sashimi

Kitchen Entree - Seafood

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